Melissa Covington
Melissa Covington ran for election to the Nashville Metro Council to represent District 21 in Tennessee. She lost in the general election on August 1, 2019.
Covington completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2019
See also: City elections in Nashville, Tennessee (2019)
General runoff election
General runoff election for Nashville Metro Council District 21
Brandon Taylor defeated incumbent Edward Kindall in the general runoff election for Nashville Metro Council District 21 on September 12, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Brandon Taylor (Nonpartisan)  | 54.4 | 958 |
 | Edward Kindall (Nonpartisan) | 45.3 | 799 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 5 | ||
| Total votes: 1,762 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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General election
General election for Nashville Metro Council District 21
Incumbent Edward Kindall and Brandon Taylor advanced to a runoff. They defeated Denise Bentley, Melissa Covington, and Ted Chapin in the general election for Nashville Metro Council District 21 on August 1, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Edward Kindall (Nonpartisan) | 35.7 | 654 |
| ✔ | | Brandon Taylor (Nonpartisan) | 33.2 | 608 |
| Denise Bentley (Nonpartisan) | 18.0 | 329 | ||
 | Melissa Covington (Nonpartisan) | 7.6 | 139 | |
 | Ted Chapin (Nonpartisan) | 5.0 | 92 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 8 | ||
| Total votes: 1,830 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Melissa Covington completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Covington's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Transparency “When residents are informed about policy changes and updates in their communities, it creates a sense of belonging and builds trust between them and Metro government. It give them the opportunity to get involved and their voices to be heard. I would like the opportunity to involve our residents in policy changes that benefits them.” Historical preservation in all neighborhoods of District 21 and Jefferson and Buchanan Streets, “I would like to preserve the history of these communities for the Nashville natives and to give tourists a chance to bring back the blues and jazz scene currently hidden due to redevelopment.” Economic Equity and Jobs, “I would love to work with residents of District 21 to lead them to resources assisting them with the opportunities and education that lead them to jobs and to partner with organizations assisting to take barriers preventing residents from getting a better chance to live comfortably in Nashville.” Safe Neighborhoods “Create Neighborhood Watch and Trauma Teams
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Public policy is what actually runs a country. Laws are written by your elected officials, and then the bureaucracy implements those laws. To develop a policy that will most "efficently" put the law in place and make it work. That is why there is 150 times as many bureaucrats in Washington DC than there are elected officials. There are policies for all levels of government. From how the cable company bills you all the way up to the appropriate method for refuleing an aircraft carrier. Policy has to be written to be "idiot" proof, provide step by step instruction, and be understood by all. Policies are also reviewed by teams of lawyers to make sure they are as politically correct as possible.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
Maya Angelou is one of my favorite authors in which many of her poems I can relate. The one poem I use to influence and encorage many people to move forward is the poem, "Still I Rise." This is actually the first time I've read this poem, and it is beautiful. Especially since, to some degree, I can relate. Anyways, what it means is that no matter what, you should continue to stand up with head up high. The first stanza starts the ball rolling magnificently. People will talk behind you back, people will spread whatever rumors they can conjure, even to the point of ramming your face in the mud and really make a picture of you as a dirty, good for nothing person. Yet despite that, you still walk with your head high, knowing they're not true. And when people can't seem to understand why you're not upset, they'll continue putting you down. And you'll just laugh it off, not really caring or commenting on what they say or do. But it's not just what the present is handing to you. Even that which was given you will not veer you off course. The last stanza attests to that. Even if you have a checkered past, no matter what you may have done before, you can still rise, you can still stand up, look the world in the eye and tell them, I WILL RISE. For the one with a forgettable past, it's a poem of second chances. For the one who keeps failing in every endeavor, it's a poem of not quitting. For someone who has been back-stabbed by words or action, it's a poem of redemption and integrity. And for anyone who has been in the darkness, before or now, however the shade of it, it's a poem of hope. I like the last three lines. She repeated it again and again. It isn't just rising up, but RISING UP! With force, with gusto, with such empathic enthusiasm that anyone who dares get in the way won't be able to do anything about it.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Power and civic responsibility exercised through citizens and elected officials. They rest on avoiding over powered central government while supporting the idea of majority rule. They focus on a key principal of human rights, equality, freedom of speech and religion. They work toward free and fair elections and citizens of a democracy have a political responsibility to participate with those elected by their majority
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
The city council represents the citizens of the city. They introduce and pass ordinances and oversee the day to day operations and the budget of the city.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
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