Candidate: Dia Hart
Metro Council District 31
Website: https://diahart.hellocard.me
Occupation: “IT. I worked in the nonprofit industry for 10+ years.”
Previous candidacy/offices held: “NA”
Community experience: “I worked in local communities in a number of capacities for over a decade.”
What will be your top three priorities on the Council?
“Responsible Development, Support Law(s) Enforcement, and Fiscal Responsibility & Good Stewardship of County resources.”
District candidates only: What is the biggest issue facing your district? How would you approach it?
“Development & Zoning. I will face each issue with communication with community residents, Planning Commission, and other Council members.”
Much of the city’s developmental focus, like plans for a new East Bank, have focused on downtown. What’s your vision for downtown?
“Downtown Nashville is special, and it should be developed to support tourism as well as support activities for Nashville/Davidson County residents.”
Did you or would you have voted to approve the new Titans stadium financing legislation?
“NA”
Does Metro need more police officers beyond the unfilled positions?
“Yes, Metro needs more police officers, as well as resources toward its training academy, and internal mechanics for its cars, etc…”
What do you think of the current framework passed by the council around LPR (license plate readers) usage? Do you think Metro should allow facial recognition technology to be used downtown?
“I like that Davidson County residents are more safe with LPR resources. I believe that we should continue to find opportunities to make sure that Safety and Security are at the top of the list for community residents.”
Do you think a property tax rate adjustment will be needed in the next 4 years? Why or why not?
“No new property tax rate adjustments are needed in the next 4 years.”
Do you view your role in the Council as leading your district on issues or simply reflecting the views of the district’s residents?
“A councilman’s role is to lead with the buy in of the district that you serve, community input, and engagement. We must listen to all stakeholders, then discuss, debate, negotiate, and make the best decisions for positive outcomes for residents.”
How do you view the relationship of the city and Council to the General Assembly in the face of adverse legislation from the state?
“A good councilman should be willing to listen to all stakeholders in Davidson County and the State. Communicating with the Mayor’s office, the Council, and the State elected officials can be an opportunity to make positive change happen. We will not evolve or bring better opportunities to community residents if we do not work together. Each issue is an opportunity to find a place that we are on the same page, then proceed to build from that ideal. We need each other for all of us to win as a State and as communities.”
The city is experiencing an affordability crisis. What is the council’s role in creating more housing for buyers and renters in Nashville?
“The real estate market is rising in costs. We should be engaging with housing programs that will offer people opportunities to not only rent but also to purchase property, when they are ready financially. We need more options to offer people and working with Nonprofits, grant programs, housing programs, etc. are resources worth sharing with the communities and its residents.”
What improvements do you think WeGo should make during the next four years? Would you back creation of a dedicated funding source?
“We need to rethink new and sourced research on transit nationally and internationally. I am a realist and we don’t have to recreate the wheel. If we find plans that have been optimized in other cities, we should investigate whether they will work for us. This job will not be completed in 4 years, but we can make smart decisions on how we use the financial resources that we have and the plans that we consider for our future growth.”
Second-quarter campaign finance disclosure
Raised: $2,298
Spent: $1,474
Cash on hand: $824
Link to full disclosure here
Pre-General campaign finance disclosure
Raised: $937
Spent: $1,150
Cash on hand: $611
Link to full disclosure here