Candidate: Angus Purdy
Metro Council District 18
Website: anguspurdy.com
Occupation: “Small business owner”
Previous candidacy/offices held: “None”
Community experience: “I’ve been involved with the Nashville People’s Budget Coalition, participated in the People’s Plaza occupation, volunteered with Walk Bike Nashville, and coached children’s soccer through WNSL.”
What will be your top three priorities on the Council?
“Affordable Housing, Improving Public Transit, Increased funding for education”
What is the biggest issue facing your district? How would you approach it?
“Traffic Calming. We need to explore new and innovative tools to help calm traffic in our neighborhoods. NDOT currently offers limited options that are not effective in all situations. Slowing traffic down in our neighborhoods is key to improving pedestrian and cyclist safety.”
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 shouldn’t be a place Nashvillians want to avoid. The city needs to facilitate more affordable housing. The East Bank is a great place to start. We need to foster an environment downtown that supports small, locally owned businesses. We can reclaim some of the culture that made Nashville a city we’ve all loved if we focus less on the tourists and more on our neighbors.”
Did you or would you have voted to approve the new Titans stadium financing legislation?
I would have opposed the stadium financing deal. I’m fundamentally opposed to giving taxpayer money to billionaires. We have underfunded schools and an underfunded transit system. Any council member who voted yes on this deal has failed to properly serve the best interests of their constituents.
Does Metro need more police officers beyond the unfilled positions?
“It’s absurd to think that a department that can’t fill the job openings it has somehow needs more unfilled positions. We ask every single department to make budget cuts (some of these departments are already criminally underfunded) it’s time to expect the same of MNPD. Nashville should put a pause on any increased police spending while we determine how to use taxpayer dollars to serve the best interests of the people of Nashville.”
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?
“When this was being debated in council, I wrote to every council member asking them to vote against LPR usage in Nashville. Through personal experience I know that this is an expensive technology that fails to work properly at an alarmingly high rate. There are also major privacy concerns about data storage and access. I will oppose extending the use of LPR technology and I will oppose usage of any facial recognition technology.”
Do you think a property tax rate adjustment will be needed in the next 4 years? Why or why not?
“The last thing anyone wants to do is increase the tax burden on the people of Nashville. The next mayor needs to explore all available options to increase revenue prior to a property tax increase. That the majority of mayoral candidates will not go on the record to say they won’t increase property taxes is a fairly good indicator that this will be an issue to address in the next cycle.”
Do you view your role in the Council as leading your district on issues or simply reflecting the views of the district’s residents?
“I don’t believe a council member’s responsibility to the city ends at district boundaries. There may be times where my view of what’s best for the city won’t align with residents of District 18. I commit to communicating frequently both via newsletter and through quarterly in-person availability. My neighbors in District 18 will have every opportunity to share with me their vision for the future of our city.”
How do you view the relationship of the city and Council to the General Assembly in the face of adverse legislation from the state?
“I’m not sure you can even call it a relationship, but whatever it is, it’s damaged. Nashville has clearly become a target for the radical right wing extremists who run our state. The city needs to foster relationships with any sensibly minded legislators at the state level, but we also need to use any leverage we have, when we can. We missed an opportunity with the recent Titan’s deal to use our leverage. I won’t let such opportunities go unused in the future.”
The city is experiencing an affordability crisis. What is the council’s role in creating more housing for buyers and renters in Nashville?
“Metro needs to commit to building affordable housing units on unused/underused metro owned property. Priority for these units should be given to our teachers and first responders. The surge in the short term rental market has exacerbated an already existing affordability crisis. We need significant penalties for STR violations including fines, loss of permit, or asset forfeiture. Most of the problem units in this market are owned by out of town investment groups who do not have Nashville’s best interests in mind. We need to properly fund the codes department so they have the resources to enforce new and existing restrictions on these properties.”
What improvements do you think WeGo should make during the next four years? Would you back creation of a dedicated funding source?
“I fully support the creation of a dedicated funding source for WeGo. Over the next four years I hope WeGo is able to invest in new satellite transit centers, increased frequency, and new connecting routes to make public transit faster and more efficient. Public transportation should be available 24 hours a day in Nashville. Our buses should run every 15 minutes during weekdays and before and after major events. They should run hourly overnight. The “wait for demand to increase” approach has not worked. We deserve a world class public transportation system.”
Second-quarter campaign finance disclosure
Raised: $3,010
Spent: $720
Cash on hand: $2,290
Link to full disclosure here
Pre-General campaign finance disclosure
Raised: $656
Spent: $1,170
Cash on hand: $1,777
Link to full disclosure here