Attorney Tom Lee has accepted the position of special counsel to the Metro Council, with his appointment awaiting confirmation by the full council as Nashville’s legislative body prepares to bring on a new legal adviser.
Lee, who also works as a lobbyist and law professor, was announced as the selection at the council’s Executive Committee meeting Wednesday. The special counsel advises council members on legal and legislative matters and the procedures governing their meetings.
A panel that included Vice Mayor Angie Henderson, former Metro Council attorneys and current council staff members considered 12 applications for the position.
Lee currently serves on the Charter Revision Commission and previously represented Metro as a lobbyist at the Tennessee legislature. That experience spans two important parts of local governance: the charter that establishes Metro’s powers and structure, and the state government whose laws shape what Nashville can do.
Nashville and Davidson County consolidated their governments in 1963. Today, the council considers ordinances, approves the city’s budget and handles land-use decisions affecting neighborhoods across the county. Legal guidance helps members evaluate proposals and follow the rules for conducting public business.
Council confirmation is the next step for Lee. Residents can follow council agendas, legislative documents and meeting information through Metro’s website, Nashville.gov.
Unemployment declines statewide
New employment figures released Thursday showed lower unemployment in September across all 95 Tennessee counties, including Davidson County and the broader Nashville metropolitan area.
Davidson County’s rate fell to 2.8% from 3.0% the previous month, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The Nashville metropolitan area recorded the same change.
Williamson, Wilson, Cheatham, Rutherford and Dickson counties tied for Tennessee’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.7%. Their monthly declines ranged from 0.1 to 0.3 percentage points. Davidson’s rate was just 0.1 percentage point above that statewide low.
The largest declines were in Cocke, Grundy and Johnson counties, where rates dropped by 0.7 percentage points.
County unemployment figures offer a useful snapshot of local labor markets, but they do not describe every aspect of residents’ economic circumstances. The unemployment rate measures people without jobs who are available for work and actively seeking employment; it does not measure wages, household expenses or whether workers have as many hours as they want.
Local monthly unemployment rates also are not seasonally adjusted, meaning recurring changes in hiring can influence month-to-month comparisons. Job seekers can find employment listings and workforce services through Jobs4TN and Tennessee’s American Job Centers.
Absentee ballot request deadline approaches
Saturday is the deadline to request an absentee ballot for the Nov. 3 general election. Requests must be submitted in writing or by email to the voter’s county election commission office.
The request must include the voter’s name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, mailing address for the ballot, the election in which the voter wants to participate, the reason for requesting an absentee ballot and the voter’s signature.
Tennessee restricts absentee voting by mail to voters who meet eligibility requirements. Davidson County residents can find the request form and eligibility information through the Davidson County Election Commission’s pages on Nashville.gov.
The request deadline is separate from the deadline for returning a completed ballot. Voters should review the commission’s instructions carefully, allow time for mail delivery and contact election officials with questions about eligibility or their ballot’s status.
Printed neighborhood stories at Napier festival
The Nashville Banner will attend Napier’s annual fall festival Saturday to meet residents, share information about its Zip Code Project and distribute a zine containing neighborhood stories published over the past year.
The idea grew out of a conversation earlier this year with a resident who asked for printed versions of articles featuring Napier because many residents lack reliable internet access outside the library.
Visitors to the Banner’s table can draw a picture representing what their neighborhood means to them, personalizing their copy of the zine. The effort gives residents another way to read neighborhood coverage without depending on a home internet connection.
International rugby comes to Geodis Park
The USA Rugby International Series arrives at Geodis Park on Saturday with a doubleheader featuring the U.S. women’s and men’s national teams.
The USA Women’s Eagles face Italy at 3:15 p.m., followed by the USA Men’s Eagles against Australia XV at 6 p.m. Ticket sales are limited to the stadium’s lower level, and most sections still have seats available.
Geodis Park, Nashville SC’s home at the Fairgrounds, provides a soccer setting for an event intended to help expand rugby’s American audience. The United States will host the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the women’s tournament in 2033. Nashville plans to apply to host matches in both competitions.
New York/New Jersey will stage a similar doubleheader next week. Fans attending Saturday’s games can consult Geodis Park’s official website for ticket information, parking arrangements and stadium entry policies before traveling to the venue.