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Megan Barry

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Megan Barry
Barry in 2024
7th Mayor of Metropolitan Nashville
In office
September 25, 2015 – March 6, 2018
Preceded byKarl Dean
Succeeded byDavid Briley
Personal details
Born
Megan Christine Mueller

(1963-09-22) September 22, 1963 (age 61)
Santa Ana, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseBruce Barry
Children1
EducationBaker University (BA)
Vanderbilt University (MBA)
WebsiteOfficial website

Megan Christine Barry[1] (née Mueller; born September 22, 1963) is an American businesswoman and politician[2] who served as the seventh mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County[3] from 2015 until March 6, 2018, when she resigned after pleading guilty to felony theft related to an extramarital affair with a city employee who had served as the head of her security detail.[4] Barry is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and education

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Barry was born on September 22, 1963, in Santa Ana, California and grew up in Overland Park, Kansas where she graduated from the private all-girls Notre Dame de Sion School in nearby Kansas City, Missouri.[5] She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas in 1986, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega.[6] She also earned an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University in 1993.[7][8]

Business career

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Barry worked in business ethics and corporate responsibility for the multinational telecommunications firm Nortel Networks.[8] From 2003 to 2012, Barry was vice president of ethics and compliance at Premier, Inc., a health-care group purchasing organization.[8] She also worked as principal of Barry & Associates, an independent consulting organization to multinational corporations on issues dealing with business ethics and corporate social responsibility.[8]

Political career

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Metropolitan Councilwoman-at-Large

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Barry was first elected to one of the five at-large seats on the 40-member Metro Council in September 2007,[9] and won re-election to a second four-year term in August 2011. In winning re-election, she was the top vote-getter among the five incumbents who all successfully sought a second term.[10]

During her first term on the council, Barry chaired the council's Budget and Finance Committee and the Education Committee. In 2009, she led an effort in the council to pass a bill banning discrimination against city employees based on sexual orientation and gender identity.[11] During the 2013–2014 council year, she chaired the Rules Committee and served as a member of the Budget and Finance Committee and the Personnel Committee.

Barry performed the first same-sex wedding in Nashville on June 26, 2015.[12]

2015 mayoral campaign

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Barry started her mayoral campaign in April 2013, filing paperwork with the Davidson County Election Commission naming Nashville attorney Leigh Walton as her campaign's treasurer.[13] She received the largest total of votes for mayor in this election, but did not achieve an absolute majority of votes cast in the race, setting up her runoff race against hedge fund manager David Fox, the second-place finisher. Although major media in Nashville touted apartment landlord Bill Freeman as odds on favorite to win the mayoral election, The Nashvillian newspaper predicted the race would be a runoff between Barry and Fox, then showed Barry taking the early lead in the runoff over Fox. The runoff was noted by many as a particularly dirty campaign, with both candidates launching various personal attacks against the other.[14]

Barry raised US$1.1 million in political contributions during her campaign.[15] She received US$1,500 from Wayne T. Smith, who is the CEO of Community Health Systems; US$1,500 from R. Milton Johnson, who is the CEO of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA); US$5,000 from HCA; US$1,500 from Damon T. Hininger, the CEO of Corrections Corporation of America (CCA); and US$1,500 from CCA's Chairman, John D. Ferguson.[15] Another notable donor was Mike Curb, the founder of Curb Records.[15] She received US$7,600 from the Nashville Business Coalition, a business organization.[15]

Barry defeated Fox in a September 10 runoff election.[4]

Mayor of Nashville

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Barry touring the Old Hickory Dam Power Plant with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in January 2016.

Barry took office on September 25, 2015, becoming the first woman to hold the post and the second woman to serve as mayor of one of the "Big Four" cities in Tennessee.[citation needed] Her inauguration was held in the Music City Center in Nashville.[16] The theme was "We Make Nashville".[16]

At the beginning of her administration, Barry promoted diversity in Nashville's government – she appointed a Chief Diversity Officer to review and oversee policies as they related to diversity in hiring and promotions within Metro Government.[17] Barry also focused on engaging the community in governing with the Mayor's Office of Neighborhoods and Community Engagement, which includes the Office of New Americans, focused on outreach to immigrant and refugee communities.[citation needed]

In early 2017, she worked with Governor Bill Haslam and the Tennessee General Assembly to promote and pass the IMPROVE Act,[18] which will increase funding for roadway projects across Tennessee and give voters the chance to create sustainable funding mechanisms for mass transit. Barry announced she would seek to place a referendum on the ballot in 2018 that would create a comprehensive mass transit system throughout all corners of Davidson County, though that initiative later failed to pass a popular vote.[19]

Barry also spent two years improving the state of affordable housing in Nashville. She committed to putting $10 million in her recommended operating budget every year for the Barnes Trust Fund for Affordable Housing, a fund she helped create as a Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County member. She also created the Housing Incentive Pilot Program[20] in April 2017 to encourage mixed-income residential development, established private-public partnerships for affordable and workforce housing on Metro-owned property, and announced her intention to utilize $25 million in general obligation bonds to preserve existing affordable housing or construct new Metro-owned developments.[21]

One of Barry's accomplishments was the creation and expansion of the Opportunity NOW program,[22] which aimed to reduce the rising rates of youth violence and unemployment by creating 10,000 paid job and internship opportunities for Nashville's teenagers and young adults throughout the private, public and non-profit sectors.[23]

In May 2017, Barry was criticized by Black Lives Matter for her handling of the shooting of Jocques Clemmons – protesters marched through the Hillsboro neighborhood where she lives and left a coffin outside her house.[24][25]

In May 2017, Barry also announced the opening of an Ikea store in Nashville, scheduled for 2020,[26] which was subsequently cancelled.

On August 29, 2017, Barry dismissed the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood's anti-LGBT Nashville Statement as "poorly named" and unrepresentative of the inclusivity of Nashville and its citizens;[27][28][29] in response, she promoted the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee's Nashville Unites Resolution.[27]

Gun violence for young Nashvillians went up during her tenure, rising up to 21 deaths in January–October 2017.[30] The Tennessean noted that 2017 was "the bloodiest year for teens and children in more than a decade," many of whom were African Americans who lived in city-run housing projects like the James A. Cayce Homes.[30] In response, Barry vowed to "get illegal guns off of our streets and out of the hands of kids and dangerous criminals" and offer more job training for local youths.[30]

In October 2017, Barry unveiled her $5.2 billion plans for expanding Nashville's transportation infrastructure including the addition of light rail service.[31] The final mass transit system plan named "Let's Move Nashville", included 26 miles (42 km) of light rail and 25 miles (40 km) of bus rapid transit, was later rejected 64% to 36% in a local referendum in May 2018.

In December 2017, Barry dedicated the first historical marker in Tennessee to honor an LGBT activist, Penny Campbell, in East Nashville.[32]

Theft charges, plea bargain, and resignation

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On March 6, 2018, following weeks of news coverage and speculation regarding her future, Barry pleaded guilty to a Class C felony in Nashville criminal court as part of a plea bargain.[33] Moments after her guilty plea, Barry resigned as mayor.[34] Her successor was David Briley, who had served as vice mayor.

2024 congressional campaign

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In December 2023, Barry announced that she would run in Tennessee's 7th congressional district, against incumbent Republican Mark Green.[35]

Personal life

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Barry is married to Bruce Barry, a professor at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management and a contributor to the Nashville Scene.[36] The couple had one son, Max.[36] On July 30, 2017, the Mayor's office announced that her child had died of an apparent drug overdose in Denver, Colorado, at 22 years old.[37]

Extramarital affair and felony charges

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On January 31, 2018, Barry admitted that she had conducted a two-year long extramarital affair with Nashville Police Sergeant Robert Forrest Jr., the married officer in charge of her security detail, which included extended business trips with just the two of them.[38] Additionally, Barry was the first mayor of Metro Nashville’s government to have created and used a security detail. Forrest and Barry attended various events and activities which included late-night concerts and yoga classes, during which Forrest accrued hundreds of overtime hours.[39] Barry maintained that Forrest was not her direct subordinate,[40] and said that she did not want to "muddy the #metoo movement."[41]

Forrest, two weeks prior to Barry's announcement, filed for retirement from his post as supervisor of mayoral security effective on January 31, the same day Barry admitted to the affair, thus ending his 31-year career with the Nashville Police Department.[42][43]

In March 2018, Barry entered into a plea agreement that required her resignation.[33] On February 23, 2018, Forrest's wife of nearly 30 years, Penny, filed for divorce on grounds of "inappropriate marital conduct" soon after the extramarital affair came to light.[44] Forrest and Barry, both of whom had no criminal record prior to the affair, pleaded guilty to felony theft.[45][46] As part of the plea deal, they were ordered to pay restitution ($11,000 for Barry and $45,000 for Forrest) to the city and complete three years of probation. Both Forrest and Barry can petition to have their convictions wiped off their record if they successfully complete their probation.[43] As of August 2018, Barry and her husband remain married and have continued to attend events together.[47]

Electoral history

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Nashville mayoral run-off election, September 2015[48]
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Megan Barry 60,519 55
David Fox 49,694 45
Nashville mayoral election, August 2015[49]
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Megan Barry 24,553 23.5
✓ David Fox 23,754 22.8
Bill Freeman 22,308 21.3
Howard Gentry 12,110 11.5
Charles Robert Bone 10,962 10.5
Linda Eskind Rebrovick 5,827 5.6
Jeremy Kane 4,767 4.6
Nashville Council at-large election, August 2011[50]
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Megan Barry 30,212 11.9
✓ Ronnie Steine 29,262 11.6
✓ Tim Garrett 28,017 11.1
✓ Charlie Tygard 26,982 10.7
✓ Jerry Maynard 25,851 10.2
Eric Crafton 20,528 8.1
Vivan Wilhoite 17,659 6.9
Sam Coleman 15,437 6.1
Ken Jakes 12,396 4.9
Renard Francois 10,516 4.2
Donna Crawford 10,263 4.1
Charles Townsend, Sr. 6,972 2.8
James "Jim" Maxwell 4,967 2
Keith Speer 3,224 1.3
Don O'Donniley 3,080 1.2
Sajid Usmani 3,064 1.2
J Wooten 2,344 0.9
Donald Ray McFolin 1,429 0.6

Barry also ran in the August 2007 Nashville Council at-large election, but those returns are not available from the Davidson County Election Commission. In 2007, Barry won her first term to the Council as an at-large councilwoman.

References

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  1. ^ "State of Tennessee v. Megan Christine Barry" (PDF). The Business Journals. March 6, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  2. ^ "Megan Barry pleaded guilty to a felony. Here's what that means for her legal future". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  3. ^ Garrison, Joey (September 10, 2015). "Megan Barry elected Nashville mayor". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Garrison, Joey (March 6, 2018). "Nashville Mayor Megan Barry resigns from office; 'I love you, Nashville,' she says". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  5. ^ "Guide to the Office of Mayor Megan Barry" (PDF). Nashville.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  6. ^ "Baker grad named Nashville Mayor". Baker University. April 27, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  7. ^ Garrison, Joey (May 10, 2015). "Megan Barry quiets early skeptics in mayoral race". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d Boucher, Dave (August 30, 2015). "Megan Barry: Ethics background helps for public office". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  9. ^ "Barry, Steine, Tygard and Maynard Win At-Large Races". WTVF. September 2007. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  10. ^ Joey Garrison, "With a Blend of Progressivism and Business Acumen, Barry Sets Up Her Future" Archived 2018-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, Nashville City Paper, August 14, 2011.
  11. ^ Julie Bolcer, "Nashville Nondiscrimination", The Advocate, September 17, 2009.
  12. ^ "Mayoral candidate Megan Barry performs 1st wedding for same-sex couple in Nashville". WJHL-TV. June 26, 2015. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015.
  13. ^ Joey Garrison, "Council's Megan Barry lays groundwork for potential mayoral run", The Tennessean, April 23, 2013.
  14. ^ Fausset, Richard (September 9, 2015). "In Mayoral Race, Nashville Politics Forgets Its Manners". The New York Times. p. A18.
  15. ^ a b c d Harrison, Scott (September 8, 2015). "Barry vs. Fox: Who the biggest business names have their money behind for mayor". Nashville Business Journal. Nashville, Tennessee. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  16. ^ a b Garrison, Joey (September 22, 2015). "Barry picks 'We make Nashville' as inauguration theme". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  17. ^ Garrison, Joey (April 8, 2016). "Mayor Barry appoints Hernandez-Lane chief diversity officer". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  18. ^ "Mayor Barry Statement on Passage of IMPROVE Act". Nashville.gov.
  19. ^ Garrison, Joey (April 26, 2017). "Mayor Barry commits to light rail on Gallatin Pike, kicks off public vote for funding transit". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  20. ^ "Mayor Launches Housing Incentive Pilot Program". Nashville.gov.
  21. ^ Garrison, Joey (July 12, 2016). "Nashville mayor unveils incentive plan to boost affordable housing". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  22. ^ "Nashville > Mayor's Office > Opportunity NOW". Nashville.gov.
  23. ^ "'Opportunity NOW' Will Help Teens Find Jobs". WTVF. March 6, 2017. Archived from the original on March 6, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  24. ^ Sawyer, Ariana Maia (May 12, 2017). "Justice for Jocques Coalition demonstrates outside Nashville mayor's home". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  25. ^ "Silent march for Jocques Clemmons ends at Nashville mayor's home". WKRN-TV. May 12, 2017. Archived from the original on May 16, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  26. ^ Garrison, Joey (May 25, 2017). "Ikea announces opening date for Nashville store, and the countdown begins". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  27. ^ a b @MeganCBerry (August 29, 2017). "The @CBMWorg's so-called "Nashville Statement" is poorly named and does not represent the inclusive values of the city & people of Nashville" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ^ French, David (August 30, 2017). "Can a Progressive's 'Inclusive Values' Include Christianity?". National Review Online. National Review. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  29. ^ Brant, Joseph (August 30, 2017). "Conservative Christian leaders release anti-LGBT "Nashville Statement"". Out & About Nashville. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  30. ^ a b c Alund, Natalie Neysa (October 11, 2017). "2017 is Nashville's bloodiest year for youths in more than a decade — and it's only October". The Tennessean. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  31. ^ Garrison, Joey (October 17, 2017). "Mayor Barry unveils sweeping $5.2 billion transit proposal for Nashville with light rail, massive tunnel". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  32. ^ Brant, Joseph (December 10, 2017). "Nashville LGBT pioneer Penny Campbell honored with historical marker; Tennessee's first marker honoring the LGBT movement". Out & About Nashville. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  33. ^ a b "Nashville Mayor Megan Barry resigns in felony plea deal after affair with bodyguard". NBC News. Associated Press. March 6, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  34. ^ Wang, Amy; Rosenberg, Eli (March 6, 2018). "Megan Barry resigns as Nashville mayor, weeks after admitting affair with her security chief". The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  35. ^ "Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry announces bid for Congress". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  36. ^ a b Johnson, Jennifer (September 23, 2015). "Bruce Barry to keep low profile as wife takes office". WSMV-TV. Archived from the original on May 27, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  37. ^ Hale, Steven (July 30, 2017). "Max Barry, Son of Mayor Megan Barry, Dies From Apparent Overdose". Nashville Scene. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  38. ^ Garrison, Joey; Rau, Nate; Boucher, Dave (January 31, 2018). "Nashville Mayor Megan Barry admits to extramarital relationship with top police security officer". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  39. ^ "Here's the mugshot for Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, who resigned Tuesday". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  40. ^ Rosenberg, Eli (January 31, 2018). "Nashville mayor Megan Barry admits to having an affair with the officer who ran her police detail". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 1, 2018. Barry maintained that Forrest worked for the police and was not a direct subordinate.
  41. ^ Hale, Steven (January 31, 2018). "Mayor Megan Barry Admits to Affair With Head of Security". Nashville Scene. Retrieved February 1, 2018. about the propriety of a relationship with a subordinate, Barry said she did not want the revelations to "muddy the #metoo movement."
  42. ^ "Nashville Mayor Admits To Affair, Refuses To Resign". CBS Miami. February 1, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  43. ^ a b Santiago, Ellyn (2018-03-06). "Robert Forrest: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  44. ^ Miller, Ellen (2018-02-26). "Judge declines to hear divorce case involving Mayor Barry's former bodyguard". WKRN. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  45. ^ "Rob Forrest, bodyguard who had affair with Mayor Megan Barry, pleads guilty to theft". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  46. ^ "Documents: Read Megan Barry's plea deal, resignation letter". bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  47. ^ "Megan Barry on Instagram: "Off to hear the Long Players at @3rdandlindsley and catch the Tom Petty show. Ah, Tom Petty!  Still remember his last, great show at…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  48. ^ "September 10 Election Results (Unofficial)". Election Commission. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. September 10, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  49. ^ "August 6 Election Results (Unofficial)". Election Commission. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee.
  50. ^ "Election Results - August 4, 2011". Election Commission. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Megan Barry.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Nashville
2015–2018 		Succeeded by
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