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SEIU Local 205 Endorses Freddie O’Connell for Mayor; 7 Candidates Headed to Runoff

August 21, 2023

SEIU Local 205 Endorses Freddie O’Connell for Mayor; 7 Candidates Headed to Runoff

NASHVILLE, TN – On Friday, August 11th, members of the SEIU Local 205 Political Committee voted to endorse Freddie O’Connell to be Nashville’s next mayor. SEIU members cited O’Connell’s understanding of the working class in Nashville and the challenges they face including an improved transit system, greater housing affordability, and continued investment in our schools. They noted he has plans to meet these challenges head on, and after serving on the council for eight years, he has the relationships and knowledge to do the things he says he wants to do, starting on day one.

“Freddie is different from the last few mayors. He’s not from the corporate world. We want a mayor who will think of us when he’s in that office making the budget and setting the priorities for the city,” says Donna Clay, a MNPS support staff employee of 11 years. “Freddie says he wants us to stay. I believe he is concerned about all of us. We are supporting Freddie because we want to stay!”

On Saturday, August 26th SEIU will hold a Day of Action from their office at 521 Central Ave, where dozens of members will knock doors and make calls to hundreds of voters across the city to mobilize them to vote early.

Additionally, 18 of SEIU’s original 28 endorsed candidates won in the Metro General Election, and 7 advanced to the September runoff. SEIU’s Metro Council endorsements are:

Council At-Large:

Council Districts:

The SEIU Local 205 represents more than 3,300 members. In Nashville our public sector workers are in Metro General Government departments, the Metro Hospital Authority, the Metro Action Commission, Nashville Electric Service, the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, and support staff in the Metro Nashville Public School system. Our private-sector shops include Meharry Medical College and Lincoln College of Technology.

Members of the Committee on Political Education (COPE) deliberate and lead decisions on all endorsements. Paid for by Service Employees Local 205 COPE Acct and not approved by any candidate.