Metro Councilman John Cooper Will Not Challenge Nashville Mayor David Briley, May not Seek Re-Election to Council

Metro At-Large Councilman John Cooper will not run against Nashville Mayor David Briley in August and may not seek re-election to the council, he said Thursday.

According to the Nashville Scene, Cooper said it is good to have a rotation of leaders in government. State Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-TN-55) is the only candidate running against Briley. According to the Scene:

“Rotation of personnel in citizen government is a good thing,” Cooper told the Post. “Having a bench of personnel who have gone through this learning experience is also super for a community.”

To that point, two new names have recently appointed treasurers to run for one of five at-large seats on the Metro Council: former state Rep. Gary Moore and Zulfat Suara, a controller at Meharry Medical College and chair of the American Muslin Advisory Council.

Constitutional lawyer and civil libertarian Daniel A. Horwitz tweeted, “I’m very sad about this news.  However, it makes going all in for @JRClemmons easy as can be.  Everyone should be grateful for @JCooper4Council’s service on the Council and his contribution to an otherwise insane and clueless body.”

I’m very sad about this news. However, it makes going all in for @JRClemmons easy as can be. Everyone should be grateful for @JCooper4Council’s service on the Council and his contribution to an otherwise insane and clueless body. https://t.co/cjuLk5bG8t

— Daniel A. Horwitz (@Scot_Blog) February 7, 2019

Cooper is the brother of U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN-05) and the son of former Gov. Prentice Cooper.

According to Cooper’s campaign website, he began his career as a door-to-door vacuum salesman and bank teller while in college.

He later managed his brother’s first run for Congress.

Later, he worked in corporate finance in New York and as managing director of a technology investment bank in San Francisco. He works in real estate in Brentwood and founded Happy ReTails, a pet supply store that donates all profits to animal rescue organizations.

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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.