A Few Questions With

A Few Questions with at-large Councilmember Sharon Hurt

BY JUDITH TACKETT

If you started following Nashville’s mayoral campaign, you have certainly come across Councilmember Sharon Hurt’s name, who announced in 2022 a run for mayor. Hurt is a two-term at-large councilmember and is also the executive director of Street Works, a nonprofit for people affected by HIV and AIDS.

The Contributor talked with Hurt as part of a series called A Few Questions With where we interview councilmembers about their district’s most pressing issues.

When you ran as an at-large councilmember representing the entire city, what were the main goals you had and which of those are you most focused on as you possibly serve your last year?

My main goal was to bring more equity to minority- and women-owned businesses, and it’s still my main goal. There are too many forgotten people, too many forgotten families, too many forgotten communities. The wealth in our community is not distributed equitably to all people, and we need to change that. That is something I will continue to advocate for, especially when it comes to small businesses and those individuals who have been disenfranchised, including those who are unhoused, those who are disabled, veterans, or people of color.

What are some of the most pressing concerns you hear from your constituents?

The most pressing concerns are about housing and traffic. People are no longer able to afford to live in the city and communities do not look like they used to look. I want to preserve the culture of what Nashville was for me, and what I believe it is for so many people.

And of course, I hear concerns about safety and education, especially in the wake of the gun violence we just had with the Covenant mass shooting. It’s always been in our minds, but then it is put on our back burner until something like this most recent mass shooting occurs. The Waffle House shooting was about five years ago. But until we really make some strong, enforceable, common-sense laws, we’re going to continue to deal with the same type of unfortunate situations that we are grieving right now.

I always view that prevention is the best solution to any problem that we have.

If the state legislature prevails with its law to change the Metro Council and if you were not elected as the next mayor in August or September, would you be willing to continue for one more year as an at-large member? Why, why not?

Today I would say, yes, I would continue because the people voted me in. They expect me to fulfill my time and my responsibility. If we get to that point where Metro Council is [required to change and asked to serve an additional year], and that would not be up to us nor to the [Nashville voters] — because they have voted and said loud and clear that what they wanted —

I still would feel that I have an obligation to the people I serve. I would not want to fail them in any way.

As the head of Street Works, you are familiar with the plight of marginalized populations in Nashville. What are some of the changes you would like the city to make to better address the needs of people experiencing housing insecurity?

I think we have to get ahead of these things. That’s the concern that I have. While we’re addressing the 2,000 people who are homeless right now, we’ve got 10,000 that are on the verge of being unhoused. I think we have to anticipate those things and get in front of them. As I said, prevention is the best solution.

I think we have to provide resources. We have got to have job creation, workforce development, trainings, meet people where they are, find out what’s at the root of the problem, so we can get to the cause of it.

We don’t really know what’s happening and what has caused those we serve to be where they are. Whether it’s a concern that they have, whether it’s a real service that they need, [we won’t know] until we communicate effectively to the people, and they communicate with us. Once we understand what it is that they need and are in a position to provide that, that’s what I think is where we need to go. If we don’t go there, I think we will fail our people.

You are running for mayor. What are some of your top priorities?

My top priority is to restore hope and prosperity to every person, let them know that they are valued, that they can make their dreams come true, that Nashville is a city for all people.

That means we have to make sure that our public education is top 10. We’re going to have to focus on that. We’re going to have to focus on workforce development and job creation. We’re going to have to focus on traffic, what it is we need in order for people to be able to mobilize themselves in and around this city. We’re going to have to focus on public safety and ensure that every person feels safe and that they are safe in this city.

I want to redefine public opinion because Abraham Lincoln said that, “whoever can change public opinion can change the government.” And our government needs changing.

I want to make sure that we redefine what minority means. It is not race-based, but it’s need-based. The woman who has a child needing hospital and health care that lives in Madison. The man who is a veteran and has not been able to find the work that he needs to provide for his family. The disabled person that is out of a home. Anyone who is disenfranchised, I consider to be [a] minority.

And I believe we as a city and a state should take on the responsibility and the obligation in order to provide for that person, so every person can have their promises fulfilled in this city.

People come here every day wanting to be a songwriter, a musician, an engineer, and so on. They all come here for their dreams to come true. This is a city of hope, and we want to make sure that we give people that hope. That’s why they’re coming here, they love the city. Once they get here, they find it to be infectious. We’ve got legacy residents that we need to maintain and support and make sure that they’re not pushed out.

So, all of those who have been disenfranchised or forgotten, I want them to know that they are valued, and they’re loved. And they can have their dreams come true.

Anything else you’d like to add?

I think that even though they call us politicians because we have to affect policy in order to get things done as part of the process. But honestly, I believe the role of an elected official is to be a public servant.

The Constitution starts with “we the people,” and it says that the government exists in order to serve its citizens. We need to make sure we put people before politics. We do what’s right as opposed to what’s legal. It doesn’t make sense for there to be so much wealth… you know, I heard constituents talk about coming out of these luxury buildings and hotels and condos, and yet you see people [lying] on the street.

Something is wrong with that picture. We’ve got to change. There has to be something we can do to eliminate this tale of two cities. And I think it is on us to make sure that that happens.