A citywide audit of credit cards used by Metro employees is underway after the resignation of Davidson County Election Commission Chairman Ron Buchanan.
He quit on Monday a few hours before the airing of an investigative report by WSMV that questioned spending by Elections Administrator Kent Wall, including a $123 dinner with Buchanan at the upscale Sperry’s restaurant in Belle Meade.
Election Commissioner A.J. Starling became interim chairman and vowed to cooperate with the audit.
At a previously scheduled meeting Monday with some members of the Metro Council, he said he had reviewed the purchases.
“I do not think that there was any intent or malice or any problems or any person trying to go out and take anything from Metro government on misused credit cards,” Starling said. “I think there may have been some misjudgments.”
Wall, who said he had already decided to retire at the end of March, also defended the expenses highlighted by WSMV.
“We think all these charges were within the guidelines,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Mayor Megan Barry ordered finance staff to examine all transactions by the roughly 200 employees across all Metro departments who have access to credit cards. Metro Finance Director Talia Lomax-O'dneal told the council that the city had made credit cards less accessible in recent years, from about 1,000 in circulation to about 200.
Members of the council mostly praised the audit idea, although some called for an independent probe — especially after a spate of questions teased out potential confusion in Metro’s existing policies for expenses.
“I think we’re going to come out of this in good shape, but I think it’s going to be hard for the public to see it,” Councilman Sam Coleman said. “Surely, we can’t police ourselves. We need an independent audit.”
Councilwoman Mina Johnson said she was bothered that Wall didn’t realize on his own that an expensive dinner could be inappropriate. She asked if he would support an expenditure limit in the future.
“Possibly,” Wall answered.
Gender Slur Provokes Outrage
On camera in theWSMVinterview, Buchanan hurled a gender slur at reporterAlannaAutler— and later stood by the comments in his resignation letter.
Councilors slammed Buchanan for that behavior, saying they won’t stand for officials who behave similarly.
“It bothers me that those words and attitudes could be in any way seen as reflective of attitudes toward women at the Election Commission or in the city,” said Councilman Colby Sledge.
“This council will not tolerate that behavior either. It is reprehensible,” said Councilman Jim Shulman.
Buchanan was one of three Republicans on the Election Commission, and was appointed by House Speaker Beth Harwell. She denounced his behavior and said he “did the right thing” by resigning.
Meanwhile, Councilman Dave Rosenberg tapped into a sentiment common across social media as news of Buchanan’s resignation spread. He tied the gender slur to recent allegations of sexual harassment at the state legislature involving Rep. Jeremy Durham, and the investigation by Nashville prosecutors into whether former councilmanLonielGreene tried to prevent a domestic violence victim from testifying (heresigned abruptly last week).
“Mostly I was disappointed by the disgusting actions and inappropriate comments,” Rosenberg said. “I’m ... not surprised, given what’s going on at the legislature, Speaker Harwell, who appointed him, didn’t see fit to stand up against this kind of behavior in the face of all these rumblings until it had boiled over.”
Sledge also tied together the incidents involving male officials. He ended with a rhetorical question:
“Why would the women of Nashville expect anything better?”
Copyright 2016 WPLN News