Negative ads target Freddie O'Connell in Nashville mayor's race
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Freddie O'Connell. Photo: courtesy of the O'Connell campaign
Metro Councilmember Freddie O'Connell's mayoral campaign is the subject of more negative ads in the race's final days.
The latest: Honky-tonk mogul Steve Smith released a third round of ads in his "Anybody But Freddie" campaign.
- Smith's latest ad bashes O'Connell for his opposition to the Titans stadium deal, the racetrack improvement plan and license plate readers for the police department.
- In addition to Smith, businesspeople Bobby Joslin and Bill Hostettler released an ad Sunday bashing O'Connell for his transit plan and supporting protected bike lanes in 12South.
Why it matters: O'Connell is the only candidate to receive negative ads, which often target a perceived frontrunner.
- O'Connell is in first place according to the most recent public polling.
Zoom in: The ad from Joslin and Hostettler claimed it was paid for by "Friends of Enoch Fuzz." But Fuzz who is a minister, told the Nashville Banner he did not give permission for his name to be used.
- Joslin said Fuzz did give permission. He told the Banner he's backing anyone but O'Connell.
- Joslin co-hosted a meet-and-greet for top contender Matt Wiltshire in April, and Hostettler gave Wiltshire's campaign $1,600 earlier this year.
- Wiltshire called the ad "ridiculous" on social media and said he had nothing to do with it. "I hope the people behind it immediately take it down."
Meanwhile: Hostettler also donated $1,800 to state Sen. Jeff Yarbro's campaign. Hostettler reiterated to the Tennessean he wants "anybody but Freddie" as the next mayor.
- Yarbro told the Banner he'd like to see all of the negative ads come down and that he wishes nobody put them up in the first place.
What he's saying: O'Connell tells Axios he's happy for his campaign to be "defined by enemies like this."
- "Look at who is running the ads: two of the people who stand to lose the most when we start reinvesting in a Nashville for Nashvillians," O'Connell says. "The most obnoxious honky-tonk owner on Broadway and the guy who makes his signs, both of whom have been active at encouraging preemption by the state legislature."
- "These aren't ordinary Nashvillians; they're profiteers who have exploited what the rest of us used to love while trying to prevent us from holding on to what we can."