Mike
Jameson, a litigation attorney and former East Nashville councilman who
had a brief run as a General Sessions judge, is Vice Mayor David
Briley's pick to be the Metro Council's new special counsel and director
of the council office.
Briley on Thursday named Jameson — a political ally and personal friend — to fill the vacancy created by the departure of council attorney Jon Cooper, who Nashville Mayor Megan Barry appointed last week as new Metro Department of Law director in her administration. The council approved Cooper's appointment on Tuesday and would also need to sign off on Jameson's appointment to make it official.
"He has experience on the council, he's a great lawyer and is willing to do it," Briley said. "And he will hit the ground running on day one.
"He is a strong believer in the importance of the Metro Council," he added. "He has stayed out of politics here for the last few years and has not really been actively engaged, so he has a sense of interest in the quality of life in the city, but not really involved that much politically. I know he will be a steady hand in the office here."
In choosing Jameson, Briley has picked someone known as a voice for progressives and neighborhoods during his stint on the Metro Council, from 2003 through 2011. Jameson was also a council critic of former Mayor Karl Dean, particularly on financing Music City Center and redeveloping the city-owned fairgrounds, Dean-led projects that Jameson both opposed.
Briley, a former at-large councilman from 1999 through 2007, served alongside Jameson for four years. The two are close friends who often shared the same political causes when their council terms overlapped. Jameson also served as chairman of Briley's unsuccessful mayoral campaign in the 2007 election won by Dean.
"It's an honor to be nominated and I hope my years of service on the Metro Council give some added perspective to the advice I would give council members," Jameson said. "It will be a daunting task to try to fill the shoes of Jon Cooper, who served council members so well for so long."
Following his council term, Jameson was appointed by the council in November 2011 to fill an unexpired term of former Davidson County General Sessions Division VIII Judge Leon Ruben, who died earlier that year. Months later, Jameson lost his reelection to that judicial seat to Rachel Bell in the March 2012 Democratic primary.
Jameson, a Nashville native and attorney for 25 years, began his legal career as an assistant public defender, eventually becoming a partner in the Nashville law firm of North, Pursell, Ramos & Jameson, PLC. There, he focused on civil litigation, commercial litigation, medical malpractice and business litigation.
For the past year,
Jameson has practiced at Morgan & Morgan, a personal injury law
firm. He is a graduate of Father Ryan High School, Vanderbilt
University, and the law school at The University of Tennessee.Briley on Thursday named Jameson — a political ally and personal friend — to fill the vacancy created by the departure of council attorney Jon Cooper, who Nashville Mayor Megan Barry appointed last week as new Metro Department of Law director in her administration. The council approved Cooper's appointment on Tuesday and would also need to sign off on Jameson's appointment to make it official.
"He has experience on the council, he's a great lawyer and is willing to do it," Briley said. "And he will hit the ground running on day one.
"He is a strong believer in the importance of the Metro Council," he added. "He has stayed out of politics here for the last few years and has not really been actively engaged, so he has a sense of interest in the quality of life in the city, but not really involved that much politically. I know he will be a steady hand in the office here."
In choosing Jameson, Briley has picked someone known as a voice for progressives and neighborhoods during his stint on the Metro Council, from 2003 through 2011. Jameson was also a council critic of former Mayor Karl Dean, particularly on financing Music City Center and redeveloping the city-owned fairgrounds, Dean-led projects that Jameson both opposed.
Briley, a former at-large councilman from 1999 through 2007, served alongside Jameson for four years. The two are close friends who often shared the same political causes when their council terms overlapped. Jameson also served as chairman of Briley's unsuccessful mayoral campaign in the 2007 election won by Dean.
"It's an honor to be nominated and I hope my years of service on the Metro Council give some added perspective to the advice I would give council members," Jameson said. "It will be a daunting task to try to fill the shoes of Jon Cooper, who served council members so well for so long."
Following his council term, Jameson was appointed by the council in November 2011 to fill an unexpired term of former Davidson County General Sessions Division VIII Judge Leon Ruben, who died earlier that year. Months later, Jameson lost his reelection to that judicial seat to Rachel Bell in the March 2012 Democratic primary.
Jameson, a Nashville native and attorney for 25 years, began his legal career as an assistant public defender, eventually becoming a partner in the Nashville law firm of North, Pursell, Ramos & Jameson, PLC. There, he focused on civil litigation, commercial litigation, medical malpractice and business litigation.
Briley, who said he approached Jameson about the council attorney position, told The Tennessean he talked to "quite a few people" who had an interest in the job. He said all of them held the right qualifications, but said he felt Jameson was best positioned to "hit the ground running."
Jameson, contingent on council approval, would begin his new job as special legal counsel and director of the council office on Nov. 1. Briley said Jameson's salary would match that of the Metro law director, which is currently $165,000.
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