June 2025

Missed a Hot Topics program or want to revisit a powerful discussion? Visit our YouTube channel to watch past programs on issues that matter—from voting rights and public health to education and environmental justice. It’s a great way to stay informed and engaged on your own schedule!

Virtual
Time: Wednesday | 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM CT

Join us for a discussion over Zoom on the state of due process with Brandon Garrett, author of "Defending Due Process", and local immigration attorney Karla Torres-Sueiro, sharing real-world stories from Tennessee.

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Dot Dobbins was a widely known and highly respected attorney in Nashville. Her practice of law spanned over forty years, dedicated to public service positions in her early career and private practice later. She specialized in family law with a particular concern for women and children in precarious situations. In Nashville, she was well known for her efforts to advance the participation of women in the field of law, and she was a role model for many. She handled scores of cases for individuals and groups in many different situations, including the League of Women Voters. Read her legacy here.

As I reflect on my term as President of the League of Women Voters of Nashville, I am so proud of all that we have accomplished. Our League has demonstrated what it truly means to be a nonpartisan force for civic engagement. We registered new voters at high schools and community centers, hosted forums that encouraged civil discourse on complex issues, and deepened our advocacy for our key issues around education, healthcare, and many more. Every event, every newsletter, and every conversation was a thread in the fabric of progress.

None of this would have been possible without you — our dedicated members, board, partners, and supporters. You showed up, volunteered, led, and lifted one another. Whether it was working at a voter education event, joining our advocacy efforts, or poll watching in an election, you moved this work forward. I’m especially proud of the ways we’ve strengthened our relationships across communities, continuing to broaden the League’s reach and relevance. 

To the incoming leadership team: I offer my full support and deep gratitude. The League is in wise, capable, and courageous hands. I look forward to seeing how you build on this momentum and lead us into the future. Though my term as president ends, my commitment to the League does not. I will continue to be a member, a champion, and an advocate because our democracy needs every voice, and our work is far from finished.

At the annual meeting, we were excited to present Sabina Mohyuddin with the Molly Todd Award. In 1995 the Molly Toddy Award was established to give recognition to a member of the League of Women Voters of Nashville who followed Molly’s footsteps as a leader and advocate for civil rights, voter education, and civic participation. 

As the Executive Director of the American Muslim Advisory Council, Sabina has championed inclusion, built coalitions across differences, and empowered historically underrepresented communities to take their rightful place at the civic table.Sabina has been a trusted advisor and dedicated board member for the league. She speaks up for justice, equity and dignity.

Whether organizing voter education efforts, engaging youth in civic life, challenging Islamophobia, or fostering interfaith dialogue, Sabina embodies the core values of this award. She works not for recognition, but for results. Her impact can be felt in Nashville and beyond. Our community is better for all her hard work. Sabina’s leadership reminds us what is possible when we lead with conviction and compassion. Sabina inspires us to be better neighbors, stronger advocates, and more hopeful citizens.

The League of Women Voters Nashville would like to thank the board members who are rolling off the board this year. We are so grateful for their service to the league and their efforts that have helped us serve our members and our community.

Karen Wieckert and Melissa Hanson: Thank you for your tireless efforts to keep Hot Topics relevant and interesting for the community.

Russanne Buchi-Fotre and Jack McFadden: Thank you for building bridges with environmental groups in Nashville and highlighting the great work happening in the community.

Patti Scott: Thank you for informing us and advocating for healthcare issues and planning the legislative forum

Kalen Russell: Thank you for your work as Voter Services Co-Chair and organizing voter outreach events and all you did to contribute to the success of our voter services committee.

The Public Health Committee encourages you to take action on Medicaid and SNAP.

Here are some resources from the League and from the Tennessee Justice Center:

-Tell Congress Not to Gut Medicaid 

-League of Women Voters Health Care Reform Platform

-TN Justice

The Public Health Committee’s focus is on health, health care access, and health equity, but we are fully aware that health happens beyond the clinical walls. To that end, we are excited to promote the September 5 Hot Topics on Social Drivers of Health (SDOH). SDOH is usually referred to as Social Determinants of Health. Recently, public health professionals have recommended that we call it the Social Drivers of Health because “determinants” have a sense of finality. We know that the things that drive health are not permanent, we need to move upstream, and that we want to work with communities to foster the change needed to promote health for all.

We are very excited to explore the topic with our local experts! Please join us September 5, 2025 for our discussion with Jane Dimnawobi, Equal Justice Works Fellow with the Tennessee Justice Center, and Dr. John Vick, Director of the Office of Primary Prevention, Tennessee Department of Health

VOTING/ ELECTIONS

Voter Registration Deadline: Oct. 7

Early Voting: Oct. 16th-31

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline:  Oct. 29

Election Day: Nov. 5

Click here for 2025 Voter Information.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING/ UNHOUSED

Nashville will receive $5 million from the White House and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to remove barriers to affordable housing production and preservation by creating a Faith Based Development Institute. "As the cost of land increases, it becomes even more challenging to create affordable housing units, and our faith community, which owns nearly 4,000 acres of land across the county, represents a significant opportunity to partner together to create affordable housing options," Mayor O'Connell said. 

PUBLIC SAFETY/ TRANSPORTATION/ TRAFFIC/ POLICE

A bill passed on first reading, (passing 3 readings is required for full passage) with much discussion, prohibiting employees of the police, fire, and all metro departments from joining hate groups that incite violence.  It is unusual for bills to be discussed on first reading.

City Council approved the purchase of license plate readers back in March of 2024. Mayor O'Connell made the decision to halt implementation of LPRs.  LPRs from the initial pilot program may still be in operation.  And certain parts of town, such as Belle Meade, and private locations such as apartment complexes and parking lots continue to have their own LPRs.

GENERAL

A rule change was made to who can speak at the public comment period at the start of each council meeting.  Only residents of Tennessee may sign up to speak.   Residents must show proof of residency to staff when signing up to speak.  There is a long list of documents allowed to prove residency and staff have discretion to accept a document that is not on the list.  This change will take effect in mid October.  It is a direct result of the episode of Nazis signing up to speak with fictitious names at a metro council meeting.  They were very loud and disruptive in the council room which caused them to be escorted out of the building.  If they had not been disruptive, the council might have had to listen to what they had to say.  The public comment period at the beginning of every metro council meeting is relatively new as it was mandated by the state in spring 2024.

At the June 6 Hot Topic session, Peggy Caldwell and Dr. Jessie Adams, representatives of Voices for a Safer Tennessee shared staggering firearm statistics and impacts on citizens in the state of Tennessee and provided information on their nonprofit organization's advocacy efforts to reduce these harms through public education and policy improvements. 

Firearms are the number one cause of death for our state's youth ages 1-17, surpassing motor vehicle accidents for the first time in 2020 and continuing to widen that gap in the following years so that now, 1 in 4 child deaths are caused by gunfire.  Additionally, Tennessee holds the third highest rate of unintentional shootings by children.  Our state ranks in the Top 10 for highest firearm rates in the nation, coupled with a 50% higher rate of suicide by firearm than the US average. Older white males are most vulnerable to suicide by gun and veterans in particular are at risk with 4 out 5  suicides involving a firearm. 

Regulated access to guns is also impacted by the 30,000+ guns reported stolen from vehicles since 2013, a number that sky-rocketed since restrictions of locations for gun storage were eased  and permitless carry laws were enacted.

When it comes to Davidson County specifically, we've seen the firearm death rate increase by 5% (2012-2021 over 2002-2011) and continue to run consistently higher than the national average. Firearms were used in 75 domestic homicides since 2007. 

Voices for Safer Tennessee supports background checks for all gun transactions, including private sales which currently does not require this. They also encourage policies requiring secure storage of firearms and establishing a temporary transfer policy to help reduce firearm suicide rates.  

To learn more about Voices for Safer TN, visit: voicesforsaferTN on Instagram and Voices for Safer Tennessee on Facebook.

Hot Topics returns for the 2025-2026 term on August 1. Watch for information in the July Voter and our social media sites.  As always, you will receive an email invitation to register for upcoming events!  

Descendants of Luke Lea, who donated the land now known as Warner Parks, have filed a lawsuit asking a court to determine if a proposed road violates the original 1928 agreement that the land be used only for “public park purposes.” The road, recommended in Metro’s Belle Meade Highlands Design and Mobility Study, aims to ease traffic to Cheekwood Estate & Gardens but has sparked significant backlash from park users, Belle Meade residents, and Lea’s heirs. If deemed a violation, the land could revert to the Lea family. Read more here.

Co-Presidents: Ophelia Doe and Kathryn Anderson

1st Vice Presidents: Karen Hernan and Ethel Detch

Secretary: Ethel Detch

Treasurer: Susan Mattson

Nominating Committee Members:

Betsy Walkup

Constance Caldwell

Hasina Mohyuddin

June Bond

Brenda Wynn

Portfolio Chairs

Communications: Yolonda Beech

Community Connections: Sabina Mohyuddin & Leona Edwards

Education: Dr. Patricia H. Brock, Dr. Leslie Cowell, and MaKenzie Mosby

Environment: Kelley Knott-Sandifer, Simone Chhut, Carynton Howard, and Catherine Price

Health Care/Public Health:  Harper-Grace Niedermeyer, Erika Thomas, and Ashudee Kirk 

Membership: Reba Holmes and Dani Sheree Ross

Metro Government:  Pat McCauley, Kathleen Murphy, and Brenda Haywood

Voter Services: Sue Johnson and Anne Smith

Williamson County Representative:  June Bond

Nominating Committee Chair: Senator Brenda Gilmore 

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS NASHVILLE
Box 158369, Nashville, Tennessee 37215

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contact@lwvnashville.org

NON-PARTISANSHIP STATEMENT
The League is proud to be non-partisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to their members and the public. The League works to encourage informed and active participation in government and to influence public policy through education and advocacy.

DISCLAIMER
Views expressed by non-League links are not necessarily those of the League. The links are provided as a service to visitors.