The Mayor of Nashville, Megan Barry, just resigned after an extra-marital affair with her police bodyguard led to theft charges and a secret court appearance where she pled guilty. No details about that have been released, but there was an ongoing investigation into the exorbitant overtime charges by her bodyguard as they traveled extensively 'on city business'.
All that aside, the shocking turn of events comes at a bad time for the promotion of the 5.2 billion (or 9 billion?) dollar long range transit program. A referendum will be held in early May to approve the plan and recent polling showed a significant plurality, but not a majority, in in favor of the plan with a large undecided vote.
The plan includes extensive upgrades to existing bus service, bus rapid transit service and 20+ miles of light rail including 1.9 miles of it underground.
Hopefully, this distraction is now behind, and the new Mayor, David Briley, who likely supports the plan, will help return focus to the issue in a proactive manner.