Karl Dean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karl Dean
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| 6th Mayor of Metropolitan Nashville | |
| In office September 21, 2007 – September 25, 2015 |
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| Deputy | Diane Neighbors |
| Preceded by | Bill Purcell |
| Succeeded by | Megan Barry |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Karl Foster Dean
September 20, 1955 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Anne Davis
(m. 1983) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Columbia University (BA) Vanderbilt University (JD) |
Karl Foster Dean (born September 20, 1955) is an American politician. He served as the 6th Mayor of Nashville, Tennessee. His time as mayor was from 2007 to 2015. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming mayor, he was Nashville's Director of Law. He worked under Mayor Bill Purcell from 1999 to 2007. Earlier, he was elected the city's public defender three times. Karl Dean is a lawyer. Today, he teaches law at Vanderbilt University Law School.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University in 1978. He then got his law degree from Vanderbilt University in 1981. When he ran for Mayor of Nashville, he promised to make education better. He also wanted to improve public safety and grow the economy. He said, "it's all connected." During his first year as mayor, he helped keep the Nashville Predators hockey team in Nashville. He also faced big challenges. These included the Great Recession and the 2010 Tennessee floods. During his two terms, he helped change Downtown Nashville. New places like a baseball stadium, a riverfront park, and a convention center called Music City Center were built. Dean supported businesses. He often used tax breaks to bring companies to Nashville. He also helped protect historic places like Music Row and RCA Studio A.
In 2017, Dean decided to run for Governor of Tennessee. This was for the 2018 election. He raised a lot of money for his campaign. He won the Democratic nomination on August 2, 2018. But he lost the main election to businessman Bill Lee.
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Karl Dean as Nashville's Mayor
Becoming Mayor: Elections
Karl Dean announced he would run for mayor on December 19, 2006. His campaign focused on three main areas. These were improving public education, creating economic opportunities, and ensuring public safety. He called these the "three pitches you have to hit every day." In the first election on August 2, 2007, he got the most votes. This led to a second election against Bob Clement. Dean won this run-off election on September 11, 2007. He received 52.2% of the votes.
Dean was re-elected easily in August 2011. He won with 79.2% of the votes. He finished his time as mayor on September 25, 2015. Megan Barry took over as mayor. She was the first woman to hold this position in Nashville.
Improving Education for Students
During Dean's time as mayor, the budget for Nashville schools grew. It increased by $218 million. This was a 37 percent rise. Nashville schools also saw better graduation rates. Fewer students dropped out, and test scores improved. He started the Limitless Libraries program. This program connects Nashville Public Libraries with Metro Nashville Schools. It helped create more chances for schools that needed extra support.
Dean also worked to give families more school choices. He invited charter schools to the city. He also partnered with Teach for America. This partnership helped bring talented teachers to Nashville. Summer academies were also created through this effort.
Growing Nashville's Economy
During Dean's time as mayor, sales tax revenue increased. It went up by over $100 million. This showed Nashville's growth as a major city. A big project during his time was the Music City Center. This is a huge convention center. It has brought in over $735 million for the city. Other projects included building Ascend Amphitheater and First Tennessee Park. These public places bring in millions of dollars. They also helped expand downtown Nashville. Dean also encouraged businesses to move to Nashville. Companies like Bridgestone Americas and HCA relocated there.
Nashville's Recovery from Recession
Dean led Nashville during the Great Recession. This was a time when the economy was very difficult. Even during this period, Nashville saw seven years of economic growth. The city's economy grew by $35 billion. Nashville had one of the best recoveries from the recession. By the end of Dean's term, Nashville had added many jobs. It had the third highest percentage of job growth among U.S. cities. Over 144,300 new jobs were created.
Caring for the Environment
During Dean's time as mayor, more greenways and bike paths were built. These paths help people enjoy nature and exercise. He also added over 4,000 acres of park land. He created the city's Office of Environment and Sustainability. This office helps Nashville become more environmentally friendly. As a result of his efforts, curbside recycling expanded. The city moved towards being greener.
Running for Governor in 2018
On February 26, 2017, Karl Dean announced he would run for Governor of Tennessee. He ran as a Democrat in the 2018 election. He presented himself as a moderate candidate who supported businesses. His campaign focused on education, jobs, and healthcare in Tennessee.
In the first three months, Dean raised $1.2 million for his campaign. He spent $200,000. This made him one of the top-funded candidates. Dean easily won the primary election. He defeated Craig Fitzhugh, a long-time state representative. Dean earned over 75% of the primary votes.
In the general election, Dean was defeated by Bill Lee. Lee was a businessman from Tennessee. He had never held an elected office before. Lee won the election on November 6. He received 1,336,106 votes (59.5%). Dean received 864,863 votes (38.5%).
About Karl Dean's Family Life
Dean has been married to Anne Davis since August 6, 1983. Anne Davis is a well-known lawyer in Tennessee. She is also involved with the Joe C. Davis Foundation in Nashville. Both Anne and Karl are Catholic. Dean and his wife have three children. Their names are Roscoe, Frances, and Wallen.
Karl Dean was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He grew up mostly in Gardner, Massachusetts. He graduated from Gardner High School in 1974.
