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LOCAL OLYMPIANS
JULY 18, 2024 | VOLUME 36 | NUMBER 28
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Swan Ball organizers file lawsuit against Cheekwood
Charity gala committee contends leaders of nonprofit cultural attraction planned ‘coup’ to take control of event BY CONNOR DARYANI, NASHVILLE BANNER
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PHOTO: ELIZABETH JONES
Local voters can now head to the polls
Federal, state primaries begin with early voting while county election is all but over BY NICOLLE S. PRAINO Early voting began in Tennessee on Friday and will include the county general election as well as the state and federal primary, which are to be held on Aug. 1. Polling locations are open at 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday until July 27. For a complete list of addresses and closing times, visit thenewstn.com. In the U.S. Senate race, Sen. Marsha Blackburn faces Tres Wittum as a challenger in the Republican primary. In the Democratic primary for Blackburn’s seat, four candidates appear on the ballot: Marquita Bradshaw, Lola Denise Brown, Civil Miller-Watkins and state Rep. Gloria Johnson from Knoxville. U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles is running for reelection in the 5th Congressional District, with a Republican primary challenge coming
from Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston. Activist and founder of the nonprofit Rise and Shine Tennessee Maryam Abolfazli is the only Democrat running in the primary. U.S. Reps. John Rose and Mark Green are running in their districts with no Republican challengers. Rose’s District 6 seat has three candidates on the Democratic ballot: Lore Bergman, Clay Faircloth and Cyril Focht. Green is likely to face former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry in the general election as she is the only candidate for the District 7 seat in the Democratic primary. For Davidson County voters, Tennessee’s District 20 Senate seat is up for election. It is currently held by Heidi Campbell, who is unopposed as a Democrat, and one candidate, Wyatt Rampy, is vying for the
Republican nomination. In Williamson County, Sen. Joey Hensley’s District 28 spot is up for election. He is not running against another Republican but will face James Dallas, who is on the ballot unopposed for the Democratic nomination. State House of Representative districts that are up for election and that include parts of Davidson County are 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59 and 60. Williamson County district seats that appear on the ballot are 61, 63, 65 and 92. District 60 is one of the contests to watch for Nashvillians. With former state Rep. Darren Jernigan moving to a job in Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s administration, the field is wide open in both the Republican and Democratic primaries. Tyler Brasher and Shaundelle Brooks are >> PAGE 2
An alleged “coup” has taken place at Cheekwood — with a related lawsuit now jeopardizing the 2025 Swan Ball. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court on Tuesday on behalf of a newly formed nonprofit entity associated with the Swan Ball called SB Initiative Inc., alleges that Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art officials orchestrated a “coup” over the past year to take over operations of the annual gala. “[Cheekwood] first offered to begin performing the ministerial accounting for Swan Ball ‘in-house’ at [Cheekwood’s] business office for the 2024 Swan Ball,” reads the complaint. “Not knowing that Defendant was planning a coup to try to take over the Swan Ball gala, Plaintiff accepted Defendant’s offer.” From there, the complaint claims that Cheekwood proceeded to assume control of Swan Ball operations. Outside of a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Swan Ball has been held every year since 1963 as a fundraiser for Cheekwood and bills itself as “one of the premier charity events in the United States.” >> PAGE 2
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