INTHECHANCERYCOURTFORDAVIDSONCOUNTY,TENNESSEEATNASHVILLE

LUDYEN.WALLACE, ) ) Petitioner, ) )v. ) No._____________________ )METROPOLITANGOVERNMENTOF ) NASHVILLEANDDAVIDSONCOUNTY )andDAVIDSONCOUNTYELECTION )COMMISSION, ) ) Respondents. )_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PETITIONFORWRITOFCERTIORARIANDWRITOFMANDAMUS_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ComesnowthePetitioner,LudyeN.Wallace,byandthroughundersignedcounsel,

andpetitionsthisCourtfor:

1. AwritofcertiorarireversingtheRespondentsMarch9,2018Ordersettingthe

electiontofillthevacancyintheofficeofMayoronAugust2,2018.

2. AwritofmandamuscompellingtheRespondentstosettheabove-described

electiononeitherMay1,2018pursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.§2-14-102(b)(1)orsometime

between May 21 and May 26, 2018 pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-14-102(a) as

commanded by the Charter of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson

County(“Charter”).

ThePetitionerwouldshowuntocourt,afterapresentationofthefactsatissuehere,

the administrative record, the applicable provisions of the Charter and theMetropolitan

Code of LawsofNashville andDavidsonCounty (the “Metro Code”), the applicable state

statutes, and arguments of counsel that the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and

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DavidsonCounty(“Metro”)andtheDavidsonCountyElectionCommission(“DCEC”)erred

by setting the election onAugust 2, 2018 and that theirOrder is invalid because itwas

enteredinviolationofapplicablelaw.

ThePetitionerwouldfurthershowuntotheCourt,asfollows:

PARTIES

1. LudyeN.WallaceisaresidentandcitizenofNashvilleandDavidsonCounty,

Tennessee residing at 2718 Scovel Street, Tennessee.Mr.Wallace is a constituent of the

MetropolitanCouncil’s21stDistrict.

2. As a consequence of the Respondents’ illegal action, the Petitioner—a

qualifiedcandidatefortheofficeofMayor1whoappearedattheDCEC’shearingsettingthe

electiondatethatisthesubjectofthisaction—hasexperiencedaconcreteandparticularized

injurythatisspecifictohim.

3. Petitioner has suffered a distinct and particularized injury as he is being

deniedtherighttoseekelectiveofficeinthereducedtimeperiodcommandedbytheCharter

and will have to expend significant additional resources as a consequence of the

Respondents’ illegal action. Petitioner nowhas towait until August2, 2018 to stand for

electionratherthanuntilMay1,2018orbetweenMay21andMay26,2018asmandatedby

Charter§§15.01&15.03andTenn.CodeAnn.§2-14-102(a)-(b)(1).

4. Campaigns for any office cost time andmoney. Campaigns for the office of

Mayor are particularly costly. The 2015 election for the office of Mayor was the most

1Contemporaneouslywiththefilingofthisaction,Mr.WallaceissubmittinghisnominatingpetitionwiththerequisitenumberofsignaturestomeettheapplicablequalificationsfortheofficeofMayortotheOfficeoftheDCEC.SubsequenttoreceivingtheapplicableapprovalfromDCECevidencingthefactthatMr.WallaceisindeedqualifiedasdeterminedbyDCEC,counselwillimmediatelysupplementthisfilingwithconfirmationthereof.

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expensiveelectioninthehistoryofMetro,withcandidatescollectivelyspendingalmost$17

million.2

5. Petitioner lacks the money to run a campaign for the multiple additional

monthsthathewillberequiredtocampaignasaconsequenceoftheRespondents’illegal

action.SettingtheelectiontothefillthevacancyonAugust2,2018requiresPetitionerto

spendmore money than he possesses and requires him to campaign for an unlawfully

extendedperiodoftime—uptoanadditionalthreemonthsbeyondthetimecommandedby

theCharter.ThisextensionoftimeisaspecificinjurytothePetitionerandisnotcommonto

thegeneralpublic.Theadditionalexpenseandillegalextensionoftimeareaspecialinjury

tothePetitioner’scampaignfortheofficeofMayor.

6. Moreover, Petitioner has a cognizable legal interest in being a qualified

candidatefortheofficeofMayor,anduponhiselection,servingasMayor.Thus,theDCEC’s

failureofDCEC toset a special electionduring the timeperiodmandatedby theCharter

injuresPetitionerbecausehewillbedeniedtheopportunitytobecomeaqualifiedcandidate

andtobecomeMayorinthetimeperiodrequiredbylaw.

7. Petitioner’s injuries can be remedied by the relief sought herein. As an

aggrievedparty,thePetitionerhasstandingbecausehemadeanappearanceviacounselat

themeetingorhearingofDCEC,whichwasheldonFriday,March9,2018.Seegenerally

McFarlandv.Pemberton,530S.W.2d76, (Tenn.2017).Petitionerhasa sufficientspecial

interestorpersonalstakeintheoutcomeoftheDCEC’sdecisionsoastoqualifyas“anyone

whomaybeaggrieved”bythedecisionoftheDCEC.Idat105(“Apartywithstandingtofile

2 https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2015/10/21/nashville-mayoral-races-final-price-tag-168-million/74329134/

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apetitionforwritofcertiorariundersection27-9-101is‘anyonewhomaybeaggrieved’by

theadministrativedecisionatissue.”).

8. RespondentMetroisapoliticalsubdivisionoftheStateofTennessee.Metrois

responsible for theoversight,rulemaking,compliancewithapplicable law,andcontrolof

RespondentDavidsonCountyElectionCommission.

JURISDICTIONANDVENUE

9. ThisCourthasjurisdictionoverthisactionpursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.§§27-

9-101etseq.,Tenn.CodeAnn§29-25-102,andTenn.CodeAnn.§29-14-102.

10. Theacts,errors,oromissionsdescribedhereinwerecommittedinNashville,

DavidsonCounty,Tennessee,whereallpartiesreside.Accordingly,venueisproperpursuant

toTenn.CodeAnn.§20-4-101(a)-(c).

ISSUE

11. OnMarch9,2018,theDCECvotedaffirmativelyonasplit,part-line,3-2vote,3

toholdanelectiontofillthevacancyintheofficeofMayor(the“Vacancy”)onAugust2,2018.

Charter§§15.03requiresaspecialelectiontofillthevacancyatissue.SeeCharter§15.01.

Yet,basedupontheadviceofDCEC’slegalcounselwhoannounceditwasthepositionofthe

MetroDepartmentofLawthattheelectiontofilltheVacancywasnotaspecialelection,the

DCECinsteadsettheelectionforAugust2,2018.Accordingly,thePetitionerhasfiledthis

actiontoremedythatclearlegalerror.

APPLICABLELAW

12. MetroCharter§15.03states,initsentirety,thefollowing:

Sec.15.03.—SpecialElections.

3Thethree(3)RepublicanmembersofDCECvotedyes,andthetwo(2)Democraticmembersvotedno.

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There shall be held a specialmetropolitan election to fill a vacancy for theunexpired term in the office of mayor and in the office of district councilmemberwhenever such vacancy shall existmore than twelve (12)monthspriortothedateofthenextgeneralmetropolitanelection.Thespecialelectionshallbeorderedbythecountycommissionersofelectionsandtheyshallgivenotice thereof asprovidedbyTennesseeCodeAnnotated section2-14-105.When a vacancy exists in the office of vice mayor or in the office ofcouncilmember-at-large,saidofficeshallremainvacantuntilthenextgeneralelectionatwhichtimesuchvacancyshallbefilled;however,innoeventshallaspecialelectionbeheldtofillsuchvacancy.Ifinsuchspecialelectiontofillavacancy for the unexpired term of the office of mayor or district councilmember,orinthegeneralelectionatwhichtimeavacancyintheofficeofvicemayororcouncilmember-at-large,nocandidateshallreceiveamajorityofallthevotes cast for suchoffice, a runoff election shallbeheld five (5)weekssubsequenttothefirstspecialelectiontofillavacancyinaccordancewiththeprovisions hereinbefore set forth in the case of a general metropolitanelection. The provisions ofsection 15.01hereof with respect to voting ingeneralmetropolitanelectionsandwithrespecttoqualifyingasacandidateshallapplytospecialelectionsandtogeneralelectionsatwhichtimeavacancyisfilled.

Thefirstsentencethereinisclearandaspertinenthere,readsasfollows:

There shall be held a specialmetropolitan election to fill a vacancy for theunexpiredtermintheofficeofmayor…wheneversuchvacancyshallexistmore than twelve (12) months prior to the date of the next generalmetropolitanelection.(Emphasisadded).

13. MetroCharter§15.01states,initsentirety,thefollowing:

Sec.15.01. -Whengeneralmetropolitanelectionsheld;whomayvote;qualificationsofcandidates.Forthepurposeofelectingamayor,vice-mayor,five(5)councilmen-at-largeand thirty-five (35) district councilmen, there shall be held on the firstThursdayinApril,1966,andonthefirstThursdayinAugustof1971,andeachfour(4)yearsthereafter,ageneralmetropolitanelection.Atsuchgeneralelectioneachvotershallbeentitledtovoteforone(1)candidateformayor,one(1)candidateforvice-mayor,five(5)candidatesforcouncilmen-at-large, and one (1) candidate for district councilman from the districtwhereinthevoterresides;andthenamesofallqualifiedcandidatesshallbesoplacedontheballotorvotingmachineastoaccordthevotersuchright.Allpersons who are lawfully registered and who are qualified to vote formembersofthegeneralassemblyoftheStateofTennesseeshallbequalifiedto vote in themetropolitan elections. The name of any candidate shall beincludedontheballotorthevotingmachineswhenawrittenpetitionsigned

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byat least twenty-five(25)qualifiedvotersshallsorequestandwhensaidpetitionshallbefiledwiththecountycommissionersofelectionatleastwithinthenumberofdayspriortotheelectionprovidedbygenerallawforthefilingofqualifyingpetitionsofcandidatesforelectiontocountyoffices(emphasisadded).

14. MetroCharter§15.04,statesinitsentirety,thefollowing:Sec.15.04.-Applicabilityofgeneralelectionlaws.Thegeneralelectionlawsofthestateshallbeapplicabletoallmetropolitanelections,exceptasotherwiseprovidedinthisarticle.

15. Tenn.CodeAnn.§2-14-101provides:

2-14-101.Specialelections--Whenrequired.Specialelectionsshallbeheldwhenavacancyinanyofficeisrequiredtobefilledbyelectionatothertimesthanthosefixedforgeneralelections.

16. Tenn.CodeAnn.§2-14-102(a)provides:

2-14-102.Timeofholdingspecialelection.(a)Specialelectionsshallbeheldnotlessthanseventy-five(75)daysnormorethaneighty(80)daysaftertheofficerorbodychargedwithcallingtheelectionreceivesnoticeofthefactsrequiringthecall.Anelectionforanofficeshallbeheldonthesamedayineverycountyinwhichitisheld.(b)(1) If it isnecessary toholdaspecial election to fill a vacant seat in theUnited States house of representatives, a vacancy in a county office, or avacancyinanymunicipaloffice,andthedateforsuchelection,asestablishedunder subsection (a), falls within thirty (30) days of an upcoming regularprimaryorgeneral electionbeingheld in thatdistrict, thegovernor,or thecountyelectioncommission,asspecifiedin§2-14-103,mayissuethewritofelection for the special election for the date which will coincide with theregularprimaryorgeneralelection.

SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS OF ARBITRARY, CAPRICIOUS, OR ILLEGAL ACTIONS

17. Themeeting of the DCEC on Friday,March 9, 2018was not a substantive

discussiononthepositionsoftheCommissioners.Instead,asreflectedincollectiveExhibit

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No. 1, the outcome of the meeting was established prior to the commencement of the

meeting.

18. Specifically, the agenda for the March 9 meeting of DCEC stated that the

purposeofthemeetingwastothe“[a]ddofficeofMayortoAugust2,2018ElectionBallot.”

Petitioner’s qualifying petition,whichwas picked upon themorning of Friday,March 9,

2018,alreadysetthedateoftheelectiontobeAugust2,2018.However,theDCECdidnot

haveitsmeetingtosettheelectiondateuntiltheafternoonofFriday,March9,2018.

19. Followingitspredeterminedagenda,theDCECsetanelectiononadatethatis

forbiddenbylaw.

20. Respondents’above-describedactionswerearbitrary,capricious,andillegal.

WRITOFMANDAMUS

21. ThiscourthasjurisdictiontoissueawritofmandamuspursuanttoTenn.Code

Ann.§§16-10-101etseq.,Tenn.CodeAnn.§§29-25-101etseq.,andTenn.CodeAnn.§5-1-

107.

22. Petitionerseeksaperemptorywritofmandamusbecausehisrighttotherelief

soughthasbeenclearlyestablished.

23. TheDCEChasacleardutytoperformtheactassetforthherein,andthereis

nootheradequateandcompletemethodofobtainingreliefheisentitledunderthelawto

receive.

24. Petitioner’sonlyadequateandcompletemethodofobtainingreliefisbythe

CourtissuingawritofmandamuscompellingtheDCECto:

(1)setaspecialelectionfortheVacancyintheofficeofMayoronadatepursuantto

Tenn.CodeAnn.§2-14-102(a)-(b)(1);

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(2)setthequalifyingdeadlinenosoonerthanMarch22,2018orApril12,2018;and

(3)topublishlegalnoticeofthespecialelectionpursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.§2-14-

105.

PRAYERFORRELIEF

WHEREFORE,PREMISESCONSIDERED,thePetitionerpraysforthefollowing:

1. That proper process issue, service thereof be perfected, and Respondent

requiredtoanswer.

2. ThattheCourtissueawritofcertiorarivoidingtheDCEC’srulingasarbitrary,

capricious,andillegal.

3. That the Court declare, pursuant toTenn. CodeAnn. § 29-14-102, that the

DCECacted illegallywhen itset theelection to fill thevacancy in theofficeofMayor for

August2,2018.

4. ThatPetitioner’s attorneys’ fees, court costs, fees, and taxesbepaidby the

RespondentsduetoRespondents’itsarbitrary,capricious,andillegalactions.

5. That any extraordinary relief be granted to Petitioner aswarranted by the

plainlyarbitrary,capricious,orillegalactionsoftheDCEC,asdictatedbytheCourt.

6. That the Court command the DCEC to: (1) to set a special election for the

VacancyintheofficeofMayoronadatepursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.§2-14-102(a)-(b)(1);

(2)setthequalifyingdeadlinenosoonerthanMarch22,2018orApril12,2018;and(3)to

publishlegalnoticeofthespecialelectionpursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.§2-14-105;and

7. That the Court award the Petitioner any and all other additional relief to

whichheisentitled.

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Respectfullysubmitted,

By: __________________________________________________ JamieR.Hollin,BPRNo.025460 511RosebankAvenue Nashville,TN37206 Tel.615-870-4650 j.hollin@me.com AttorneyforPetitioner

Surety Iamsuretyforcostsinthiscauseinanamountnottoexceed$1,000. __________________________________________ JamieR.Hollin

THISISTHEFIRSTREQUESTFOREXTRAORDINARYRELIEFINTHISMATTER.

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Verification

STATEOFTENNESSEE ) )COUNTYOFDAVIDSON ) I,LudyeN.Wallace,havereadtheforegoingandknowthecontentsthereof.Ideclareunderpenaltyofperjurythattheforegoingistrueandcorrecttothebestofmyknowledge,informationandbelief. __________________________________________________ LudyeN.Wallace Sworntoandsubscribedbeforemethis____________dayofMarch,2018. ________________________________________ NotaryPublic MyCommissionExpires: ________________________________

ExhibitNo.1

NOTICE

OF

DAVIDSON COUNTY ELECTION

COMMISSION MEETING

The Davidson County Election Commission will hold

a “Special Called” meeting

on

Friday, March 9, 2018 at 3:30 p.m.

Metro Southeast Building (MSE)

1417 Murfreesboro Pike

Davidson County Election Commission Conference

Room

Attest: Jeff Roberts, Administrator of Elections

Agenda

1. Add office of Mayor to August 2, 2018 Election Ballot

2. Review Cards