Have you ever contacted your representatives or local leaders about concerns, things you’d like them to address, or to let them know what they’re getting right? Leaders represent the people, which means they need to hear from you. But it can be hard to know who to contact about what, and how best to contact them. Here’s your guide to finding and contacting your local leaders and representatives in Nashville.
🏛️ Your Federal Leaders
- Our two U.S. senators are Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Sen. Bill Hagerty.
- Tennessee has nine representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives. Find yours here, along with their contact info.
- These are the people you should call about national concerns.
🗳️ Your State Leaders
- Use this map to find your elected state legislators. You’ll find their contact info by clicking on their profiles.
- Your state senator and house district representative vote in the Tennessee General Assembly. If you have thoughts about the bills they are voting on during this session, contact them.
- Gov. Bill Lee is our governor. Once the Tennessee General Assembly approves a bill, it goes to his desk to sign. Contact him to tell him how you feel about these bills.
👋 Your Nashville Leaders
- Nashville has 40 councilmembers: 35 representing individual districts, and five at-large or county-wide members. Find your district councilmember by entering your address here.
- Our councilmembers make decisions about Nashville-specific improvements and services, from approving the mayor’s budget to voting on surveillance systems like Fusus. They can make big changes to our community's quality of life.
- Our Metro Council meets on Tuesday evenings. Find their schedule and proposals here. Contact them before meetings to let them know your thoughts on the topics that are on the agenda.
- You can also contact Mayor Freddie O’Connell about local concerns.
📱 Best Ways To Contact Leaders
There are three basic ways to contact local leaders and representatives: Phone, email/mail, and in person.
- Calls are the best way to contact leaders because they are immediately tallied. When you call, give your name and say you’re a constituent. Leave a voicemail if you call after hours. Be as specific as possible, including bill numbers, and don’t be afraid to share your personal story.
- Emails and mail are also a great way to contact leaders, even if they take longer to sort through. Like with calls, be specific, mention you’re a constituent, and stick to one topic.
- In-person meetings can be trickier the higher you go up the ladder. You can attend Metro Council meetings and speak during their public comment period, but you must bring your ID and proof of residency. You can also set up appointments with your metro councilmembers. Setting up appointments with your state and federal representatives might be harder, but it doesn’t hurt to try.
📩 What are you contacting your reps about?
