Authorities are looking at Metro Nashville School Board member John Little for living outside the district he represents.
Little said Monday that he actually has two homes, one of which is within the boundaries of his school district.
“I always had plans to have a residence in the district,” Little told The Tennessee Star.
“As I read the Metro Charter I wanted to follow the law.”
Without naming names, Little also said “multiple elected officials hold two residences.” He said he plans to seek out those people and ask for their advice.
Yahoo News reported Monday that Metro Nashville Public School (MNPS) officials forwarded the matter to the Metro Legal Department earlier this year. The Metro Legal Department then sent it to Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk.
Little told The Star on Monday that he never donated to Funk’s political campaign, but he did help Funk and also attended a few of Funk’s campaign events.
Because of that, Williamson County District Attorney Kim Helper has taken over the inquiry, Yahoo News reported. Little said Monday that he has heard nothing from Helper’s office.
Yahoo News also reported that several people have criticized Little for his “ties to charter schools and the education reform movement.”
“I support good schools. It can be a traditional school. A public charter school or a private school,” Little said Monday.
“I think where we are at this point that we can’t have brands that we choose over others. Whatever works.”
The Star asked Little if he thinks the pushback against him is related to his support for charter schools.
“I don’t,” Little said.
“I think it’s people who have reasonable questions that should be answered.”
Little’s term, according to Ballotpedia, is scheduled to end in 2022.
“Little ran in a special election to the Metropolitan Nashville Board of Education to represent District 4 in Tennessee,” according to Ballotpedia.
“Little won in the special general election on November 3, 2020.”
Yahoo News reported that it is not a criminal violation for Little to live outside his district, “but local elected officials can be removed from office through civil proceedings if they’re found to live outside the boundaries of their district.”
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “John Little” by John Little. Background Photo “Tennessee State Office” by DCMA.
