Matthews appointed council's Budget and Finance Committee chair

Lonnell Matthews Jr. has been appointed new chair of the Metro Council’s powerful Budget and Finance Committee, Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors announced Thursday.

Matthews, a second-term councilman representing District 1, replaces District 25 Councilman Sean McGuire to lead the committee that plays its biggest role each spring during Metro’s budget process. Council members Megan Barry and Ronnie Steine have previously held the post.

Matthews told The City Paper he’s honored Neighbors appointed him chair, adding he’s eager to “make sure we continue to pass a balanced budget and look at the priorities of this city, and what’s going to move Nashville forward.”

The vice mayor appoints committee chairs each year, except in the case of the Planning and Zoning as well as the Traffic and Parking committee chairs, which the entire council elects for two-year terms.

The current chairs of those committees — Phil Claiborne for Planning and Zoning and Frank Harrison for Traffic and Parking — will remain as chairs for the coming year.

The other newly appointed chairs are:

Jason Holleman — Charter Revision

Bill Pridemore — Codes, Fair and Farmers Market

Jacobia Dowell — Convention, Tourism and Public Entertainment Facilities

Fabian Bedne — Education

Scott Davis — Federal Grants Review

Sheri Weiner — Health, Hospitals, and Social Services

Erica Gilmore — Parks, Library and Recreation

Brady Banks — Personnel, Public Information, Human Relations, Housing Public Safety

Karen Bennett — Beer and Regulated Beverages

Jason Potts — Public Works

Anthony Davis — Rules, Confirmations and Public Elections