Michael Craddock

Early life

Born and raised in Nashville Tennessee. Michael attended Beauna Vista, Glenn, Highland Heights and graduated from East High school in 1974.

Education and career

In his first term in the Metro Council, Michael Craddock served on the Codes, Fair, and Farmer's Market; Public Safety - Beer and Regulated Beverages; and Traffic and Parking Committees. In his second term, Michael serves as Chair of the Public Safety Committee for 2008, he is also a member of the Codes and Budget and Finance Committees. He currently works as a realtor. He graduated from East Nashville High School in 1974 and the Institute of Real Estate Training in 1980.

Bills sponsored

Michael Craddock was the author of the idea of installing survelliance cameras in Nashville parks that experienced problems with persons committing deviant sex acts. Michael Craddock also sponsored the mobile vendor bill which prohibits selling items in parking lots. During 2006, Craddock sponsored and obtained approval in the Metro Council for a Charter Amendment to be placed on the November 2006 ballot that would allow the people of Nashville to vote for and create the position of independent Auditor. In the November 2006 election, the people of Nashville overwhelmingly approved the charter amendment and by this August for the first time in the history of Nashville we will have a completely independent auditor. Throughout his tenure in the Metropolitan Council, Craddock has consistently criticized waste of the taxpayers' dollar.

In June 2009 Michael sponsored and obtained unanimous approval of a ban on booting vehicles.

Craddock has been quoted as saying that he intends to introduce legislation to legitimize the practice and add structure to it.

Political positions

During his time on the council Craddock has been opposed to many issues seen as supportive to the GLBT community. In 2009, Councilman Craddock voted against a non-discrimination ordinance sponsored by Councilwoman Megan Barry that would extend employment protection to gay and transgender city workers. In 2011, Craddock opposed an ordinance that would extend the 2009 NDO to companies that contract with Metro Government. Craddock was also reported to have said he was "sick to his stomach" at news of a male only strip club coming to Nashville, saying that "If Metro council could do something - you're looking at the man who would do it".

Craddock was a consistent critic of plans to bring a convention center to downtown Nashville using general revenue as bond collateral, asking "[h]ow on earth can we justify using tax payer money to build a Convention Center. I’d crawl under the table before I’d tell these people that I’m going to up and raise their taxes." Craddock was skeptical of a 2010 study claiming a large increase in jobs and revenue to the city, saying, "[t]his study says we are going to create 1,524 new jobs, its going to cost us $600million to do that, that's about $400,000 per job, I can think of a better way to spend that $400,000."

Craddock was a staunch opponent of plans to redevelop the Tennessee State Fairgrounds and Racetrack for commercial purposes, saying "[t]he fairgrounds is part of my fabric, my culture. I'm ashamed it's been neglected."

May 2010 Criminal Court Race

The term-limited councilman sought a new position as Criminal Court Clerk of Davidson County. In the May 18, 2010 Democratic Primary election, Craddock was soundly defeated by four-term incumbent David Torrence, receiving only 4,988 votes against Torrence's 10,852.

August 2011 Mayoral Race

On March 31, 2011 Craddock held a kick-off party at his home for his run to replace Karl Dean as Mayor of Nashville, with a central issue being Dean's attempted redevelopment of the Fairgrounds into commercial property.

On April 11, Craddock announced that his campaign had raised $14,075 as of April 1, compared to $520,000 cash on hand claimed by the Dean campaign. Faced with lackluster support and unable to raise much money, Craddock withdrew from the race on May 25; Karl Dean was subsequently reelected by a landslide.