Amanda McClendon served as a Metro Council member from her election on August 5, 1999, until her resignation on September 1, 2006, to become a judge. She ran for re-election unopposed in 2003. Amanda McClendon graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1980. She obtained her J.D. from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1984. She attended Middle Tennessee State University for 2½ years. From 1984 until 2007, she served an attorney in private practice. From 2000 until 2001, she was Chair of the Public Works Committee and Chair of the Federal GrantsReview Committee. From 2000 until 2001 and 2002 until 2003, she was Vice Chair of the Parks-Library-Recreation-Auditorium Committee. From 1999 until 2000, she served as Vice Chair of the Codes, Fair, and Farmer's Market Committee. On the Budget and Finance Committee, she was Vice Chair between 2004 and 2005, and Chair from 2005 until 2006. She was Vice Chair of the Federal Grants Review Committee from 2004 until 2005, and from 2003 until 2004 she was Chair of the Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections Committee. She also served on the Charter Revision Committee.
Political views
Proposals
Amanda McClendon co-sponsored a bill in November 2004 that would have banned barbed wire or razor wire from all residential zoning districts and along sidewalks in the Urban Services District. She also sponsored a bill that would have closed all mobile food trailers in Nashville, based on an average health rating for mobile restaurants of 67. After four people in Tennessee died from West Nile virus, Amanda McClendon introduced legislation that would have changed the Metro Code to crack down on business that allow stagnant water, such as tire businesses that keep their tires outdoors. A bill introduced by McClendon required would-be used auto salesmen and auto repair shop owners to ask the Metro Council for permission before opening a new shop, by creating a site plan that the council could then sign off on.
Votes
Amanda McClendon voted to raise pay rates for city council members from $6,900 to $15,000, the vice mayoral salary from $8,900 to $17,000, and the mayoral salary from $75,000 to $136,500. On the third reading, she voted for the proposal for a new ballpark for the Nashville Sounds, which included provisions for hotels, condos, shops and other businesses on the land adjacent to the stadium.
