By Jason Luntz NASHVILLE, TN — District Attorney Candidate Glenn Funk is good for the African-American community, at least according to a group of community leaders who personally endorsed Funk for the position.
“I personally support Glenn Funk because of his commitment to the people who look like me,” said Pastor Enoch Fuzz of Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church.
Pastor Fuzz along with Pastor Breonus Mitchell of Greater Grace Community Church and Pastor Frank D. Stevenson of St. Luke Baptist Church have all thrown their personal support behind Funk as the next DA in Nashville.
With beginnings in public defense, Funk’s 29-year career includes working as an assistant District Attorney in Davidson County before opening his own law firm.
Funk’s background working as a public defender and as a private defense lawyer has helped him develop a relationship with many African-Americans throughout Nashville. “We have the opportunity to elect a DA whose record will not be how many of our people he’s prosecuted, but those he’s given another chance,” expressed Pastor Mitchell.
“The pastors personally see Nashville through the same lens as I see Nashville, which is we are a city with great people and a great spirit in this community,” said Funk. “They want to make sure that the DA office has an open door policy that if they have a concern about the administration of justice or if they want to make sure I understand the background of an individual victim or the background of a defendant that they can talk to me and I will listen to their concerns.”
Funk’s opponent Rob McGuire has also made strides in the African-American community. His campaign acquired endorsements from the majority of members of the Minority Caucus of the Metro Council. McGuire began his campaign with an endorsement from outgoing District Attorney General Torry Johnson.
Funk’s other opponent is former assistant District Attorney Diane Lance, who now works as a special assistant to Mayor Karl Dean. Funk has also attracted community leaders by stating his plans to increase the number of both African-American attorneys and interns in the District Attorney’s office.
There are presently only three African-Americans on the staff of 60 attorneys. Some African-American Community Leaders say that office should have at least 17 African-American Attorneys. They also said that the DA’s office should stop looking for the super African-American lawyer from Yale or Harvard but yet hire some majority lawyers from the Nashville School of Law. The community is aware that there has never been an African American lawyer in the top position in the DA’s office or on the committee that selects incoming lawyers.
When asked about recruiting , “Currently the practice is they see what resumes come in, but you can’t just wait.” Funk continued, “you have to be active in recruiting, we have to be going to the law schools around the south and we are going to cast a net that is fairly wide to try and see how many folks will answer the call.”
Attorney Funk has already reached out to students at Tennessee State University as he has already committed to creating a program that brings in a diverse group of students to work as interns. It is these types of commitments that have allowed Pastors like Frank D. Stevenson to personally support Funk. “I believe we need a voice, a strong voice for our community. I am personally voting for Glenn Funk.” Stevenson said.
If elected Funk says he wants to keep the conversation open with the community of Nashville. “I am going to continue to meet with Pastors across the city when I am elected and I am going to continue to meet with community leaders when I am elected.” Along with diversity on his staff, Funk is running on a platform that includes an effort to help speed up the process of criminal trials in Davidson County. “I have not just practiced in Nashville, I have practiced across the state. There are practices that are effective I want to bring here,” said Funk. “In every other county in Middle Tennessee you are told what day you will be arraigned and that is universally 2 months, here you are told it could be between three to eight months. The reality is justice delayed is justice denied.”
Pastor Fuzz personally feels that Funk’s vision of the DA’s office along with his experience in the community makes him the best person for the job. “I am personally asking for the community to support Glenn Funk because he has already supported our community,” said Fuzz.
Glenn Funk has also received endorsements by the Nashville Firefighters Association. In a recent poll Funk gained the highest rating amongst the candidates by the Nashville Bar Association (Established in 1831, the NBA is a professional organization serving the legal community of Nashville, Tennessee – and proudly has its 1st African-American President – Charles K. Grant elected in 2014) and the Napier-Looby Bar Association (The Napier- Looby Bar Association (“NLBA”) is an affiliate chapter of The National Bar Association, and was founded in 1933 to serve many functions in the African-American and the legal communities. Since 1880, Nashville has enjoyed a significant presence of eloquent and successful black lawyers)
Community endorsements:
David Wilson (Coach, West Nashville Broncos) Glenn Funk was important to my progression as a young Black man. I was in the streets and he didn’t demonize me for it. Instead he represented me and now I serve as the head coach for the West Nashville Bronco’s youth football league. Because of Glenn Funk, I am now able to serve as a mentor to young African-American boys in North Nashville.
Terry Key (Founder, Edge Hill Bike Club) Glenn Funk helped me realize that no matter where you are from you can make a difference. His message says that you have to know the difference between a bad person and a good kid in trouble. Although I started the Edge Hill bicycle club, I too was a good kid in trouble. Glenn Funk gave me a chance to keep more good kids out of trouble and off the street.
Shemika Haywood My family has known Glenn Funk for over 8 years. We have known him because he has been heavily involved in our community not only as a great attorney, but as a basketball coach and a friend. He not only has experience, but he has the right temperament to be an effective district attorney.
Early voting continues through May 1st, and Election Day is May 6th.