Franklin ethics board recommends censure of Gabrielle Hanson amid controversial email

The City of Franklin Ethics Commission on Thursday voted Alderman Gabrielle Hanson violated the city's code of ethics and recommended the city's governing body censure the embattled public official.

Censure is a formal disapproval statement of actions, but does not rise to the level of expulsion.

The four-person ethics commission met Thursday to review whether an email Hanson sent to the Nashville Airport Board violated the City of Franklin's code of ethics.

In the email, Hanson asked the airport authority to withdraw financial support from the Juneteenth festival in Franklin. She characterized the Franklin Justice and Equity Coalition, the event's organizer, as "radical." She then asked the airport authority to send an equal donation to the African American Heritage Society.

More: How Nashville airport's CEO replied to Juneteenth criticism from Franklin alderman

Thursday commission meeting: 2 hours of debates, motions

After nearly two hours of discussion and review of complaints and evidence, committee member Vona Miller motioned for the board to censure Hanson, and let the record show that board members were asking Franklin's governing body, including its mayor, to censure Hanson's actions.

"We recommend that there is censure, that there is accountability for the actions of Alderman Hanson," Miller said. "Some of the things I heard related to integrity and respect for ordinances and the impact of this one message are of great concern to me. I just don't want to ignore that."

Jerry Sharber moved Hanson, who is running for mayor, violated policy with her email soliciting funds from the Airport Authority for the African American Historical Society to match what the airport authority had decided to donate to the Franklin Justice Equity Coalition.

Board chair Jim Miller said Hanson acted knowingly when she sent the email to public officials on the airport board as she mentioned her status as an alderman with the City of Franklin.

"We found that Alderman Hanson and her contact through the June 5, 2023, email has violated two provisions of the Franklin Municipal Code," Miller said.

Hanson's attorney, Daniel Horwitz, motioned to have violations dismissed. It was denied by the commission.

“The First Amendment vigorously protects the rights of elected officials to represent their constituents and advocate about how they believe taxpayer money should be expended. We are disappointed that the Ethics Commission neglected to consider the First Amendment’s application to Alderman Hanson’s protected speech, and we intend to appeal to a court of law promptly," Horwitz said in a statement.

Seven complaints were filed against Hanson following the email.

Pastor uses strong words to characterize Franklin Alderman

Pastor Bryan Herbert, co-founder and vice president of FJEC, called Hanson dangerous.

"Miss Hanson's email stated that she had 20 citizens who are prepared to post publicly about her false claims about the FJEC, myself as a radical divisive organization to be feared," Herbert said. "But what if one person actually believed what she had in that email ... her words have put a target on my back. as if I'm someone to be feared."

Among those complaints was from Peggy Kingsbury, a Franklin resident who said Hanson solicited a gift for the African American Heritage Society.

"Alderman Hanson did attempt to use her position clearly evidence by her letter which notes her position of alderman on more than one occasion to secure the privilege of a donation for her favorite charity," Kingsbury said.

The Franklin Justice and Equity Coalition on Thursday released as statement following the ethic committee's decision.

"Punishment was never an objection for the Hanson email. We only wanted to tell the truth about our Organization, our Partners, and our Volunteers who support the FJEC. The email comments made by Alderman Hanson made it seem that the Black Community needs some type of “Saving” from each other, like we are not intelligent, organized, innovative, or capable of leading an Organization or the Juneteenth Festival in Franklin. Alderman Hanson should be sent to her Peers on the Board of Mayor and Alderman for censure, not the FJEC, or any complaints that arose from Williamson County citizens. As I stated today, Alderman Hanson voted “Yes” in 2022 and 2023 for the FJEC Juneteenth Festival, and wrote the email. I think it’s important that we allow the BOMA to do their due diligence with Alderman Hanson."

Pastor Walter Simmons of the FJEC testified Thursday that hosting the annual Juneteenth celebration has become a liability amid Hanson's email.

"I think Alderman Hanson should remain an alderman, because her continuants voted for her," Simmons told the committee. "Alderman Hanson has caused our sponsors to walk away, but she has not caused our fight to stop."

Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on Twitter @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ethics committee finds Gabrielle Hanson violated code in June email