Aug. 14, 2008
A Nashville official English group led by Metro Councilman Eric Crafton submitted 12,503 petitions from registered voters to the Nashville City Clerk’s office today, one day before the August 15, 2008 qualifying deadline. The number was 2,400 more than the 10,103 petitions needed to put an official English ordinance on the ballot for voter approval this November. The action came in the wake of Crafton’s effort to pass an official English ordinance in 2007 that passed the city council, but was later vetoed by Mayor Bill Purcell.
If the initiative is certified and voters pass it, Nashville will become the largest city in the nation with English as its official language. ProEnglish contributed legal expertise and most of the funding for the initiative campaign.
