RESOLUTION NO. RS2016-192

A resolution supporting House Bill 2210 / Senate Bill 2410, as amended, currently pending in the Tennessee General Assembly, which would name the stables within the horse barn on the campus of the Ellington Agricultural Center the “Janis Sontany Stables.”

WHEREAS, Senator Jeff Yarbro and Representative Jason Powell are sponsors of House Bill 2210 / Senate Bill 2410, currently pending in the Tennessee General Assembly, that as amended would name the stables within the horse barn on the campus of the Ellington Agricultural Center the “Janis Sontany Stables” in honor of her years of service to the state, so long as the stables continue to be used to house the Horse Mounted Patrol Unit of the Metropolitan Police Department; and

WHEREAS, Janis Baird Sontany is a former member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing the 53rd District from 2003 until 2012, who served on several committees, including Commerce, Judiciary, Ethics, Children & Youth, Finance, Ways and Means committees; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Sontany served with distinction in the Tennessee House of Representatives and was perhaps best-known for admirable legislative stands against animal cruelty, eventually helping to enact the Commercial Breeder Act of 2009 regulating large-animal breeders; and

WHEREAS, prior to her election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2002, Ms. Sontany served as a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville & Davidson County from 1995 to 2003 representing the 27th district; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Sontany continues to devote her time and efforts to the Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County, currently serving in the Davidson County Clerk’s Office as Government Affairs Liaison; and

WHEREAS, in addition to her electoral and public service, Ms. Sontany has served on a variety of civic and charitable boards and organizations, including service as a past president of the Nashville Women’s Political Caucus, a member of Women in Numbers, Democratic Women of Davidson County, Victims of Crime Counsel, and the Boards of Progress, the Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA Camp Widjiwagan. She is a past recipient of the Council of Mental Retardation Association Public Leader of the Year, Legislator of the Year for Nashville Humane Association and she was an Athena Award nominee in 2002 and 2006; and

WHEREAS, both prior to and during her civic service, Ms. Sontany also worked for 21 years as a Customer Service Representative for DuPont Corporation before retiring in 2004; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Sontany is a native Nashvillian, where she attended Glencliff High school and the University of Tennessee – Nashville, and she is the proud mother of two daughters; and

WHEREAS, through her years of dedicated public service and her devotion to the welfare of the people of Nashville & Davidson County, Ms. Sontany is certainly worthy of the honor to be bestowed upon her by House Bill 2210 / Senate Bill 2410, as amended, particularly in light of her tireless efforts toward animal welfare.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as supporting House Bill 2210 / Senate Bill 2410, as amended, currently pending in the Tennessee General Assembly, which would name the stables within the horse barn on the campus of the Ellington Agricultural Center the “Janis Sontany Stables.”

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to each member of the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly.

Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Jeremy Elrod