Eileen Beehan

Eileen Beehan (b. December 18, 1950 in Nashville) was a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, representing the 6th district. cite web | title="Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County-Metro Council" | url=http://web.archive.org/web/20020219224903/http://www.nashville.gov/council/council06.htm | accessdate= February 19 | accessyear= 2002 ]

Education and career

Eileen Beehan served as a Metro Council member from the time she was elected for her first term in 1995 until 2003. During that time, she worked on the Budget and Finance Committee, the Federal Grants Review Committee, the Public Works Committee, and the Traffic and Parking Committee. She was Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee in 1997 until 1998, and 1999 until 2000. cite news|first=Joe|last=White|coauthors=Williams, William. Boerner, Craig. Tackett, Judy. Skip Cauthorn|title=Lineweaver wins juvenile court post|publisher="Nashville City Post"|date=2002-05-08|url=http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=12698] She was a member of the Metro Homelessness Commission. [cite web | title="Nashville.gov - Social Services - Homelessness Commission" | url=http://www.nashville.gov/sservices/homelessness_comm_min.htm | accessdate= September 13 | accessyear= 2007 ] She ran for the position of juvenile court clerk, but lost to fellow council member Vic Lineweaver.

Eileen Beehan has been the director of the Social Services Department of Catholic Charities of Tennessee, Inc. since 1992. Previously, she had worked as a social worker at the Tennessee Department of Human Services and as an administrative assistant at Luton Mental Health Center. Eileen Beehan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Political views

Eileen Beehan co-sponsored a bill that would have prohibited discrimination in employment and housing on the grounds of sexual orientation and disabilities, which drew national attention. [cite news|first=Anne|last=Paine|title=Gay rights bill will draw picketers|publisher="The Tennessean"|date=2003-01-15|url=http://www.tennessean.com/government/archives/03/01/27670171.shtml?Element_ID=27670171] The bill was one of the reasons the Metro Council voted against granting her a seat on the Metro Traffic and Parking Commission. Another factor was that other council members felt Beehan did not speak to them or support them during her two terms. A third being council members wanting to send a message to Mayor Bill Purcell about heavy-handedness and lack of information coming from his office. Eileen Beehan was an honorary grand marshall in a gay pride parade. [cite news|first=Brad|last=Schrade|title=Gay rights fight not the only factor in Beehan rejection|publisher="The Tennessean"|date=2004-02-08|url=http://www.tennessean.com/government/archives/04/02/46648039.shtml?Element_ID=46648039]

Eileen Beehan 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. [cite news|first=Brad|last=Schrade|title=Council approves pay raises|publisher="The Tennessean"|date=2003-07-16|url=http://www.tennessean.com/government/archives/03/07/36032599.shtml?Element_ID=36032599]

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