Mayoral Race Gets Heated As Election Nears

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The race for Nashville mayor took a fiery turn Friday when Karl Dean took a swipe at his opponent, Bob Clement, and Clement's record.

Related: Nashville Mayoral Race Gets Heated | Special Section: Nashville Mayoral Election

An unused bus depot on Demonbreun Street served Friday as Dean's new weapon against Clement.

Known as the Clement Landport, Dean said it's an example of Clement making promises he can't keep from his time as a congressman in Washington.

"We're standing here at the Landport because this is a great example of an idea with no forethought and no follow through. Bob Clement is genuinely concerned about transportation. I am too. But to spend $4.6 million to build what has become a vacant lot is not a wise use of taxpayers' money,” Dean said.

Officials from the Metro Transit Authority said at one point the Landport was used but then closed because of nearby construction.

An MTA representative said plans are under way to reopen it.

Clement would not appear in an on-camera interview with Channel 4 News.

His representative said Clement feels it's a viable project that's not been properly utilized.

"This is the final days of the campaign (and) there are undecided voters. They need to know what the differences are,” Dean said.

Clement said in a prepared statement that "In the final days of the campaign, Karl Dean is misrepresenting Bob Clement's record and launching negative attacks. When things get tough at the end of the campaign, Dean has abandoned his promise to run a positive campaign. It makes you wonder what Dean will do when things get tough in Metro -- raise property taxes?"

Both candidates are depending on one-on-one contact to court voters.

Dean is hosting a town hall meeting on education Saturday morning, and Clement will be going door to door in north Nashville.

Special Section: Nashville Mayoral Election