NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The public got its first look at the people who will control of the construction of the new downtown convention center.

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Metro Council members interviewed six of the nine candidates chosen by Mayor Karl Dean to be placed on the Convention Center Authority.

Collectively the nominees bring years of experience in finance and tourism to the board that will oversee the city's biggest construction project ever.

Willie McDonald is a banking industry veteran and sits on the current convention center board. Marty Dickens is the former president of AT&T and chairman of the Belmont Board of Trustees.

Mark Arnold co-owns Gray Line tours and is an investment banker.

"I've completed over $9 billion in financings over my career," said Arnold.

The only nomination hitting a snag is that of former council member Leo Waters. Waters was an NES board member when the council wanted to rein in the Nashville Electric Service's high salaries.

"Mr. Waters was vehemently opposed to that. He said essentially the council had no business meddling in NES's affairs," said Metro Council member Jim Gotto.

That could be an important issue since the council wants a board it can hold accountable.

Another issue is that Waters chaired a Music Row development committee -- one that tried to take the property of a small business by eminent domain -- to give it to a private developer.

"I would love to have seen that $150 million project and all those jobs over there, but they made a compromise, and it all worked out," said Waters.

That's an issue because the convention center authority will have eminent domain power. Waters said as a public servant, he's had to make tough decisions.

"That's one of the things you have to do. People will disagree with it, but that's America," said Waters

Not all the candidates for the convention center authority could attend the meeting on Tuesday night. There will be a second round of interviews.

The authority will take over control of the project from the Metro Housing and Development Authority, which had been criticized by council members for failing to control costs.