Hanson evades censure with resignation, Caesar sworn into office

Former Franklin mayoral candidate and now former Alderman Gabrielle Hanson evaded censure on Tuesday night after she resigned on Monday at 11:59 p.m., the day before her last day as an elected official. 

The Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen was expected to vote to censure Hanson after her two-year stint at public service came crashing down around her 2023 mayoral campaign. But her resignation meant that they didn't get their chance, having passed up on their previous opportunity in September prior to her overwhelming loss in the Oct. 24 election.

Hanson broke her post-election silence with an appearance on an Arizona-based podcast where she claimed, without evidence, election fraud, but never took legal action to actually contest the results.

Hanson made national news following a slew of incidents throughout 2023, which included defending her association with white supremacists who acted as a show of force at a Franklin candidate forum; appearing with a white supremacist as her campaign platformed white nationalist talking points; falsely claiming to have had advanced knowledge of the Covenant School shooting; alleging "unfounded" threats against her surrounding her opposition to the 2023 Franklin Pride Festival; threatening to have our reporter arrested; evading questions about her criminal past; and attempting to pressure the Nashville International Airport to pull sponsorship support of a Juneteenth event, leading to a city ethics violation and her failed attempt at suing the Franklin Ethics Commission.

Hanson's campaign was also under the microscope of NewsChannel 5's investigative reporter Phil Williams who has published several stories about the embattled candidate's deceptive campaign posts featuring relative strangers as well as questions about Hanson and her husband's residency and her husband's participation in a Chicago Pride parade, a topic which Hanson has been vocally against.

Hanson has ignored all requests for comment from The News since her defeat.

Hanson announced her resignation in an email to BOMA on Monday, having previously ceased communications with the board and having her husband turn in her work computer and city identification badge.

In that email obtained by The News, Hanson said that she was required to vacate the office prior to Nov. 14 and called her participation in any discussion or vote of old business on the agenda, whose only item was her possible censure, “improper.”

“It has been an honor to serve with you and to serve my constituents through the conclusion of my term,” Hanson's letter reads in part. “I hope you will welcome and support Alderman-Elect Caesar as he assumes my office on November 14th.”

“Since she is no longer an official, censure would really not be appropriate for a citizen since she has since resigned,” city attorney Shauna Billingsly said.

“To say that I am irritated over this effort to escape accountability would be an understatement,” Alderman Matt Brown, who was elected to the role of vice mayor later in the meeting, said.

“She's essentially walked out on the city that she wanted to serve and to lead, which I said I guess it's probably par for the course, but I think it was warranted, I think we should have. Having said that, I am loving the energy in this room,” Brown said, adding that he is “extremely excited about this board and what we're going to accomplish.”

“We were all recently told by Gabrielle Hanson that she had arrived here just as Franklin was crumbling; She lectured us from her chair, that one right there, that we're about to reap what we what we've sown,” Alderman Jason Potts said. “More incorrect words have never been spoken in these chambers; The city of Franklin is not crumbling — far from it — our great city’s foundation is stronger than it has ever been.”

These sentiments were shared throughout the board, reflections of many statements already expressed by BOMA when they verbally condemned Hanson's actions in their Oct. 11 meeting, namely for her allegiance with white supremacists.

Alderman Patrick Baggett said that he, BOMA and the community are “exhausted” from the seemingly endless “drama” throughout Hanson's campaign, adding that he's “relieved that this is over."

“I hope that we continue with that stamina throughout everything that goes on in our community way beyond this boardroom or way beyond the city limits of Franklin. It's what makes us special,” Alderman Brandy Blanton said, adding, “I would have loved to have said one more time to her, ‘Bless your heart.’ ”

Newly reelected Aldermen Clyde Barnhill, Ann Petersen and Blanton took a renewed oath of office along with newly reelected Mayor Ken Moore and newly elected Alderman Greg Caesar.