People: Ney joins Dean team as ECD chief

Email | Print By NashvillePost.com People Dept.

Paul Ney

Paul Ney, who currently serves as deputy general counsel of the U.S. Defense Department, will be returning to Nashville to serve as director of Economic and Community Development for Mayor Karl Dean.

Formerly a law partner of consummate Democratic insiders Byron Trauger and Bob Tuke, the Republican succeeds Tom Jurkovich in the role of recruiting and retaining businesses to the city. Jurkovich held the position for six years before stepping down to pursue other interests.

The hiring of Ney seems to emulate one aspect of the administration of former mayor Bill Purcell. Purcell, a Democrat, brought on Republican heavyweight Bill Phillips early in his administration to serve as deputy mayor. With Ney on board, Dean is continuing the tradition of having at least one prominent Republican in a senior position of Metro Government's administration.