Karl Dean is the sixth mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. He was elected on Sept. 11, 2007.

Dean's priorities as mayor are bringing more and better jobs to Nashville and Davidson County, improving schools, and making neighborhoods safer.

Dean first held public office when he was elected as Nashville's Public Defender in 1990, a post he was re-elected to in 1994 and 1998. During that time Mayor Phil Bredesen chose him to serve on the Commission of Twelve, a specially formed crime prevention task force.

Dean served as Metro Law Director from 1999 to January 2007 under Mayor Bill Purcell, advising him on legal issues and bringing people together to solve problems. During his tenure as law director, Dean led the effort to revitalize neighborhoods by closing down over 30 massage parlors and other adult businesses that operated as houses of prostitution.