Whitson Appointed to Zoning Board

Mike Byrd has been on top of a story involving a former Councilman, Chris Whitson, who was appointed last night to the Metro Zoning Board of Appeals. According to Michael Cass:

Dean’s appointment of Whitson upset some council members and neighborhood leaders because the attorney lives in Belle Meade, which is not subject to Metro zoning laws, and he took some stances on the council that some viewed as anti-neighborhoods.

Having not been home to watch the Council meeting, I was curious as to why Whitson would be approved unanimously if there were, as Cass says, "upset council members". Mike explains in a comment:

It was a voice vote, which is typical of all appointments. I've never seen a roll call vote taken on an appointment. The committee also voted unanimously, but I don't know if they voice voted or not. Here are the confirmations committee members:

Rip Ryman, Chair; Greg Adkins; Megan Barry; Carl Burch; Erik Cole; Jim Gotto; Frank Harrison; Jim Hodge, Vice Chair; Mike Jameson; Anna Page

Voice votes are recorded in the minutes as unanimous.

I don't have an answer to the question of why the specific council members who opposed would not want to be recorded as voting against.

You'd think with the makeup on the committee, if there had been stiff opposition, it would've been voiced there...or maybe they wanted to stay solid with Mayor Dean.

Update:

I spoke with a Council Member who said that Dean really pushed people to back Whitson, and that nobody really wants to start a fight yet with the Dean administration, at least over this issue.