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Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, a Democrat, donated $500 to the campaign fund of Nashville Republican and Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell.(Photo: File / The Tennessean)Buy Photo

In something of a surprise move, the campaign committee for Democrat and Nashville Mayor Megan Barry donated $500 to the campaign committee for Republican and Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell.

While the amount of money is relatively small, the fact one of the most prominent Democrats in Tennessee would donate to someone expected to seek the GOP nomination for governor in 2018 raised eyebrows among Nashville politicos.

"Friends of Megan Barry" donated $500 to Harwell's account on Jan. 9, the last day state lawmakers could accept donations before the start of the legislative session. Barry spokesman Sean Braisted said the mayor contributed to every state lawmaker in the Nashville delegation, comprised of 10 Democrats and two Republicans.

With Gov. Bill Haslam set to depart, the 2018 race is expected to attractan untold number of Republican candidates.

Former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, Barry's predecessor,is among Democrats weighing a bid. He hasn't filed any paperwork to indicate a formal run, but he's expected to announce his decision in the first part of this year. Nashville businessman Bill Freeman, who ran unsuccessfully for Nashville mayor in 2015, and state House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh of Ripley are also considering gubernatorial runs.

Harwell, R-Nashville, reported receiving $50,000 in the first nine days of January, which she can eventually combinewith the more than $1 million she has stored away in other campaign accounts. While Harwell hasn't officially announced that she will run for governor, the fact she filed this specific campaign finance report this week is an indicator ofher interest. The Nashville Post first reported Harwell's filing.

Barry's contribution to Harwell comes as the mayor is in need of the state legislature's help to pass legislation that would allow Nashville and other local municipalities to holdpublic referendums to use sales tax revenue to fund public transit projects.

Barry is hoping to find ways to begin paying for a $6 billion regional transit system that the Regional Transit Authority adopted last year.Harwell has expressed support fora local funding option for transit as long as it is contingent on a referendum.

A spokeswoman for Harwell did not immediately respond to a requestfor comment.

Other gubernatorial candidates have also filed similar campaign finance documents, including state Sen. Mark Green. The Clarksville Republican received $5,000 from the political action committee of recently retired Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, helping him reach a donation total of nearly $193,000 during the first few days of January. A spokesman for Green said the senator has nearly $650,000 cash on hand for his gubernatorial bid.

Reached by phone, Ramsey said he made the contribution because he typically contributes to every one of his senate colleagues before an election. However, he said Green had already reached a political action committee contribution limit at that point, so Ramsey pledged to donate after the election.

"Im not endorsing Mark. Hes a friend of mine, but so is Mark Norris and Beth Harwell and Diane Black," Ramsey said, noting other Republicans expected to run for governor.

Ramsey said he didn't plan to endorse any GOP candidate, but said he's helping them all to ensure a Republican becomes the next governor.

Staff writer Joey Garrison contributed to this report.

Reach Dave Boucher at dboucher@tennessean.com or 615-259-8892 and on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.

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Democrat Mayor Megan Barry donates to Republican Beth Harwell's campaign - The Tennessean