In the film series, the risque superheroine dons red underwear and "polices the skies with an iron fist" to keep Nashville safe, according to the Thong Girl Web site, thonggirlfilms.com.

"I feel that if he used the city property to allow the filming of such a movie, that it's extremely degrading to the citizens of Gallatin, and I think it's totally unacceptable," District 2 City Councilman Dale Bennett said.

"It's interesting that we have a Tennessee Supreme Court nominee who appeared in a film about controversial Hollywood filmmakers, so I am wondering if the state film commission is now referring movie companies to our elected officials," Hawkins said.

D'Army Bailey, the nominee, is co-founder of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. But the Circuit Court judge has faced criticism for promoting the 1996 film "The People vs. Larry Flynt," in which he played a judge who presided over the trial of the high-profile publisher and pornographer.

"I would say that I will have to reserve judgment until I see the movie — but since I'm never going to see the movie, I guess I won't be making any judgment about the mayor's cinematic ethics. From knowing Mayor Wright, however, I do not believe that he would knowingly allow City Hall to be used for improper purposes."

Gallatin, he said, is known for being friendly to independent filmmakers and the mayor was "friendly and helpful" in offering the use of City Hall.

Use of city facilities, including the mayor's office, for filmmaking is not allowed under Section 13-125 of the Gallatin Municipal Code, unless otherwise authorized by the City Council. Wright said he made the council aware of the filming at a meeting Thursday.

The plot line involves Thong Girl's alter ego, Lana Layonme, who went shopping at a lingerie store one day and put on a pair of red thong underwear, which gave her magical powers. In the third installment, Thong Girl faces off against her nemesis, the Dark Widow, who's out to take over country music and turn its artists into rappers, the filmmaker said.

Weiss was working on a scene involving a fictitious mayor, and he said he was pleased with the "agricultural look" of Wright's office, whose executive chambers are decorated with Civil War memorabilia and state artifacts.

"He gave us the run of City Hall," Weiss said. "He unlocked City Hall and told us to use whatever we needed. … We basically used the mayor's office. We also used the exterior of the building."

"It seems like I had a police officer or a fireman let them in," Wright said. "I think I was out of town that Sunday. I had someone do that and stay with them while they were here."

The filming took place on Sunday, Aug. 13, at City Hall, which is across the street from a couple of historic churches, including First Presbyterian. Weiss also has arranged with the mayor to close the downtown square Oct. 1 to shoot a scene where a fictitious mayor presents Thong Girl with the key to the city for saving Music City USA from the bad folks.

Wright is a writer himself. He is the author of the historical romance novel "The Last Plantation" and other books including "Gone to Texas" and "The Woodsman."

He got into some trouble earlier this year after asking a female employee if she had breast implants and attended sexual harassment training after the woman complained and said she was so "embarrassed, humiliated, afraid to say anything and angry at all parties involved."

A nine-year incumbent, Wright faces former state Sen. Jo Ann Graves in the November mayoral race. Graves was first elected to the state Senate representing the 18th district, which includes Sumner and Robertson counties, in 1996, by defeating Wright, who was the incumbent.

"If there's something derogatory or sexual in it, I'm not pleased about anything like that being in my office. Of course, nobody would want to see that," the mayor said.

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