Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell is proposing a $4.38 county property tax rate including a 6-cent tax hike above the higher certified tax rate for the new fiscal year that begins July 1.

2. Commission Evades Gun Control Fray - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

From time to time, Shelby County Commissioners hear the siren political call of national issues and movements.

The stronger the lure for some on a commission with deep partisan divisions, the more likely the outcome will be anything but unanimous.

3. Commission Weighs Tall Trees Sale - Monday, April 15, 2013

The sale of the old Tall Trees juvenile detention facility, zoning code changes to account for trucks with four back tires and a possible revote on legal fees in the schools consolidation case top the Shelby County Commission agenda for Monday, April 15.

4. Kathleen Gomes Named Probate Court Judge - Saturday, April 06, 2013

Attorney Kathleen Gomes was appointed Monday, April 1, by the Shelby County Commission as the new Probate Court judge. She will fill the vacancy created by the pending retirement of Judge Robert Benham.

5. Then and Now - Saturday, April 06, 2013

Jay Bailey pictured marching bands and floats when his mother told him he was going on a march.

“We thought of it as a parade,” said Bailey, who was 6 years old in March 1968. “We thought of it as something fun.”

6. Gomes Named Probate Court Judge - Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Attorney Kathleen Gomes was appointed Monday, April 1, by the Shelby County Commission as the new Probate Court judge. She will fill the vacancy created by the pending retirement of Judge Robert Benham.

7. School Board Restructure Next for Federal Court - Wednesday, April 03, 2013

All sides in the federal lawsuit over the schools merger will be getting together soon to talk about the Shelby County Commission’s plan to restructure the countywide school board.

A trio of court filings before and after the Easter weekend set the stage for a decision to come by Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee on the commission’s plan to appoint six new school board members to take office Sept. 1.

8. Commission Votes Down Residency Referendum, Names Gomes New Judge - Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners gave final approval Monday, April 1, to an exemption to the county government residency requirement for Memphis City Schools teachers and other school system employees.

The commission also voted down an August ballot question that would have put to voters doing away with the residency requirement in the county charter.

9. Commission’s Schools Debate Has Political Crossover - Wednesday, February 27, 2013

When U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays summoned attorneys from all sides in the schools merger case to his conference room Monday, Feb. 25, there was someone else in the room.

10. Ending of Schools Talks Still Rankles Both Sides - Monday, February 25, 2013

When all sides in the school merger court case gather Monday, Feb. 25, before federal court Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays, they will have lots of time to talk over municipal school districts.

The status conference is the only item on Mays’ calendar Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.

11. Commission Mixes Residency With Schools Issues - Monday, February 25, 2013

It isn’t hard to get a debate going on the Shelby County Commission about the coming Shelby County schools merger and separate suburban school districts.

A majority of the 13-member body voted to file the second part of the Memphis federal court lawsuit over the connected issues. But there remains a vocal minority of four to five commissioners on both issues as well.

12. Give Up These 40 Things for Lent - Friday, February 15, 2013

40 THINGS TO DO WITHOUT. Lent has begun – a season of reflection and sacrifice for believers seeking spiritual strength, a season bridging the gray gloom of winter and the green promise of spring for those seeking renewal, a season of waffles and chicken hash for those seeking comfort in the caloric basement of Calvary Church – 40 days of all of that for me.

13. Commission to Vote on Teacher Residency - Monday, February 11, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners agree on an issue having to do with the coming merger of schools in Shelby County.

At least nine of the 13 commissioners favor giving Memphis City Schools teachers and other system staff who live outside Shelby County five years to move within the county and keep their jobs with the new consolidated school system that takes effect July 1.

14. Election Reform Advisory Board Approved - Wednesday, September 26, 2012

A new Election Reform Advisory Board approved Monday, Sept. 24, by the Shelby County Commission is to report its recommendations by the end of March to the Shelby County Election Commission.

And the Election Commission is under no obligation to act or even accept the recommendations, although election commissioners Steve Stamson and Norma Lester are also on the committee of 12.

15. Funding for Greenline Extension Narrowly Passes - Wednesday, August 15, 2012

An extension of the Shelby Farms Greenline from Farm Road east across Germantown Parkway to the old Cordova train depot along the old CSX rail corridor is on track.

But this week’s Shelby County Commission vote accepting the $3.3 million state transportation grant that will fund most of the $4.4 million project was close with no votes to spare.

16. After 21 Rounds of Voting, Still no Commission Chair - Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Shelby County Commissioners put off electing a chairman for the next year’s term Monday, July 16, after 21 rounds of voting in which no one got seven votes.

The commission will try again at its July 30 meeting.

17. County Commission Delays Chairman Vote After 21 Ballots - Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Shelby County Commissioners put off electing a chairman for the next year’s term Monday, July 16, after 21 rounds of voting in which no one got seven votes.

The contenders for the chairmanship term that starts Sept. 1 were current chairman pro tempore Wyatt Bunker, Henri Brooks, Mike Ritz and the current chairman Sidney Chism.

18. Despite Ruling Schools Case Far From Over - Monday, July 16, 2012

The day after U.S. District Court Judge Hardy Mays ruled the suburban municipal schools referendums will go ahead as planned, most of the 20 attorneys in his courtroom for the ruling were back before him.

19. Mays Rules Municipal Schools Referendums Still On - Friday, July 13, 2012

Memphis Federal Court Judge Hardy Mays ruled Thursday, July 12, the set of referendums on forming suburban municipal school districts will go ahead as scheduled starting with the early voting period that opens Friday, July 13.

20. Hit Dogs - Friday, July 06, 2012

IT’S NOT RACIAL. IF I’M LYING, I’M DYING. We are lying. And if we don’t realize it, we will die from it.

Annie Laurie Peeler put it best. She was, after all, the best sixth grade teacher in the history of the universe. Really. With all due respect to the sixth grade teacher you love, Mrs. Peeler will spot her or him two eyes in the back of her head, three stories you’ll never forget, and four Southernisms and still beat your teacher like a cloakroom paddling.

21. Goldin’s Footnote Heard ’Round Shelby County - Tuesday, June 19, 2012

For many on the Shelby County Commission, last week’s 10-page ruling by Chancellor Arnold Goldin on the new structure of the commission came down to a 25-word footnote in the ruling.

22. Goldin Rules in County Commission Redistricting - Monday, June 18, 2012

Two days after the Shelby County Commission delayed a final vote on a redistricing plan, Chancellor Arnold Goldin approved a motion Wednesday, June 13, setting the new redistricting plan and converting the commission to a set of 13 single-member districts.

23. Goldin Rules in County Redistricting Case - Friday, June 15, 2012

Two days after the Shelby County Commission delayed a final vote on a redistricing plan, Chancellor Arnold Goldin approved a motion Wednesday, June 13, setting the new redistricting plan and converting the commission to a set of 13 single-member districts.

24. Copter Drones Dominate Commission Debate - Wednesday, May 09, 2012

A plan by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to buy two miniature helicopter drones hit some political turbulence Monday, May 7, among Shelby County Commissioners concerned about privacy issues.

“The potential for abuse is great,” said Commissioner Brent Taylor. “They could peer into our private spaces without a warrant.”

25. Redistrict Fight About More Than Map - Monday, May 07, 2012

Shelby County Commissioners begin a fourth effort Monday, May 7, at a redistricting plan that is five months overdue and counting.

But the new effort is more about the Shelby County charter than it is about drawing the district lines for their own districts.

26. Commission Could Reconsider Redistricting - Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Shelby County Commissioners might take another try at approving a redistricting plan for the commission before Shelby County Chancellor Arnold Goldin decides the court case over the new district boundaries.

27. Commission’s Redistrict Debate Moves to Chancery - Wednesday, March 14, 2012

It is now up to a court to decide on a new set of district lines for the Shelby County Commission.

And Chancellor Arnold Goldin is not being asked to approve a simple tweaking of district boundaries that will essentially keep the commission as it is.

28. Commission Sends Redistricting Vote to Court - Tuesday, March 13, 2012

By the Shelby County Charter, the Shelby County Commission voted down a redistricting plan Monday, March 12, when the plan up for third and final reading got seven votes – two short of the nine needed.

29. Redistricting Up for Second Reading - Monday, February 20, 2012

Shelby County Commissioners will see Monday, Feb. 20, if there is still a seven-vote majority on the body to pass a new set of district lines and a new commission structure on the second of three readings.

30. County Commission - Luttrell Clash on Urgency of School Transfer Rules - Monday, February 13, 2012

Shelby County Commissioners approved Friday, Feb. 10, a resolution authorizing Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell to negotiate with the countywide school board on the terms of a transfer of school buildings in the event suburban municipal school districts are formed.

31. Commission Examines Transfer of Schools - Friday, February 10, 2012

Shelby County Commissioners take a second try Friday, Feb. 10, at some proposed rules for the transfer of school buildings to municipal school districts.

The commission meets in special session at 2 p.m. at the Vasco Smith Administration Building, 160 N. Main St.

32. County Commission Floats - Sinks Schools Transfer Rules - Tuesday, February 07, 2012

A resolution that would involve Shelby County government along with the countywide school board in any transfer of school buildings to another school district surfaced Monday, Feb. 6, after a weekend of behind the scenes talks.

33. Commission Tries Again at Redistricting - Monday, February 06, 2012

The votes are still close on the Shelby County Commission as the group takes the first vote Monday, Feb. 6, on its third try at redistricting.

The plan that’s up for the first of three readings is a conversion of the 13-member, five-district body to 13 single-member districts covering all of Shelby County.

34. Commission Strife Deepens with Censure, Ouster Moves - Thursday, January 19, 2012

A deadlock among Shelby County Commission members on a redistricting plan moved into uncharted and roiling political waters Wednesday, Jan. 18, with a censure resolution and a possible move to oust Sidney Chism as chairman of the body.

35. Commission Strife Deepens with Censure, Ouster Moves - Wednesday, January 18, 2012

A deadlock among Shelby County Commission members on a redistricting plan moved into uncharted and roiling political waters Wednesday, Jan. 18, with a censure resolution and a possible move to oust Sidney Chism as chairman of the body.

36. Commission Restarts Redistricting Talks - Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Shelby County Commission members will start over with their once-a-decade redistricting process Wednesday, Jan. 18, with a committee session and a special meeting of the entire body to pass a plan on the first of three readings.

37. ‘The Man, Not the Myth’ - Monday, January 16, 2012

Broadway’s Memphis connection continues with a third play in which the city is a backdrop.

“The Mountaintop” is very different territory, however, from the musicals “Memphis” and “Million Dollar Quartet,” which both explore the city’s musical culture and lore.

38. Commission Stuck in Neutral on Redistricting - Wednesday, January 11, 2012

There isn’t a lot of optimism that a fresh start on redistricting by the Shelby County Commission will give any plan the nine votes needed to win final approval or produce a new plan.

But the way forward with the old set of plans was an ordinance that had been amended so many times, there were some healthy differences of opinion about exactly what the commission was deadlocked over.

39. County Commission to Start Over on Redistricting Talks - Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Shelby County commissioners will try to start their stalled redistricting process from square one next week with a special meeting.

Commissioners agreed Monday, Jan. 9, to start the three-reading process of the redistricting ordinance from the beginning.

40. County Commission Could Further Redistricting Talks - Monday, January 09, 2012

Shelby County Commission members avoided the topic at least in the public, on-the-record discussions during committee sessions last week.

But the full commission meeting Monday, Jan. 9, could feature the commission’s first formal discussion of a redistricting plan since three commissioners filed suit over the matter in Chancery Court Tuesday, Jan. 3.

41. County Redistricting Goes to Court - Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Three Shelby County commissioners – one Democrat and two Republicans – filed suit against the full commission Tuesday, Jan. 3, over the body's stalled deliberations on a redistricting plan.

42. District Lines on Tap for Commission - Monday, December 19, 2011

Five days is a long time in politics. That’s the gap between the Monday, Dec. 19, meeting of the Shelby County Commission and the special meeting of the commission last Wednesday.

At the special meeting, commissioners again floated a new redistricting plan that would keep the 13-member body at five districts covering all of Shelby County.

43. Commissioners Fail to Approve Redistricting Plan - Thursday, December 15, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners will try again Monday, Dec. 19, to give final approval to a new set of district lines for the 13-member body.

At a special meeting Wednesday, Dec. 14, a new set of district lines that would keep but tweak the current five-district setup won approval on the second of three readings. But it did not appear to have the two-thirds majority – or nine votes – needed to pass next week.

44. Commissioners Fail to Approve Redistricting Plan - Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners will try again Monday, Dec. 19, to give final approval to a new set of district lines for the 13-member body.

At a special meeting Wednesday, Dec. 14, a new set of district lines that would keep but tweak the current five-district setup won approval on the second of three readings. But it did not appear to have the two-thirds majority – or nine votes – needed to pass next week.

45. County Pay Bonuses to be Given Dec. 15 - Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners approved a flat $650 bonus per county employee Monday, Dec. 5, after a lengthy debate about what to do with $2.5 million of an $8.7 million surplus from the fiscal year that ended June 30.

46. County Commission Still Weighing New Districts - Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Shelby County commissioners appeared on their way to setting a new group of district lines by Christmas that would create two more districts but keep the body at 13 members. That changed at the commission’s Monday, Dec. 5, meeting.

47. Commission Approves Flat Bonus, Moves Toward Redistricting End Game - Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Shelby County Commissioners approved a flat $650 bonus per county employee Monday, Dec. 5, after a lengthy debate about what to do with $2.5 million of an $8.7 million surplus from the fiscal year that ended June 30.

48. Redistricting Plan Delayed a Fortnight - Wednesday, November 02, 2011

A plan for redistricting the Shelby County Commission into more multimember districts was delayed for another two weeks Monday, Oct. 31, as commissioners debated more changes to the district boundaries and procedure.

49. Taylor Appointed To Commission - CCHS Claims Family Planning Contract - Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Former Memphis City Council member Brent Taylor is the newest Shelby County Commissioner.

Taylor, a Republican, won the District 1 Postion 3 seat vacated by Republican commissioner Mike Carpenter this month.

50. Interviews Next Step in Board Selection - Wednesday, August 31, 2011

In a week, Shelby County Commissioners expect a long day when they interview contenders for the seven appointments they are to make to the new countywide school board.

The commission’s general government committee will interview the applicants Sept. 7, the day after the deadline for citizens to fill out a questionnaire and agree to undergo a criminal background check.

51. County Commission Approves Schools Settlement - Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The Shelby County Commission has approved the settlement of the schools consolidation case and set the process for selecting seven members of a new countywide school board at its Sept. 12 meeting.

The Monday, Aug. 29, vote was 8-3 in favor with commissioners Wyatt Bunker, Terry Roland and Chris Thomas voting “no.” All three represent a county commission district that takes in all six of the suburban municipalities where opposition to schools consolidation has been the most vocal.

52. County Commission Approves City Convention Center Buyout - Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners have approved selling county government’s share of the Memphis Cook Convention Center to the city of Memphis for $75 million.

The commission vote Monday, Aug. 22, came after city Housing and Community Development director Robert Lipscomb fielded a lot of questions from several commissioners about the Bass Pro Shops renovation of The Pyramid.

53. County Commission Reviews City Buyout of Convention Center - Thursday, August 18, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners reviewed Wednesday, Aug. 17, the city of Memphis’ plan to buy out the county’s share of the Memphis Cook Convention Center for $75 million.

The 6-1 vote in committee is a recommendation of the resolution that goes to the full commission Monday, Aug. 22, for a vote.

54. Jackson Sues Judges Over Suspension - Friday, August 05, 2011

General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson is suing the General Sessions Court Judges who suspended him from office earlier this week.

55. Civil Court Filings Drop in Second Quarter - Monday, July 18, 2011

Court filings in Circuit, Chancery and Probate courts were down for the second quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago and the first quarter of 2011, according to The Daily News Online, www.memphisdailynews.com.

56. Chism, Bunker Elected Commission Leaders - Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Sidney Chism got his second term as chairman of the Shelby County Commission this week. And he did it with relative ease on the first ballot at the Monday, July 11, commission session.

57. Chain Reaction - Friday, July 08, 2011

PASS THIS ON. My brother just sent me a chain letter. Within 10 minutes, a friend of his sent the same one. Both suggested it might be a column. Both are respected journalists, published authors – two seasoned guys who live in D.C. and wear their cynicism as proudly and visibly as a Heidelberg dueling scar – and both are suggesting I pimp a chain letter.

58. Commission Approves Balanced Budget - Wednesday, June 22, 2011

No county property tax hike. No 2 percent pay raise for county employees. The full $400,000 in funding for the county office of early childhood and youth, and no cuts in funding to the Greater Memphis Chamber or Shelby Farms Park.

59. Commission Balances County Budget With No Tax Hike - Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners approved a balanced budget Monday, June 20, and approved on the second of three readings an ordinance that keeps the county property tax rate at $4.02.

The votes effectively ending county government’s budget season with the new fiscal year covered by the budget beginning July 1.

60. Commission Returns to Budget Process Monday - Monday, June 20, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners on Monday, June 20, will pick up just a few steps beyond where they left off two weeks ago in the budget process.

The commission has a budget proposal for the new fiscal year that begins July 1 that is essentially balanced, $4 million in the red, or has a surplus of just less than $1 million, depending on which of several dollar counts you pick.

61. Commission Delays County Budget Vote - Wednesday, June 08, 2011

The Shelby County Commission will probably stay within the parameters of the budget compromise outlined by Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell’s administration several weeks ago.

62. Commission Delays Final County Budget Vote - Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners cut several million dollars across county government Monday June 6 with a resolution suggesting all county employees making over $100,000 a year take a 10 percent pay cut. They also slashed $300,000 from the county’s office of early childhood and youth and moved $250,000 in funding for a sickle cell clinic from the general fund to the fund balance.

63. County Commission to Decide New Budget - Monday, June 06, 2011

Shelby County commissioners reach the World Series of their annual budget season Monday, June 6, with a final vote scheduled on a county government operating budget.

The budget is for the new fiscal year that begins July 1.

64. School Consolidation Attorneys Meet Friday - Friday, May 20, 2011

All sides in the schools consolidation lawsuit meet in Memphis federal court Friday to work out a quicker resolution of the lawsuit filed in February.

The scheduling conference before U.S. District Court Judge Hardy Mays comes a week after Mays heard a day and a half of oral arguments from all sides.

65. County Red Ink Forecast Moves Up - Wednesday, May 18, 2011

When Shelby County Commissioners meet Wednesday for a review by their budget committee, the Luttrell administration will revise upward the remaining amount of red ink in the operating budget for the new fiscal year.

66. Mays Hears First Arguments in Schools Consolidation Case - Thursday, May 12, 2011

Federal Judge Hardy Mays heard arguments and testimony Thursday from all sides in the schools consolidation lawsuit.

Shelby County schools superintendent John Aitken and Shelby County Commissioners Walter Bailey and Mike Carpenter testified as part of tracing the chronology of what has and hasn’t happened in terms of moves toward schools consolidation in recent months. They also testified about the intentions behind their actions. Bailey and Carpenter were grilled about the reasoning behind the commission’s decision to appoint a 25-member countywide school board.

67. Judge Mays Begins Schools Mediation - Wednesday, May 04, 2011

U.S. District Court Judge Hardy Mays began the third attempt to reach a settlement in the schools consolidation lawsuit Tuesday with more private talks among the different sides.

This time, Mays himself appeared to be mediating the attempt to find common ground in the complex and contentious political turned legal dispute.

68. County Commission Addresses Paid Leave - Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Shelby County employees can’t get paid leave to go Christmas shopping or in exchange for giving blood or giving to a charity.

In a change of political course, the Shelby County Commission this week added the ban to county personnel policy stopping what has been a practice for some elected county officials for years.

69. County Commission Reverses Course on Buying Paid Leave - Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Two weeks ago, Shelby County commissioners were about evenly split on the idea that county personnel policy should prevent employees from “buying” paid leave to go Christmas shopping or get the leave as a reward for giving blood and supporting various charities.

70. County Commission Tightens Attorney-Client Rules - Wednesday, April 06, 2011

The Shelby County Commission could keep legal documents out of the hands of some of its own members if they talk to the public about what happens in closed attorney-client meetings.

The commission passed the resolution Monday establishing that and other sanctions including censure that would have to be enacted with a majority vote.

71. Voting Begins as Schools Contingency Planning Continues - Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Just as Shelby County Commissioner Walter Bailey declared Monday that there was no more Memphis City Schools board, that board was preparing to meet.

72. Commission Adds Schools Contingencies to Growing Pile - Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners added a bundle of resolutions Monday to the build up of schools consolidation preparations.

Much of the preparation by the commission and others is built on the consolidation question winning approval of Memphis voters on March 8.

73. County Commission Set to Weigh in on Schools Issue - Monday, February 14, 2011

Shelby County commissioners are certain to mirror some of last week’s debate in the Tennessee Legislature Monday when they take up an ordinance and a bundle of resolutions all dealing with the schools consolidation issue.

74. Luttrell: Amendment Rumors in Schools Standoff - Thursday, February 10, 2011

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell says there might be some attempt to amend the schools consolidation bill up for a vote Thursday in Nashville.

75. Decision Places Elected Officials on EDGE Board - Wednesday, January 26, 2011

A new Memphis-Shelby County economic development entity will have elected officials on its board. The decision by county commissioners sends the resolution back to the Memphis City Council next month for final approval.

76. County Commission Questions Then Approves Electrolux Deal - Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners approved the agreement and $22 million in bond financing Monday to bring the Electrolux plant to the Pidgeon Industrial Park.

But the votes for the plan came after a lot of debate about the larger subject of government subsidies used to compete for and lure corporations to locate in the city.

77. Moving Forward - Friday, January 21, 2011

Even before the Shelby County Election Commission set a March 8 referendum date this week, the political discussion of school consolidation had already moved to who would control the transition.

That’s if voters approve the Memphis City Schools charter surrender and merger with Shelby County Schools.

78. Political Debate on Schools Broadens - Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Shelby County election commissioners meet Wednesday for the second time this month to consider a special referendum election on a Memphis City Schools charter surrender.

The meeting is part of a court settlement of a lawsuit filed in Chancery Court this month over the Election Commission’s failure to schedule the election at its Jan. 5 meeting.

79. Lawsuit Filed as Norris Submits Legislation in Schools Standoff - Thursday, January 13, 2011

The Memphis City Schools (MCS) charter surrender controversy is in the courts.

The group Citizens for Better Education and two citizens filed suit in Chancery Court Wednesday afternoon seeking a court order directing the Shelby County Election Commission to put a charter surrender referendum on the ballot and set a date for the election.

80. Commission Clashes On Consolidated School Board Planning - Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners began the once-a-decade redistricting process divided on whether they should include among their tasks putting together a set of district lines for a countywide school board including Memphis.

81. Snow Day For Schools Standoff - Monday, January 10, 2011

The first lawsuit in the standoff between Shelby County’s two public school systems was to be filed Monday in Chancery Court.

But several inches of snow have slowed for now what has been several weeks of a fast moving series of actions and reactions in the controversy.

82. Commission Could Consider Convention Center Management - Monday, January 10, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners may vote Wednesday on a new contract that would put the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau in charge of running the Memphis Cook Convention Center.

The commission meeting at the Vasco Smith County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St., begins at 1:30 p.m. The original meeting date Monday was cancelled because of snow.

83. Commission Approves Optional IT Centralization - Friday, November 26, 2010

It could be called a virtual piece of political turf.

This week the Shelby County Commission found more than enough political considerations in the question of who should control county government’s information technology.

84. Commission Approves Optional IT Centralization - Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Shelby County Commissioners approved the framework for a voluntary consolidated information technology (IT) system in county government. But the commission also voted down creating the position of Chief Information Officer (CIO) to oversee the more coordinated system.

85. Stamson and Johnson Resign from Election Commission - Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Shelby County Election Commissioners Steve Stamson and James Johnson have resigned following a legal opinion from the Shelby County attorney saying because they are county government retirees they can’t collect their pensions while serving on the five-member body.

86. Commission Delays Major IDB Changes - Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Companies getting tax breaks from the Memphis-Shelby County Industrial Development Board (IDB) will make an annual report to the IDB instead of quarterly reports.

The change was approved this week by the Shelby County Commission with little discussion.

87. Commissioners Draw Lines in Charter Sand - Wednesday, October 13, 2010

It was the dominant issue in many of the May 4 county primaries for the Shelby County Commission.

The commissioners have nothing other than their votes as citizens on the metro charter proposal. But all of the candidates in the commission district that includes all six of the suburban towns and cities emphasized their opposition to the consolidation charter still being drafted at that point.

88. Commission Debates Charter Stand, Approves Terms For New Morgue - Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Shelby County Commissioners talked Monday about consolidation, education funding and minority business contracts during a session that also included a debate about building a new morgue.

A resolution approving the agreements between Shelby County and the state for the construction of a new Regional Forensic Center passed on an 11-0 vote. Commissioner Heidi Shafer abstained and Commissioner Justin Ford, who is a funeral director, recused himself from the vote.

89. Federal Lawsuit Seeks One Count Of Consolidation Votes - Friday, October 08, 2010

Eight Shelby County voters have filed suit in Memphis federal court against Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper, the Shelby County Election Commission and Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett to throw out the requirement that a consolidation charter must pass in two separate votes on the Nov. 2 ballot.

90. Commission Approves Whistleblower Ordinance - Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Shelby County Commissioners thought they had a bipartisan compromise last week on a resolution to increase protection for county government whistleblowers.

And the resolution eventually got nine votes Monday from both parties on the 13 member body.

91. County Commission Off To Partisan, Lively Start - Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Shelby County Commissioners found plenty to debate during their first meeting as a body since six new commissioners took office Sept. 1.

Monday’s session saw the election of Democrat Sidney Chism as the chairman of the 13 member body for the next year.

92. New Vacancies Add to Judicial Races on Ballot - Wednesday, May 26, 2010

The Aug. 5 election will feature five special judicial elections.

One of the two latest races to go on the ballot is for the Criminal Court Division 3 judge’s position being vacated by John Colton, whose resignation is effective April 30. He originally set the date for June 30, but changed it so the vacancy could be up for public vote.

93. Charter Commission Continues Work on Mayoral Limits - Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Metro charter commissioners wanted to do more than send a message last week as they set guidelines for the office of metro mayor in a consolidated local government.

Several commissioners felt they had to discourage voters from making choices based too much on simple name recognition.

A proposed limit of two consecutive four-year terms on the mayor’s office was the setting for the larger debate. The charter commission’s recommendation, which is preliminary, would allow someone to be elected and serve two terms, sit out four years and then run again.

Those are the term limits now in place for most county offices. The same limits take effect for Memphis mayor and the City Council in 2011.

Other charter commissioners cited the recent election of Walter Bailey to the Shelby County Commission this year. Bailey ran for re-election in 2006 despite term limits, but lost to J.W. Gibson. After sitting out four years, Bailey was elected to the County Commission again without opposition.

Gibson, who serves on the charter commission, is among those who say term limits should not bar someone from running again after sitting out a term.

But charter commissioner Rufus Washington said local voters are guided in too many cases solely by name recognition and endorsements made in ballots handed to them as they walk into polling places.

“They don’t know who they are voting for,” he said. “We don’t live in an ideal world. We live in a city and a community that has some of the most innovative businesses in the world. But I think our politics is about the 17th century. I said it and I’m glad I said it.”

“You have people that make statements, ‘Nobody can run this city but me’ (and) ‘God put me here.’ That’s offensive to me,” Washington said, referring to former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton. “Sometimes people don’t know what’s best for them.”

He also referred to Bailey’s re-election.

“You can’t tell me that these are the only people that have the ability to run this city. … I take issue with that. I take the same position at the national level. We need a house cleaning,” he said.

Former Collierville Mayor Linda Kerley said the problem isn’t limited to Memphis politics. She agreed the charter commission should try to interrupt the political pattern with the charter proposal.

“We need to somehow make a very strong statement,” she said. “We don’t need to put a person in a position where they can falter. … We are not looking at the integrity of the position.”

The Rev. Ralph White proposed a compromise of three consecutive terms with no option to then sit out a term and serve again if elected a fourth time.

But before any of the alternatives to two consecutive terms could be moved, the commission’s conversation veered into the requirement that candidates be 21 or older, and other qualifications.

White proposed raising the minimum age to run for mayor to 25 years old. That and another motion to leave the minimum age at 30 each failed to get enough votes, so the 21-year benchmark remained.

Commission vice chair Andre Fowlkes, who is 32, argued for a 25-year-old age minimum.

“That’s a pretty bright person. I mean, let’s really think about it. They are rallying an entire city to vote for them and give them the majority to win. … They must be doing something right,” he said.

Commissioner Chris Patterson saw problems in that argument.

“If the simple ability to get elected – to organize your friends – if that’s the test, then term limits is off the table and you can just drop to 18 (years old) by default. To me, that can’t be the reason that you do it,” he said.

Fowlkes argued a candidate younger than 30 years old for mayor would, as a matter of practical politics, have to convince older voters since voter participation is lower among younger voters.

Read more about the work of the Metro Charter Commission in the current edition of The Memphis News, which can be found at The Daily News Online, www.memphisdailynews.com.

94. Ford Wins Democratic Mayoral Primary - Wednesday, May 05, 2010
 

Interim County Mayor Joe Ford became the Democratic nominee for mayor in the August county general elections Tuesday night.

And the August sheriff’s race will be a contest between Democrat Randy Wade and Republican Randy Wade.

All three were among the winners in Tuesday’s low turnout county primaries.

Approximately ten percent of Shelby County’s nearly 600,000 voters cast ballots in early voting and election day polling.

Ford, who was appointed interim mayor in December, beat County Commissioner Deidre Malone and General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson in the Democratic primary. He will face Republican Mark Luttrell who had only token opposition in the Republican primary from perennial contender Ernie Lunati.

Luttrell has raised more money than all three of the Democratic primary contenders combined and began running television ads in the last week runup to election day.

The final unofficial totals in the Democratic mayoral primary are:

Ford 20,360 57%

Malone 12,916 37%

Jackson 2,168 6%

The pair of primaries for Sheriff featured eight candidates, seven of whom either currently work for the sheriff’s department or are past employees. Only Reginald French, in the Democratic primary was not a former or current department official.

Wade was the 2002 Democratic nominee, losing to Luttrell who is leaving as Sheriff after serving two terms. French was the Democratic nominee in the 2006 elections.

Oldham is Luttrell’s chief deputy, the number two position in the department. He is also a former director of the Memphis Police Department.

The final unofficials totals in the Republican primary are:

Bill Oldham 13,821 48%

Dale Lane 7,981 28%

Bobby Simmons 5,886 21%

James Coleman 943 3%

In the Democratic primary:

Randy Wade 22,643 67%

Reginald French 6,777 20%

Larry Hill 2,738 8%

Bennie Cobb 1,814 5%

Voters in the primary elections decided to return six Shelby County commissioners to new four year terms with Tuesday’s results. They also elected six new commissioners. The winner of the thirteenth commission seat will be decided on the August general election ballot in a contest between district 5 Democratic incumbent Steve Mulroy and Republican challenger Dr. Rolando Toyos. The winner of the match up will determine whether the commission remains majority Democrat or goes majority Republican.

Mulroy easily defeated Jennings Bernard in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

Republican incumbent Mike Ritz ran unopposed as did new Democratic commissioner Walter Bailey.

In the remaining ten contests, the primaries decided who gets the seats since no one ran in the opposing party’s primary.

The most hotly contested contest among the commission races was for District 4 Position 1. Outgoing Probate Court Clerk Chris Thomas beat John Pellicciotti, appointed to a commission seat last year but running for a different position in the same district. Jim Bomprezzi, the former mayor of Lakeland, was the third contender in the contest.

The final unofficial totals in the Republican primary:

Thomas 7,631 52%

Pellicciotti 4,871 33%

Bomprezzi 2,298 15%

In position 2 of the same district incumbent Republican Wyatt Bunker easily overcame two challengers with former Lakeland alderman John Wilkerson finishing second and Ron Fittes finishing third.

Millington businessman Terry Roland claimed the third position in the district that takes in all six of Shelby County’s suburban towns and cities.

Roland beat George Chism to take the seat Pellicciotti was appointed to but opted not to run for in deference to Roland.

Heidi Shafer, an aide to outgoing County Commissioner George Flinn, claimed Flinn’s District 1 Position 2 seat over Albert Maduska.in the GOP primary.

District 1 incumbent Republican Mike Carpenter easily beat businessman Joe Baier.

In the Democratic commission primaries, Melvin Burgess claimed Malone’s District 2 Position 3 seat in a field of six contenders. His closest contender was Reginald Milton. Burgess, a city school system audit manager, had run for the seat before. He brought in 54 percent of the vote.

The other hard fought Democratic commission primary saw Justin Ford, son of the interim mayor, claim his father’s District 3 Position 3 seat.

Ford beat Edith Moore, a retired IBM executive, whom the commission appointed to the seat after the elder Ford became mayor.

The final unofficial vote totals are:

Ford 7,342 66%

Moore 3,822 34%

Democratic incumbent commissioners Henri Brooks, Sidney Chism and James Harvey were all re-elected over primary challengers.

The county-wide primaries for seven clerk’s positions saw the return of former Criminal Court Clerk Minerva Johnican 16 years after Republican challenger Bill Key took her job. Johnican decisively beat Ralph White and Vernon Johnson in her first bid for office since the 1994 defeat. She will face Republican Kevin Key, the son of Bill Key in the August general election.

The final unofficial vote totals are:

Johnican 16,381 51%

White 10,170 31%

Johnson 5,954 18%

Former Juvenile Court Clerk Shep Wilbun easily won the Democratic primary with 76 percent of the vote to face Republican Joy Touliatos in August for the office being vacated by Republican Steve Stamson. Touliatos was unopposed in the primary.

Democrat Coleman Thompson is back for another go at incumbent Republican Register Tom Leatherwood.

Aside from Leatherwood, Jimmy Moore is the only other of the seven clerks seeking re-election. Moore ran unopposed in the GOP primary. He will face Democrat Ricky Dixon in August.

Trustee Regina Newman was appointed to her office following the death last year of Paul Mattila. Newman easily overcame M LaTroy Williams in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. She will face David Lenoir, who beat former Shelby County Commissioner John Willingham in the Republican contest.

The final unofficial vote totals are:

Lenoir 15,922 58%

Willingham 11,569 42%

The other six candidate field on the ballot was in the Democratic primary for Probate Court Clerk. Sondra Becton posted impressive vote totals over her rivals, bringing in 35 percent of the vote with Peggy Dobbins her closest rival. Becton, who is making her fourth bid for the office, will face Republican Paul Boyd, who ran unopposed in his primary.

The final unofficial vote totals are:

Becton 10,929 36%

Dobbins 5,366 18%

Annita Hamilton 4,848 16%

Clay Perry 3,549 12%

Danny Kail 3,120 11%

Karen Tyler 2,782 9%

The closest contest of the evening was in the Democratic primary for County Clerk. Wrestling promoter and television personality Corey Maclin won his political debut by less than 1,400 votes over Charlotte Draper and LaKeith Miller. He will face Republican Wayne Mashburn who beat Steve Moore in the companion primary.

Early voting in advance of the Aug. 5 election day begins July 16. The August ballot will also feature state and federal primary elections including the statewide primaries for governor and the primaries for all nine of the state’s Congressional districts.

95. Skypeck Elected to Brewers Association Board - Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Chuck Skypeck, founder of Bosco’s Brewing Co. and Ghost River Brewing, has been elected to the board of directors for the Brewers Association, a Boulder, Colo.-based nonprofit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent brewers. Skypeck previously served on the board from 2001 to 2006.

96. County Primary Fields Clear Up - Monday, February 22, 2010

The newest candidate for Shelby County mayor is scheduled to talk about his decision later today.

General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson was a last-minute filer in the Democratic primary for mayor at noon Thursday. Jackson’s decision was the biggest surprise at the deadline.

97. Candidate Filing List -- The Final Version - Friday, February 19, 2010

Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell appeared on his way to the Republican nomination for Shelby County mayor at Thursday’s noon filing deadline for candidates on the May 4 primary ballot.

98. UPDATE: Mayor's Race Grows At Filing Deadline - Thursday, February 18, 2010

Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell appeared on his way to the Republican nomination for Shelby County mayor at Thursday’s noon filing deadline for candidates on the May 4 primary ballot.

Luttrell faces only token opposition from perennial candidate Ernie Lunati.

Meanwhile, the Democratic primary for mayor grew to three contenders as General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson filed his qualifying petition just before the deadline. He joins interim County Mayor Joe Ford and Shelby County Commissioner Deidre Malone.

Luttrell ruled out a bid for Shelby County mayor last year (2009). But when Harold Byrd decided not to run in the Democratic primary, some local GOP leaders asked Luttrell to reconsider.

The result touched off a scramble of candidates from both parties for the open sheriff’s office. But before the noon deadline, the initial field of over a dozen possible contenders was narrowed to ten – six Democrats and four Republicans.

The other surprise at the filing deadline was the return of attorney Walter Bailey to the District 2 Position 1 seat he gave up in the 2006 elections. Bailey sought re-election then to another term despite a two term limit on commissioners. Bailey lost to J.W. Gibson who decided not to seek re-election. He also lost a court fight to overturn the term limits.

Bailey was the only candidate who had filed for the seat at the Thursday deadline.

Only one incumbent county commissioner – Republican Mike Ritz -- was effectively re-elected at the deadline because he had no opposition.

All but one of the eleven contested County Commission races will be decided with the May 4 primaries. The only general election battle for the August ballot is the district 5 contest between GOP challenger Dr. Rolando Toyos and whoever wins the May Democratic primary between incumbent Steve Mulroy and Jennings Bernard.

Former County Commissioner John Willingham also returned to the ballot among a field of Republican contenders in the primary for Shelby County Trustee.

And former Criminal Court Clerk Minerva Johnican joined the Democratic primary field for her old job. Incumbent Republican Bill Key pulled petition to seek re-election but did not file at the deadline.

Here is the list of races and contenders from The Shelby County Election Commission. All candidate have until noon Feb. 25 to withdraw from the ballot if they wish.

D-Democrat

R- Republican

I- Independent

Shelby County Mayor:

Deidre Malone (D)

Joe Ford (D)

Otis Jackson (D)

Mark Luttrell (R)

Ernest Lunati (R)

Leo Awgowhat (I)

Shelby County Sheriff:

James Coleman (R)

Bobby Simmons (R)

Bill Oldham (R)

Dale Lane (R)

Larry Hill (D)

Bennie Cobb (D)

Randy Wade (D)

James Bolden (D)

Elton Hymon (D)

Reginald French (D)

County Commission Dist 1 Pos 1

Mike Ritz (R) (incumbent)

County Commission Dist 1 Pos 2

Albert Maduska (R)

Heidi Shafer (R)

County Commission Dist 1 Pos 3

Mike Carpenter (R) (incumbent)

Joe Baire (R)

County Commission Dist 2 Pos 1

Walter Bailey (D)

County Commission Dist 2 Pos 2

Henri Brooks (D) (incumbent)

David Vinciarelli (D)

County Commission Dist 2 Pos 3

Eric Dunn (D)

Norma Lester (D)

Tina Dickerson (D)

Melvin Burgess (D)

Reginald Milton (D)

Freddie Thomas (D)

County Commission Dist 3 Pos 1

James Harvey (D) (incumbent)

James Catchings (D)

County Commission Dist. 3 Pos 2

Sidney Chism (D) (incumbent)

Andrew "Rome" Withers (D)

County Commission Dist. 3 Pos 3

Edith Moore  (D) (incumbent)

Justin Ford (D)

County Commission Dist 4 Pos 1

Chris Thomas (R)

John Pellicciotti (R)

Jim Bomprezzi (R)

County Commission Dist 4 Pos 2

Wyatt Bunker (R) (incumbent)

John Wilkerson (R)

Ron Fittes (R)

County Commission Dist 4 Pos 3

Terry Roland (R)

George Chism (R)

Edgar Babian (R)

County Commission Dist 5

Steve Mulroy (D) (incumbent)

Jennings Bernard (D)

Rolando Toyos (R)

Shelby County Clerk

Charlotte Draper (D)

Corey Maclin (D)

LaKeith Miller (D)

Wayne Mashburn (R)

Steve Moore (R)

Criminal Court Clerk

Vernon Johnson (D)

Minerva Johnican (D)

Ralph White (D)

Michael Porter (R)

Kevin Key (R)

Jerry Stamson (I)

Circuit Court Clerk

Jimmy Moore (R) (incumbent)

Steven Webster (D)

Carmichael Johnson (D)

Ricky W. Dixon (D)

Juvenile Court Clerk

Joy Touliatos (R)

Charles Marshall (D)

Sylvester Bradley (D)

Shep Wilbun (D)

Julia Roberson Wiseman (I)

Probate Court Clerk

Paul Boyd (R)

Sondra Becton (D)

Danny Kail (D)

Annita Sawyer Hamilton (D)

Peggy Dobbins (D)

Clay Perry (D)

Karen Tyler (D)

Shelby County Register

Tom Leatherwood (R) (incumbent)

Coleman Thompson (D)

Lady J. Swift (D)

Carlton Orange (D)

Shelby County Trustee

Regina Newman (D) (incumbent)

M. LaTroy Williams (D)

John Willingham (R)

Jeff Jacobs (R)

David Lenoir (R)

99. District 83 Early Voting Comes To Quiet End Today - Thursday, January 07, 2010

Early voter turnout in the special election for state House District 83 may not make it much higher than 1 percent if the bitterly cold weather becomes a political factor.

Today is the last day of the early voting period that began before Christmas, pausing for that holiday as well as the New Year’s holiday.

100. Risk-taking is Back for Banks One Year after Crisis - Tuesday, September 15, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - A year after the financial system nearly collapsed, the nation's biggest banks are bigger and regaining their appetite for risk.

Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and others – which have received tens of billions of dollars in federal aid – are once more betting big on bonds, commodities and exotic financial products, trading that nearly stopped during the financial crisis.