1993: Memphis-based Back Yard Burgers Inc. announced plans to go public with a proposed initial public offering of 1.3 million shares of common stock at a planned price of $6 a share.

2. Panther Properties Buys Two Cordova Apartments - Tuesday, April 02, 2013

2350 N. Houston Levee Road and 2323 N. Houston Levee Road

3. Baptist Group Buys Former Post Office - Friday, March 29, 2013

Baptist Memorial Medical Group Inc. has paid $1.3 million for the former U.S. Postal Service location at 1520 Union Ave. in Midtown.

4. Croom Appointed New Bankruptcy Judge - Tuesday, March 26, 2013

James Croom, assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, has been appointed by the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to be West Tennessee’s new bankruptcy judge.

5. County Wage Theft Ordinance Defeated - Wednesday, January 16, 2013

After weeks of discussion, talks between Shelby County Commissioner Steve Mulroy and leaders of the city’s hospitality industry broke down on Mulroy’s “wage theft” ordinance.

6. County Wage Theft Ordinance Defeated - Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners voted down a “wage theft” ordinance Monday, Jan. 14, on third and final reading.

The proposal failed on a 5-7 vote with very little debate among commissioners but a just about even split among 23 citizens who spoke on the issue before the commission voted.

7. Commission Approves Bartlett Senior Facility - Wednesday, November 07, 2012

If an expansion of an assisted-living facility at Baylor and Brunswick roads stays on schedule with votes next month by the Memphis City Council, the planned development should win final approval less than a month before the area it is in is annexed by the city of Bartlett.

8. 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.

9. Commission Approves Pera Group on Forum Lease - Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Shelby County Commissioners approved Monday, Sept. 24, a change in the lease for FedExForum to the new Grizzlies ownership group headed by Robert J. Pera.

But the 9-4 vote came after commissioners criticized Pera’s representatives for not providing basic financial statements about Pera or his ownership group.

10. 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.

11. A Simple Question - Monday, June 18, 2012

Recently I read something that prompted a very simple but important question: Who are the 10 most important people in my business life? Do you know who they are in your life? It’s a simple question, but I realized I didn’t know the answer.

12. Executive Coach Burtch Earns Int’l Designation - Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Bill Burtch, founder and president of full-service management consultancy firm Harmony Coaching & Consulting, has received the Professional Certified Coach designation from the International Coach Federation, becoming the second PCC in Memphis. Burtch, who also holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources designation, focuses his consulting work in executive/team coaching, professional development training and human resources consulting.

13. Scott Joins Methodist South as Chief Medical Officer - Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Dr. Howard Scott has been named chief medical officer at Methodist South Hospital. Before joining Methodist South, which is part of the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare system, Scott served as chief medical officer for West Kendall Baptist Hospital in Miami. He has also maintained an active private practice for 29 years.

14. County Commission Amends Budget, Moves Basketball Complex - Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Shelby County Commissioners added nearly $1 million in grants to county government’s $1.1 billion operating budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The commission balanced the budget Monday, May 21, over the objections of Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell by taking the money from the county’s $90 million reserve fund. The amount is 24 percent of the county budget total that doesn't include elected officials outside the county administration.

15. 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.”

16. 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.

17. Irving Leads Research Co. Animal Cell Therapies - Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Adam M. Irving is chief executive officer of San Diego-based Animal Cell Therapies Inc., a company that develops stem cell treatments to treat a variety of ailments for animals. Irving is based in Memphis.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. New District Plan Fizzles, Causes Strife - Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The dust hasn’t completely settled on the differences Shelby County Commissioners are having with each other across party lines and on a number of other fronts.

“We’ve outed a civility gap on this commission,” commissioner Steve Mulroy said. “It’s existed for a while.”

22. County Commission Starts Over On Redistricting, Resolves Some Turmoil - Tuesday, January 24, 2012

A seven-vote majority for leaving the Shelby County Commission at five districts collapsed dramatically Monday, Jan. 23. And at the same commission meeting a resolution to change the ground rules to permit a majority vote to remove the chairman was withdrawn. Meanwhile, a censure resolution against two commissioners also fizzled as larger differences among commissioners continued to emerge.

23. Commission Looks at Power Realignment - Friday, January 20, 2012

For three months, a split among the six Republicans on the 13-member Shelby County Commission has been more evident than the split among the seven Democratic commissioners.

As the commission started over this week on the redistricting process that highlighted the Republican rift, however, the split has evolved into a realignment of political power on the body.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. Site Selectors Hear City’s Red Carpet Pitch - Friday, November 04, 2011

A year ago this month, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam won the governor’s race and suddenly found himself in the same room with 26 other newly elected governors.

The event was a nonpartisan orientation for the new governors to help get their bearings on the nuts and bolts of running a state government.

27. Uptown Phase Two Gets Go Ahead - Wednesday, October 19, 2011

After several delays, phase two of the plan for Uptown development cleared the Shelby County Commission Monday, Oct. 17.

But only after the commissioner whose district includes Uptown tried to shift the emphasis from continued development south of Chelsea Avenue moving west to new development north of Chelsea.

28. 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.

29. Wharton, Fullilove & Conrad Re-Elected -- Harris-Ford to Runoff - Friday, October 07, 2011
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. won a full four-year term of office as mayor Thursday, Oct. 6, two years after he claimed the mayor’s office in a special election.

And all 12 of the Memphis City Council members seeking re-election won new four year terms in the city election cycle, marking the largest return of incumbents to the 13-member council in the 43-year history of the mayor-council form of government.

30. Taking a Stand - Thursday, October 06, 2011

Memphis City Council members are going for a record return of incumbents to the legislative body with the Thursday, Oct. 6, city elections.

And Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. is running for a percentage of votes that will give a mandate to his drive to move the city’s political mindset away from personalities and confrontation.

31. Early Voting Count Suggests High Election Day Turnout - Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Early voting in advance of the Oct. 6 Election Day in Memphis cracked 30,000 of the city’s 426,583 voters.

Because early voting in Memphis elections usually doesn’t account for even half of the overall voter turnout, the early voter turnout suggests the total voter turnout may be in double-digit percentages. That is low, but not as low as some politicos had predicted for the ballot topped by a mayor’s race and contests for all 13 seats on the Memphis City Council.

32. Commission Creates Election Advisory Group - Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Shelby County commissioners have approved an election reform group pushed by critics of the 2010 county general election results.

The commission approved the advisory board Monday, Sept. 26, on a 7-5 vote, but those pushing for the review complained it didn’t have the teeth they originally called for.

33. Uptown on Agenda in Carpenter’s Final Meeting - Monday, September 26, 2011

Shelby County Commissioner Mike Carpenter will take his last votes as a commissioner Monday, Sept. 26, ending a five-year and one-month stay on the county’s legislative body.

34. Sneed Promoted At Humane Society - Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Kerry Sneed has been promoted to community outreach and humane education coordinator at the Humane Society of Memphis.

35. City Candidates Meet in Forum - Wednesday, September 21, 2011

The crowds are small and the questions familiar. The forums for candidates on the Oct. 6 Memphis ballot, in other words, are a lot like past forums.

There were about 25 people in the audience Monday evening, Sept. 19, for the League of Women Voters City Council forum at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library in East Memphis that featured seven candidates for super district seats.

36. Political Hobnobbing - Friday, September 09, 2011

The group of around 100 people in the plaza of AutoZone Park Wednesday, Sept. 7, led a few passersby to think a ballgame was under way.

But politics was the only sport in the plaza during the Greater Memphis Chamber’s annual HobNob In The Park gathering.

37. Campaigns Heat Up as Election Nears - Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Those running in the Oct. 6 city elections were getting signs up the weekend before the Labor Day weekend and preparing for the sprint to early voting, which begins Sept. 16, and Election Day.

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. campaigned in Orange Mound on a Saturday afternoon not quite as hot as previous Saturdays. Wharton and his campaign have aimed their Saturday door-to-door campaigning at 10 specific precincts. The goal is to create a spike in voter turnout as well as votes for Wharton who is seeking election to a full four-year term after taking office following the October 2009 special mayoral election.

38. CCRFC Approves Bonds for Pyramid, Convention Ctr. - Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The Center City Revenue Finance Corp. has approved the bond financing that should make it possible to begin construction Oct. 1 on the adaptive reuse of The Pyramid.

39. 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.

40. Local Democrats Take City Election Straw Poll - Tuesday, August 23, 2011

It was more fundraiser than legitimate poll.

The Shelby County Democratic Party raised more than $2,000 with a straw poll in which party regulars paid $25 a ballot to show their preferences in races in the Oct. 6 city of Memphis elections with a separate ballot for the mayor’s race.

41. 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.

42. Commissioners Plan for 2nd Yr. of Term - Monday, August 08, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners meet Monday, Aug. 8, to set the stage for the second year of their current four-year term of office.

The meeting at the Vasco Smith County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St., begins at 1:30 p.m.

43. Arlington Gears Up for Mayor’s Race - Friday, August 05, 2011

Before Memphis voters go to the polls this October to decide a mayor’s race, voters in Arlington will decide a four-way race for mayor in the Sept. 15 elections there.

The Memphis field of 10 includes candidates like incumbent Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and challenger James Harvey, who are relying on sophisticated computer software and lots of volunteers to turn out tens of thousands of people in early voting and on Election Day.

44. Mayoral Showdown Pits Wharton, Harvey - Tuesday, July 26, 2011

They filed for the Oct. 6 city elections one day apart. They served together in Shelby County government. Their campaigns are using different versions of the same basic computer software for targeting voters.

45. Wharton Opens Re-Election Campaign - Monday, July 25, 2011
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. opened his re-election bid Saturday, July 23, with a door-to-door campaign blitz in Glenview and Wharton touting an 18-month record in office.

“Put your name of the ballot – come on. We’re going to walk all over you,” Wharton said to potential challengers on the Oct. 6 ballot who include Shelby County Commissioner James Harvey, former Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford Sr. and seven others. “Don’t get in our way.”

46. 4 Council Members - All 3 City Court Judges To Run Unopposed In Oct. Elections - Friday, July 22, 2011

Four incumbent Memphis City Council members and all three incumbent City Court Judges were effectively re-elected at the Thursday, July 21, noon deadline for candidates to file their qualifying petitions for the Oct. 6 Memphis ballot.

47. Last-Minute Filers Make Election Deadline - Thursday, July 21, 2011

A flurry of last-minute filings came at the noon Thursday, July 21, deadline for candidates in the Oct. 6 Memphis elections to turn in their qualifying petitions.

Shelby County Election Commission staffers were still checking the signatures on the petitions filed Thursday to make sure those signing were voters and lived in the districts they signed for or the city in the case of the citywide races.

48. Redistricting Comes Just in Time for Filing Deadline - Thursday, July 21, 2011

Contenders for the 13 seats on the Memphis City Council got some certainty this week with council approval of the new set of district lines for the body.

And it could make the noon Thursday, July 21, qualifying deadline something that hasn’t been seen in many election cycles – a deadline with some last-minute candidates and plenty of politicos watching the last-minute developments.

49. Wharton Files for Re-Election - Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. filed his qualifying petition for re-election Monday, July 18 at noon.

Wharton is seeking a full four-year term in the office he won in October 2009 in a special election following the resignation of Willie Herenton.

50. Commission Approves Creation of Retirement 'Plan D' - Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Shelby County commissioners approved the creation of a new fourth retirement plan for county employees. The vote on plan D for county employees hired on or after July 1 included changes in two of the three existing county retirement plans that increases employee contributions.

51. 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.

52. Wharton Preps for 2011 Mayoral Campaign - Friday, May 13, 2011

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. was still fielding national media flood inquiries with a mantra of “Memphis is open for business” as he attended the latest of the early campaign fundraisers this week for his re-election effort.

53. 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.

54. 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.

55. Qualifying Period for City Races Opens - Monday, April 18, 2011

Here come the city elections. Monday is the first day candidates in the Oct. 6 Memphis elections can begin picking up and filing qualifying petitions for mayor, all 13 seats on the Memphis City Council, City Court clerk and the three divisions of City Court.

56. 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.

57. Commission Rejects Paid Leave Restrictions - Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Shelby County commissioners were short of the votes Monday to specifically prohibit county employees from getting paid leave for Christmas shopping days or in exchange for donating blood and other charity work.

58. Dev. Race Procedures Draw Elected Officials’ Ire - Friday, February 25, 2011

When Mitsubishi Electric Power Products Inc. decided the facility in Ako, Japan, where the company produces large power transformers was approaching full capacity, it wasn’t long before the company decided it needed to build another plant.

59. 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.

60. Commisson to Consider Electrolux Incentives - Monday, January 24, 2011

Shelby County commissioners vote Monday on delivering $22 million in county incentives for the Electrolux plant and on a new economic development entity to improve on the system for luring companies like Electrolux to the city.

61. Electrolux Incentives and EDGE Framework Clear Committee - Thursday, January 20, 2011

A vice president of Electrolux Home Products Inc. on a two-day tour of city and county governments got a few questions from Shelby County commissioners Wednesday but mostly glowing comments during a committee session.

62. Electrolux Incentives and EDGE Framework Clear Committee - Wednesday, January 19, 2011

A vice president of Electrolux Home Products Inc. on a two-day tour of city and county governments got a few questions from Shelby County commissioners Wednesday but mostly glowing comments during a committee session.

63. Technological Tactics - Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The sensory system that reports information to the brain center for the Memphis Police Department’s Blue CRUSH initiative is about to be upgraded with new tools.

The high-tech gadgetry includes fixed license plate readers on interstate highways, 1,500 tracking bracelets for repeat offenders out on bond and neighborhood surveillance devices that can pinpoint the location of gunshots.

64. Oldham Fills Top Sheriff's Positions - Monday, October 04, 2010

Shelby County Sheriff Bill Oldham has named William S. Cash as his chief deputy and Robert L. Moore as interim director of the Shelby County Jail.

65. New County Commission, Mayor Go to Work - Thursday, September 09, 2010

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell took his first batch of appointees to the Shelby County Commission Wednesday in the first committee sessions of the commission’s new term of office.

66. Luttrell’s Staff Filled With Familiar Faces - Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Shelby County Mayor-elect Mark Luttrell is taking some of his team from the sheriff’s department with him when he switches offices Sept. 1

67. Luttrell Assembles Team - Tuesday, August 24, 2010
As interim Shelby County mayor Joe Ford attended his last County Commission meeting, county mayor elect Mark Luttrell began naming the team he will go into office with on Sept. 1.

68. County Commission Approves UDC - Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Shelby County Commissioners this week approved a new Unified Development Code with no discussion. The combined city-county code passed on a unanimous vote on third and final reading.

Memphis City Council members were scheduled to take their final vote on the code Tuesday afternoon, which would make it a countywide set of rules for future development, both residential and commercial.

69. Commission Poised for Property Tax Battle - Friday, June 11, 2010

The battered real estate market and its relationship to last year’s countywide reappraisal of property played a big – and not widely understood role – in the setting of 2010’s local property tax rates.

70. 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.

71. Daq Beer Question Looms Larger - Monday, April 19, 2010

After one of several rounds of questions about his business last week, Keevon Morgan of Nashville said he thought he got caught in a political squeeze.

The comment came as the deputy county attorney, members of the Shelby County Beer Board and their attorney closed the board’s meeting Thursday to talk in private – presumably about who owns the restaurant Morgan recently opened in Southeast Shelby County.

72. The Daq Beer Permit Delayed After Closed Beer Board Conference - Friday, April 16, 2010

A beer permit for a southeast Shelby County restaurant was delayed Thursday for a second time in as many months.

The Daq at 4202 Hacks Cross Road has gone from a typical Shelby County Beer Board case with holes in its application to a political minefield.

73. Beer Board Head Reacts to Alleged Influence Ploy - Thursday, April 15, 2010

 The head of the local Beer Board has complained that a deputy administrator to the County Commission tried to influence the board’s decision on a Hacks Cross Road business.

The complaint from Merrick Horne touched off an internal county government investigation last month in which commissioner James Harvey, Deputy Administrator for the Commission Clay Perry and attorney Ricky E. Wilkins gave sworn statements.

74. UPDATE: Beer Beef Prompts Probe - Wednesday, April 14, 2010
 

The head of the Shelby County Beer Board has complained that a deputy administrator to the Shelby County Commission tried to influence the board’s decision on a Hacks Cross Road bar.

The complaint from Merrick Horne touched off an internal county government investigation last month in which commissioner James Harvey, Deputy Administrator for the Commission Clay Perry and attorney Ricky E. Wilkins gave sworn statements.

Perry is running in the May 4 Democratic primary for Probate Court clerk. Harvey, a Democratic county commissioner, is seeking re-election in the same set of primaries.

At the center of the controversy is a beer permit sought by the owners of a recently opened nightspot called The Daq.

Danny Shaw, a real estate agent and acquaintance of Perry and Harvey, left a phone message for Harvey seeking help when a Beer Board vote was delayed last month. Shaw called on behalf of the alleged owner, Keevon Morgan, of Nashville.

In a report released Monday, Deputy County Atty. Danny Presley concluded the episode “was clearly an attempt by Mr. Shaw to circumvent the proper procedures of the Shelby County Beer Board by contacting an elected official and a high-ranking staff member of said body to achieve a certain result, which was the speedy issuance of a beer permit for Mr. Morgan.”

Presley concluded Shaw “enjoyed a comfortable familiarity with both Clay Perry and Commissioner Harvey.”

“It is critical to note that, notwithstanding the clear appearance of utilizing political influence to circumvent the process, there is no evidentiary proof at this time that either Mr. Perry or Commissioner Harvey accepted or solicited any form of gratuity in exchange for their services,” Presley wrote.

Neither Harvey nor Horne could be reached by press time.

The Beer Board, at its March 18 meeting, delayed action on the beer permit when it couldn’t determine who the owner of the nightspot was.

There were two leases, and as the board’s staff investigated, they got conflicting answers on which lease was valid, as they called and contacted the various names on both sets of paperwork.

The Daq held its grand opening days later, on March 22, without a beer permit.

Horne said he drove by, saw the opening and went in where he talked to someone else who said they were the owner.

On the day of the grand opening, Shaw left a message at the commission offices for Harvey, according to a County Commission e-mail. Perry was copied on the e-mail, which is a routine procedure in handling calls to commissioners.

The next evening, March 23, Horne got a call at home from Perry asking if the board could call a special meeting.

Horne said Perry asked what could be done to speed the application process for The Daq.

Perry agreed that he quizzed Horne about possibly calling a special meeting to consider The Daq’s permit application.

“Clay then inferred that the owners were ‘connected.’ (I took that to mean politically, although I cannot remember the specific statement to quote.),” Horne wrote.

Perry denied saying anything like that or trying to imply any kind of political power.

“I haven’t been paid anything,” Perry is quoted as saying at one point in the interview.

Perry said Harvey never discussed the matter with him, and that Harvey had not talked with Kenny Shaw before Perry called Horne.

Perry said Shaw made it “perfectly clear” that Morgan wanted a specially called meeting.

Harvey said he talked with Shaw.

“I said, ‘Call Clay and tell him what your problem is and he will let me know what I need to do thereafter,’” Harvey told Presley.

Perry called the investigation “silly” and “politically motivated,” as well as politically timed. The report surfaced the same week that early voting began in advance of the primaries.

Perry said he was responding to a call from a constituent, a primary task of the commission staff.

“You can write it any way you want, and in the end, I’m still staff,” Perry told The Daily News. “I’ve been doing constituent service for 15 years. That’s all that was – constituent service.”

Presley said the investigation was prompted by a phone call from Horne and authorized by Shelby County Commission chairwoman Joyce Avery. Perry said he is to meet Monday with Avery.

The Beer Board’s next meeting is Thursday . Presley told The Daily News at that time, the board will consider new questions about who owns The Daq.

“Unfortunately, there is a rather stark inconsistency or discrepancy between what was represented back on March 18 and what we received in document form,” Presley said.

Horne told Presley that after last month’s vote to delay, Wilkins asked how long it would take The Daq to get a permit. Wilkins is an assistant county attorney hired to advise the Beer Board.

Wilkins denied any attempt to sway Horne or the board.

“No one has lobbied anybody that I know of on the planet Earth about this application,” he told Presley. “I don’t know these people. I have had no affiliation with any of these people.”

Note: An earlier version of this story contained an incorrect location for The Daq. We regret the error.

75. Early Voting Begins As Candidate Rhetoric Sizzles - Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Early voting opens Wednesday in advance of the May 4 Shelby County primaries – not a moment too soon in the County Commission primary race that has generated the most political heat.

Shelby County commissioner John Pellicciotti and Probate Court clerk Chris Thomas squared off at Monday’s commission meeting. Both are running in the GOP primary for the District 4 Position 1 commission seat.

76. Glankler Brown Names Bradley Chief Manager - Wednesday, March 03, 2010

William R. Bradley Jr. has been named chief manager of Glankler Brown PLLC.

Bradley’s primary practice areas include intellectual property, maintenance and litigation, antitrust counseling and litigation, business litigation, and construction litigation.

77. 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.

78. 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)

79. Surprises Possible as Primary Filing Deadline Nears - Thursday, February 18, 2010

Although today marks the filing deadline for the May 4 Shelby County primaries and independent candidates on the Aug. 5 county general election ballot, plenty of political drama remains.

In fact, the filing deadline is often just as important – and surprising – as election day.

80. Commission to Carry MED Baton Again Today - Monday, February 08, 2010

Shelby County commissioners approved $10 million for The Regional Medical Center two weeks ago.

Today the body will still be talking about The MED.

On the agenda for today’s meeting is a resolution asking all candidates for governor to sign a pledge to provide The MED with “all federal funds received by the state for uncompensated care.”

81. Temporary MED Fix Just That: Temporary - Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The Regional Medical Center at Memphis will get $10 million from Shelby County government to keep its emergency room open through June 30, the end of the current fiscal year.

The Shelby County Commission’s 9-3 vote this week takes the money from the county’s $73 million reserve fund.

82. Commission Appointments Not Without Rancor - Wednesday, January 13, 2010

John Pellicciotti is pursuing his master’s degree in political science from the University of Memphis. He’s writing his thesis. And this week, after trying several times for several years, the small-business owner and consultant got some real-world experience in his degree area.

83. Kuhn Proposal Lifts Commission Mood - Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Shelby County Commissioners needed some levity this week as the year neared its end and the 2010 election season waited in the wings.
The body slogged through a battle for the chairmanship in September, 26 rounds of voting for an interim county mayor in November and more bad blood this week, including dueling motions to honor a former commissioner and a proposal to run a bus shuttle for county employees that workers on foot could beat.
So when Commissioner Matt Kuhn got down on one knee in the chamber and proposed to the deputy director of the county Department of Community Services, Heidi Verbeek, commissioners were happy to find unanimity in wishing the couple well.
Then they got back to business.

84. Ford Resigns - Buehler Clears Last Hurdle - Kuhn Proposes - Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Shelby County Commissioners have put off a vote on a new commissioner for two weeks.

The move came as Commissioner Joe Ford marked his last day Monday. Ford will be sworn in Thursday as Shelby County interim mayor following A C Wharton’s election victory in October as Memphis mayor.

85. UPDATE: Ford Commission Replacement Delayed - Monday, December 07, 2009

Shelby County Commissioners have put off a vote on a new commissioner for two weeks.

The move came as Commissioner Joe Ford marked his last day Monday. Ford will be sworn in Thursday as Shelby County interim mayor following A C Wharton’s election victory in October as Memphis mayor.

86. Memphian Williams Has Economic Front-Row Seat From FINRA Board - Friday, December 04, 2009

When Memphian Duncan Williams joined the board of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in 2007, his colleagues included representatives of powerhouse firms with familiar names.

But Robert McCann, the former president of Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc.’s retail unit, and Thomas Russo, the former chief legal officer at Lehman Brothers Inc., left the FINRA board earlier this year. Their companies went out of business as standalone entities as a result of the U.S. economy’s near-death experience in 2008.

87. Ford Wins Appointment as County Mayor - Thursday, November 19, 2009

Joe Ford’s picture on the fourth floor of the Shelby County Administration Building came down minutes after he won the appointment Tuesday as interim Shelby County mayor.

88. Joe Ford Claims County Mayor's Office - Wednesday, November 18, 2009

A long time goal of the Ford political organization was realized Tuesday afternoon when Shelby County Commissioner Joe Ford was appointed interim Shelby County Mayor effective Dec. 10.

89. UPDATE: Joe Ford To Become County Mayor - Tuesday, November 17, 2009

A long time goal of the Ford political organization was realized Tuesday afternoon when Shelby County Commissioner Joe Ford was appointed interim Shelby County Mayor effective Dec. 10.

90. Commission Deadlocked On Next County Mayor - Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Joyce Avery will serve as Shelby County Mayor until Dec. 10.

Shelby County Commissioners decided Monday that she will serve the full 45 day period in the county charter. But they weren’t able to decide who will be mayor after Dec. 10.

91. UPDATE: County Commission Deadlocks On Mayoral Choice - Monday, November 09, 2009

Joyce Avery will serve as Shelby County Mayor until Dec. 10.

Shelby County Commissioners decided Monday that she will serve the full 45 day period in the county charter. But they weren’t able to decide who will be mayor after Dec. 10.

92. Commissioner Harvey Finds Success in Classroom - Friday, October 09, 2009

Once he achieved the goal of winning elected office in 2006, Shelby County Commissioner James Harvey looked around and decided he needed to go back to school.

93. Dress Newest Pathologist At Pathology Group of the MidSouth - Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Dr. Matthew A. Dress has joined Pathology Group of the MidSouth PC as its newest pathologist.

Before joining Pathology Group of the MidSouth, Dress served as the chief resident in anatomic and clinical pathology at the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Tennessee. He then completed a fellowship in hematopathology at the University of Rochester Medical Center-Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. 

94. UPDATE: Commission Approves Metro Charter Commission - Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Shelby County Commissioners voted Monday to form a Metro Charter Commission. The resolution passed on a 9-2 vote.

Memphis City Council members are to discuss a similar resolution today in executive session with a vote by the full council likely in two weeks. If the council approves its side of the joint resolution, the Memphis and Shelby County Mayors would then begin appointing citizens to the 15 member body. That body would write a charter proposal to consolidate Memphis city and Shelby County governments.

95. County Commission Approves Metro Charter Commission - Monday, August 31, 2009

Shelby County Commissioners voted Monday to form a Metro Charter Commission. The resolution passed on a 9-2 vote.

Memphis City Council members are to discuss a similar resolution Tuesday in executive session with a vote by the full council likely in two weeks. If the council approves its side of the joint resolution, the Memphis and Shelby County Mayors would then begin appointing citizens to the 15 member body. That body would write a charter proposal to consolidate Memphis city and Shelby County governments.

96. Ford Downplays Rumored Mayoral Ambitions - Monday, August 03, 2009

Joe Ford for Shelby County mayor?

“I’m not positioning myself for it. … I have not talked to anybody about it,” Ford said when asked if the rumor was true. “Nobody’s said anything to me about it. Really, I hadn’t thought about it.”

97. Halbert Mulls Run for City Mayor - Thursday, July 30, 2009

Another potential mayoral candidate is considering stepping into the fray.

With the release of a brief statement Wednesday afternoon, Wanda Halbert floated her interest in October’s special election to choose someone to fill the rest of Willie Herenton’s mayoral term, which ends in 2011.

98. Halbert Mulls Run for City Mayor - Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Another potential mayoral candidate is considering stepping into the fray.

With the release of a brief statement Wednesday afternoon, Wanda Halbert floated her interest in October’s special election to choose someone to fill the rest of Willie Herenton’s mayoral term, which ends in 2011.

99. Democrats Squabble Over Mayoral Choices, Backing - Monday, July 20, 2009

Shelby County Democratic Party leaders are considering weighing in on the coming special election for Memphis mayor.

Local party chairman Van Turner Jr. solicited opinions from members of the party’s executive committee last week at the group’s monthly meeting. The options include a straw poll or some kind of party-sponsored forum for the candidates.

100. Chairmanship Battle a Preview Of Coming Political Landscape - Friday, July 17, 2009

The political fortunes of the Shelby County Democratic Party haven’t been this high in awhile.

Democrats have high hopes for the 2010 county elections. In the 2006 elections, four Democratic challengers of Republican incumbents in countywide offices came within 1,000 votes of wins. Democrats picked up a countywide office in the 2008 elections when Otis Jackson, one of the four Democrats who got close but not close enough two years earlier, upset Republican incumbent Chris Turner in the General Sessions Court clerk’s race.