The ex-wife of Tigers and Grizz basketball great Lorenzen Wright is due in a California courtroom Monday morning as extradition proceedings begin following Sherra Wright’s arrest there Friday evening on a Shelby County grand jury indictment here on charges of conspiracy, first degree murder and attempted murder.

2. Former Shelby County Republican Leader Dies in Car Wreck - Saturday, December 16, 2017

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Bill Giannini, a former chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission and the Shelby County Republican Party, has died in a car crash.

3. Former Shelby County Republican Leader Dies in Car Wreck - Saturday, December 16, 2017

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Bill Giannini, a former chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission and the Shelby County Republican Party, has died in a car crash.

4. Last Word: Boca, Poe Killed by Politics and Embedding In The Real Memphis - Monday, December 5, 2016

BOCA BOWL – As expected, the University of Memphis Tigers football team is going south for the post season. They got and accepted Sunday the formal invitation to play in the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 20 against Western Kentucky. Ticket information should be forthcoming Monday for those of you who didn’t get enough during the Emerald Coast Classic with the basketball Tigers not too long ago.

5. State Urges Caution With Crowdfunding Efforts - Saturday, December 19, 2015

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s Consumer Affairs Division is warning Tennesseans about crowdfunding cons and charitable solicitation scams as they become increasingly prevalent during the holiday season.

6. State Urges Caution With Crowdfunding Efforts - Wednesday, December 16, 2015

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s Consumer Affairs Division is warning Tennesseans about crowdfunding cons and charitable solicitation scams as they become increasingly prevalent during the holiday season.

7. New Members Bring Change to Election Commission - Monday, May 23, 2011

When the Shelby County Election Commission met last week, it signaled a change, with three new members for the five-member body, as well as possibly a calm period for a group that has overseen a lot of elections in the last decade.

8. Election Commission to Change - Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The five-member Shelby County Election Commission will have three new faces by May or June as well as a new chairman.

The state election commission meets next week to vote on the two Democratic commissioners on the body that conducts and regulates elections in Shelby County. But the selection is governed by the choices of the state legislators from the county who caucus on the nominees.

9. Schools Referendum Certification Set for March 28 - Friday, March 18, 2011

The Shelby County Election Commission certified election results this week.

But it was the metro charter referendum results from Nov. 2 instead of the March 8 schools consolidation results.

And the Election Commission is now scheduled to certify the March 8 results on March 28, the same day the Shelby County Commission is set to make appointments to a 25-member countywide school board.

10. Election Commission Sets March 28 to Certify Schools Vote - Thursday, March 17, 2011

Shelby County Election Commissioners set a special meeting for March 28 to certify the results of the March 8 schools referendum.

Election results, until recently, had been certified within 10 days of an election. But a recent change in state law lengthens the certification period to the third Monday after an election.

11. Elected Leaders Meet Tuesday on Schools Legislation - Tuesday, February 1, 2011

There is some movement between political forces in Memphis and political forces representing the city and county in Nashville on the school consolidation question.

“I’m relatively certain there will be no effort to interfere with the right of the vote on March 8,” Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. said Monday afternoon, referring to the March citywide referendum on the surrender of the Memphis City Schools system charter.

12. The No Voting Machine - Friday, January 21, 2011

THANKS, GUYS, BUT WE’LL TAKE IT FROM HERE.

For the first half of the 20th century, one political machine with one man firmly at the controls ran Memphis. Not only did Boss Crump decide who got elected, appointed, fired and indicted around here, he pretty much did that for the whole state, and wielded considerable influence in the national Democratic Party. Memphis mayor for six years and congressman for four, he was the power behind everything for almost 50.

13. New School Merger Option Emerges - Friday, January 21, 2011

A second quicker path to school consolidation opened this week, the same night the Memphis City Schools board made a bigger splash by voting down a compromise offer from the Shelby County Schools system.

14. March 8 Set for Schools Election - Thursday, January 20, 2011

With no discussion, the Shelby County Election Commission has set March 8 as the date for a special citywide election on the Memphis City Schools charter surrender.

The date is the same day as the general election in Raleigh and North Memphis for the state House district 98 seat.

15. No Schools Lawsuit Yet, State Elections Coordinator Asks For Clarification - Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The Tennessee elections coordinator has asked for clarification about why the Memphis City Schools (MCS) board wants to hold a special election.

The attorney for MCS Tuesday sent a letter to elections coordinator Mark Goins that might lead to another Shelby County Election Commission look at putting the MCS charter surrender referendum to Memphis voters possibly in February or March.

16. Schools Controversy Spotlight Moves From Election Prep - Friday, January 7, 2011

This may be where the dispute between Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools goes to court and drags in more political entities.

The dimmed prospect of a February referendum of Memphis voters on an MCS charter surrender has turned the spotlight from the preparations for an election to a race across the new year’s calendar between an election and special school district legislation in the Tennessee Legislature.

17. No Election Date Yet For MCS Charter Surrender - Thursday, January 6, 2011

The Shelby County Election Commission met Wednesday and adjourned minutes later without putting the Memphis City Schools (MCS) charter surrender on a special election ballot.

The five-member body refused based on a legal opinion from Tennessee Elections Coordinator Mark Goins delivered an hour before the meeting. The opinion says the Memphis City Council must approve having the referendum before the item can go on the ballot.

18. Goldin Dismisses Election Challenge Suit - Friday, October 8, 2010

Shelby County Election Commission chairman Bill Giannini said he learned some things from the Chancery Court lawsuit challenging the results of the Aug. 5 election.

19. Goldin Dismisses Aug. 5 Election Challenge - Thursday, October 7, 2010

Chancellor Arnold Goldin has dismissed the legal effort to throw out the results of the Aug. 5 Shelby County elections.

Goldin ruled Thursday at the start of what was to be the second day of testimony in the trial of the civil lawsuit.

20. Added Protection - Monday, September 27, 2010

Shelby County Commissioners wade into the continuing controversy over the Aug. 5 election results Monday with a resolution to change the standards for protection of whistle-blowers.

The County Commission meeting at the Vasco Smith County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St., begins at 1:30 p.m. An agenda is on page 10.

21. Challengers Move Closer to Election Hearing - Friday, September 17, 2010

All sides in the legal dispute over the Aug. 5 election results will meet with Chancellor Arnold Goldin Friday to begin wading through a series of motions and ultimately a hearing on the dispute.

Ten candidates who lost in the Aug. 5 county general elections filed two lawsuits – one before the election results were certified and the other after they were certified. Both are before Goldin and are likely to be combined, a decision that is up to Goldin.

22. Election Challenge Lawsuits Back In Court Friday - Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Both sides in the two lawsuits over the Aug. 5 election results are due in Chancery Court Friday for a scheduling conference.

Both cases have been assigned to Chancellor Arnold Goldin after Chancellors Walter Evans and Kenny Armstrong recused themselves.

23. Debate Over Primary Elections Heats Up - Monday, August 30, 2010

Shelby County Commissioners are the latest group to debate what should become of county party primary elections. The body, which has been divided into Democrats and Republicans since 1994, in August narrowly turned down a resolution to urge both local parties to drop their requests to continue the primaries.

24. Losing Candidates File Suit Over Election Results - Thursday, August 26, 2010

Before the polls closed Aug. 5, a clearly dismayed Shelby County Election Commission chairman Bill Giannini talked about the inevitability of some aspect of holding an election going wrong.

25. Officials: Voting Problems Didn’t Affect Election - Friday, August 20, 2010

Election officials say problems at the polls in Shelby County earlier this month didn’t affect any races in the election.

County Election commission chairman Bill Giannini reported Wednesday that problems occurred after an information technology manager inadvertently loaded early voting information from the May election, prompting poll workers to incorrectly tell some people they had already voted in the Aug. 5 election.

26. State Division of Elections Investigates Vote Counts - Monday, August 16, 2010

Add another investigation into the Shelby County vote count. The state Division of Elections is looking into problems during the Aug. 5 election.

Shelby County District Attorney General Bill Gibbons has asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to look into problems with an old early voting list finding its way into electronic poll books. Gibbons acted on a request from Shelby County Election Commission chairman Bill Giannini.

27. Dem Leaders Prepare for Legal Challenge - Friday, August 13, 2010

Local Democratic Party leaders are collecting affidavits as a start toward formally challenging the Aug. 5 Shelby County election results.

A standing-room-only crowd of more than 200 people gathered at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union hall in Midtown this week.

28. Candidates Wait on Certified Results Before Legal Challenge - Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Before there can be a challenge of the Aug. 5 election results, there has to be a set of certified election results.

That’s the bottom line of a possible legal challenge of the recent county general election results that materialized this week.

29. Luttrell, Cohen Win Most-Watched Races - Friday, August 6, 2010

Outgoing Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell was elected Shelby County mayor Thursday evening. Meanwhile, incumbent Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen easily won the 9th Congressional District primary, crushing challenger and former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton.

30. Up to 3,000 Voters Affected by Poll Problem - Friday, August 6, 2010

As many as 3,000 voters may have been affected by a problem Thursday morning at some polling places in Shelby County, according to Shelby County Election Commission chairman Bill Giannini.

31. Up to 3K Voters Affected by Poll Problem - Thursday, August 5, 2010

As many as 3,000 voters may have been affected by a problem Thursday morning at some polling places in Shelby County, according to Shelby County Election Commission chairman Bill Giannini.

32. Early Voting Complications Could Come From Eviction - Monday, July 19, 2010

A move to evict Democratic nominee for County Register Coleman Thompson from his office could complicate early voting.

33. What’s Coming Up This Election Season - Monday, March 15, 2010

After a year of turbulence, the Memphis political scene continues to remake itself.

The May 4 and Aug. 5 elections don’t have the focused drama of last October’s special election for Memphis mayor, but they represent new chapters in a story that could end with a new generation of political leaders and at least a passing of the political baton.

34. Final Candidate List Peopled With Variety - Monday, September 14, 2009

Unless you know them personally, you’ve probably never heard of most of the candidates running in the Oct. 15 special election for Memphis mayor.

Most of the 25 people show no visible signs of running any kind of campaign.

35. Special Election Date Set for Oct. 15 - Thursday, August 6, 2009

The Shelby County Election Commission has shaved 12 days off the race for Memphis mayor. The body set Oct. 15 as the special election date. The date was moved up from Oct. 27 to coincide with a special set of primary elections Gov. Phil Bredesen is expected to order to fill the District 31 State Senate seat.

36. Election Commission Sets Oct. 15 Date For Special Election - Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The race for the rest of Willie Herenton’s term of office as mayor was already going to be a sprint. The campaign got 12 days shorter.

The Shelby County Election Commission has set Oct. 15 as the special election date. The date was moved up from Oct. 27 to coincide with a special set of primary elections Gov. Phil Bredesen is expected to order to fill the District 31 State Senate seat.

37. UPDATE: Oct. 15 New Special Election Date - Tuesday, August 4, 2009

The race for the rest of Willie Herenton’s term of office as mayor was already going to be a sprint. Today the campaign got 12 days shorter.

The Shelby County Election Commission has set Oct. 15 as the special election date. The date was moved up from Oct. 27 to coincide with a special set of primary elections Gov. Phil Bredesen is expected to order to fill the District 31 State Senate seat.

38. Setting of Mayoral Election Date Highlights Busy Week - Friday, July 24, 2009

Shelby County Election Commission Chairman Bill Giannini knew something was happening Wednesday when his cell phone began coming to life. It was just as the commission was about to hold a special meeting to determine when to hold a special election for Memphis mayor.

39. Election Commission Tentatively Sets Oct. 27 Date For Mayor's Race - Thursday, July 23, 2009

Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton has again raised the possibility that he might not leave office on July 30. That possibility comes the same week that Herenton wondered aloud why reporters doubted that he would leave next week.

40. UPDATE: Herenton Again Raises Doubts About Departure - Wednesday, July 22, 2009
 

Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton has again raised the possibility that he might not leave office on July 30. That possibility comes the same week that Herenton wondered aloud why reporters doubted that he would leave next week.

A Herenton letter, dated today, to City Attorney Elbert Jefferson was released as the Shelby County Election Commission met to consider setting a date for a special election to fill a vacancy in the mayor’s office.

In the letter, Herenton writes that the City Council’s decision to declare a vacancy in the mayor’s office was “premature.”

“I am concerned that the action of the city will establish irreversible precedent on matters as to when an office can be deemed vacated and by whom,” Herenton wrote. “As Mayor and as an employee of the city of Memphis, I have the unfettered right to rescind my retirement. … Ultimately, I have not waived my right to rescind my retirement.”

Herenton also said Council chairman Myron Lowery may have had a conflict of interest in voting on the declaration of a vacancy since the council chairman becomes mayor pro tempore for three months in the event of a vacancy in the mayor’s office.

The bombshell letter prompted lots of debate among all five Election Commissioners about whether they should set an election date and filing deadline.

Ultimately, the commission voted unanimously to tentatively set an election date of Oct. 27. Candidates in the race would have until noon Sept. 17 to file their qualifying petitions and until noon Sept. 24 to withdraw from the race if they wish.

The commission would formally call the special election and begin issuing and taking petitions if Herenton does leave office on July 30.

An earlier move by Election Commissioner Shep Wilbun to defer any decision or action by the body until July 31 was voted down in a party line 2-3 vote. Wilbun and fellow Democratic Election Commissioner Myra Stiles voted for the delay. Republicans Robert Meyers, Brian Stephens and Bill Giannini voted no.

All five commissioners expressed a desire to remain out of any possible litigation that might result.

Read more background on the continuing political controversy in Friday’s edition of The Daily News.

41. Election Commission to Consider Mayoral Deadline - Thursday, July 9, 2009

The Shelby County Election Commission today is setting the stage for the next step in the coming special election for Memphis mayor.

The commission will meet at 4:30 p.m. to consider setting a deadline for candidates to file and a date for the election itself sometime in late October. In setting the dates, the commission would abide by terms of the Memphis Charter. The charter calls for a special election three months after a vacancy in the mayor’s office if there is no regularly scheduled election within six months of the date the office becomes vacant.

42. City Council Declares Mayoral Vacancy At End Of July - Wednesday, July 8, 2009

The Memphis City Council approved Tuesday on a 7-6 vote a resolution declaring the mayor’s office vacant as of July 31.

The vote came after a debate in which council members questioned each other’s motives, Mayor Willie Herenton’s word and several legal opinions.

43. UPDATE: Council Approves Mayoral Vacancy Effective July 31 - Tuesday, July 7, 2009

The Memphis City Council approved Tuesday on a 7-6 vote a resolution declaring the mayor’s office vacant as of July 31.

The vote came after a debate in which council members questioned each other’s motives, Mayor Willie Herenton’s word and several legal opinions.

44. Election Commission Pushes to Ease Public Access - Friday, June 26, 2009

A Memphis news organization last month requested financial disclosures from local elected officials including city and county mayors and members of the Memphis City Council. The price to obtain those records: more than $400.

45. Giannini Wants Tighter Voter Rolls - Wednesday, April 29, 2009

In just a month, Bill Giannini has gone from chairing the Shelby County Republican Party to chairing the Shelby County Election Commission.

46. Perry Enters Probate Clerk Race - Thursday, March 26, 2009

Add another candidate to the already forming 2010 Shelby County ballot.

Clay Perry, deputy administrator to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, is in the race for Shelby County Probate Court clerk.

47. Probate Clerk to Run For Commission Seat - Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Shelby County Probate Court Clerk Chris Thomas won’t be running for re-election next year. Instead, he’ll run for the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.

48. County Commission To Fill Vacancy - Monday, February 23, 2009

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners should return to its full complement of 13 members today.

The commission is scheduled to select a replacement for David Lillard, a Republican who resigned from the commission this month following his appointment in January as state treasurer. Whoever wins the appointment will serve the year and a half remaining in Lillard’s four-year term of office.

49. Gibbons’ Pressure Tactics Outed G’town Pols - Thursday, November 6, 2008

The controversy over the Germantown ballot endorsing Gary Pruitt, Frank Uhlhorn and Mike Palazzolo in the town’s three alderman races underscores the power the local GOP ballot has in Shelby County outside the Memphis city limits.

50. Johnson, Jackson To Be Sworn in Sunday - Thursday, August 28, 2008

Two newly minted elected officials will be formally sworn into office Sunday.

Cheyenne Johnson, who succeeds Rita Clark as Shelby County assessor of property, and Otis Jackson, who succeeds Chris Turner as General Sessions Court clerk, will take their oaths of office Sunday in a ceremony at 5 p.m. in the Shelby County Board of Commissioners Chambers at 160 N. Main St.

51. Hennessy Joins Board Of Opportunity Scholarship Trust - Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Scott C. Hennessy, president and chief executive officer of True Temper Sports, has joined the board of directors of Memphis Opportunity Scholarship Trust.

Hennessy will help direct the operations and growth of the nonprofit organization, which provides scholarships and tuition assistance. Hennessy also serves on the Board of Governors of the National Golf Foundation.

52. Cohen, Blackburn Lead Local Election Winners - Monday, August 11, 2008

More than half and possibly as much as 75 percent of Shelby County’s nearly 626,000 voters are expected to turn out for the Nov. 4 election that will be highlighted by the John McCain-Barack Obama battle for the White House.

53. Cohen Crushes Tinker - Jackson Upsets Turner - Charter Changes Pass-Fail - Friday, August 8, 2008
Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen was the big winner in Thursday’s primary elections. Cohen, with 80 percent of the vote, crushed challenger Nikki Tinker in the hard fought 9th District Democratic primary.

The upset of the evening was the general election contest for General Sessions Court Clerk where Democratic challenger Otis Jackson beat Republican incumbent Chris Turner.

And only one of two sets of Shelby County charter amendments on the ballot were approved by voters.

Voter turnout was just under 16 percent in Shelby County. Voter turnout was clearly driven by the 9th District Democratic primary. More people voted in that primary which covers most but not all of Shelby County than voted countywide in the state Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. Turnout in the Democratic primaries was twice that of the Republican primaries in Shelby County.

All results are unofficial pending audit and certification by the Shelby County Election Commission and Tennessee election officials

9th Congressional District
Democratic Primary
Steve Cohen 50,284 79%
Nikki Tinker 11,814 19%
Joe Towns Jr. 914 1%

Not even close. Cohen won the primary for the open all Shelby County seat two years ago by 4,400 votes over Tinker and 13 other candidates. This time around he was the incumbent and Tinker’s challenge was more strident with a pair of controversial attack ads in the gap between the end of early voting and election day. Both were probably factors in the vote totals along with a smaller field of five candidates.

Cohen faces independent candidate Jake Ford in the Nov. 4 general election.

7th Congressional District
Republican Primary
248 of 265 precincts reporting
Marsha Blackburn 29,158 65%
Tom Leatherwood 15,636 35%

These are the results district wide which includes not only the eastern part of Shelby County but a strip of Middle Tennessee up to the Kentucky state line. In Shelby County’s part of the 7th district, Leatherwood beat Blackburn with 62 percent of the vote. But it was 62 percent of just over 19,000 votes. Outside Shelby County it was always going to be difficult for Leatherwood.. The low voter turnout in Collierville and other eastern parts of the county made Leatherwood’s task impossible.

Blackburn faces Democrat Randy G. Morris on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Shelby County Charter Amendment #360
Yes  49,506   49.73%

No   50,043   50,27%

Closest contest of the night in Shelby County with a 537 vote margin and the highest turnout with 99,549 votes total.

This set of charter changes was to fix a legal problem noted in a recent Tennessee Supreme Court ruling. Another part of the package deal was increasing term limits for the county mayor and the county commission from two consecutive four year terms approved by voters in 1994 to three consecutive four year terms. The County Commission meets Monday to ponder whether it should offer another charter amendment on the Nov. 4 ballot that would fix the legal problem.

Shelby County Charter Amendment #361
Yes 65,548 68%
No 30,188 32%

This set of charter amendment includes provisions for recalling elected officials. It also establishes a new method for filling a vacancy in the office of County Mayor.

General Sessions Court Clerk
Otis Jackson 51,438 52%
Chris Turner 43,971 45%

The upset of the evening. Turner, the Republican nominee and the incumbent was seeking a fourth term. Jackson, the Democratic nominee, was making his fourth bid for county-wide office after coming close in a 2006 bid for County Clerk.

Trustee
Paul Mattila 54,734 57%
Ray Butler 29,977 31%

Mattila beats Butler in a race featuring an energetic and misleading campaign by M. LaTroy Williams in which Williams billed himself as the “real Democrat.” He was, in fact, an independent candidate garnering 8 percent of the vote. Mattila fills the remaining two years left in the term of office of the late Bob Patterson, a Republican. Mattila, a Democrat, worked with Patterson. Butler, the Republican, was also a friend of Patterson’s and the race amounted to who would best continue to operate the office as Patterson did.

Criminal Court Judge Div. 6
John Fowlkes 44,581 52%
Latonya Burrow 21,874 26%
Michael G. Floyd 12,071 14%
Claiborne H. Ferguson 6,240 7%

Fowlkes serves out the remaining six years left of the eight year term of office of Fred Axley who resigned from the bench shortly after winning re-election in 2006. Burrow finished a close second to Axley two years ago and again ran an energetic campaign this time around. But Fowlkes status in the legal community and his appointment to the bench by Gov. Phil Bredesen proved to be the advantage.

Assessor of Property
Cheyenne Johnson 59,637 60%
Bill Giannini 39,057 40%

Johnson, the Democratic nominee, easily beat Giannini, who is also doubling as local GOP chairman. Local Democrats keep the county-wide position in their column as voters go for the candidate endorsed by outgoing Democratic incumbent Rita Clark.

U.S. Senate
Democratic Primary
2,192 of 2,290 precincts reporting
Bob Tuke 54,613 32%
Gary G. Davis 37,193 22%
Mike Padgett 32,190 19%
Mark Clayton 30,359 18%
Kenneth Eaton 13,718 8%
Leonard Ladner 4,431 3%

These are the statewide results. Tuke got 42 percent of the Shelby County vote with Clayton finishing second. Tuke, the former state Democratic Party chairman, faces Republican incumbent Lamar Alexander, one of the most successful politicians in the history of the state, in the Nov. 4 general election.

Judicial Retention Races

All seven state appellate court judges, including two Tennessee Supreme Court justices, won their yes/no contests on the ballot across the state. That includes Tennessee Criminal Appeals Court Judge Camille McMullen of Millington who was just appointed to the bench in June by Gov. Phil Bredesen.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

54. Filing Deadline For Elections Is Thursday - Tuesday, April 1, 2008

A healthy voter turnout doesn't necessarily mean every race on the ballot gets the benefit. Politicos call it "ballot falloff." It means races such as those for president or mayor get voters to the polls. But those same voters might decide not to vote in the other races.

55. MAAR Event Tailored to Commercial Property Reappraisals - Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Andy Raines graduated from law school at then-Memphis State University in 1980, the same year Shelby County held its first property reappraisal in nearly two decades.

As a young attorney cutting his teeth on property tax law for Evans and Petree PC, Raines saw firsthand the chaos created by what later would be considered a watershed event.

56. Obama, Huckabee Dominate Shelby in Tenn. Primaries - Thursday, February 7, 2008

The presidential primary season came to a rain-soaked and stormy end Tuesday evening in Memphis even as some voters were still showing up at the polls.

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee carried Shelby County in Tuesday's Tennessee presidential primaries in which 24 percent of Shelby County's 611,000 registered voters cast ballots.

57. Obama, Huckabee Carry Shelby In Tn Primary - Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee carried Shelby County in Tuesday’s Tennessee presidential primaries.

Huckabee went on to win statewide in the GOP contest while New York Sen. Hillary Clinton took the statewide Democratic primary.

58. Early Votes Set Stage for 'Super Tuesday' - Friday, January 25, 2008

Through the first five days of early voting, 1,152 Shelby County voters have cast ballots in advance of the Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" election. Early voting opened Jan. 16 at Shelby County Election Commission headquarters, 157 Poplar Ave. The balloting expands to 18 satellite locations starting today.

59. Primary Voting Begins Today - Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Early voting in the Feb. 5 Tennessee presidential primaries and the primaries for Shelby County property assessor and General Sessions Court clerk opens today.

Shelby County voters begin making their choices in the presidential races as the contenders are focused on the coming South Carolina primaries.

60. Two Primary Contests Set, Two to Go - Monday, December 17, 2007

Two of the four Shelby County primaries on the Feb. 5 ballot were decided at last week's filing deadline for candidates in the races for Property Assessor and General Sessions Court Clerk.

The fields in the two other primaries aren't set just yet. The candidates have until noon Thursday to withdraw if they wish. Then the Shelby County Election Commission will meet to certify the ballot. The county primaries will share the Feb. 5 ballot with the Tennessee Democratic and Republican presidential primaries.

61. Assessor, Court Clerk Candidates Unchallenged in Primaries - Friday, December 14, 2007

Two of the four Shelby County primary elections on the Feb. 5 ballot will be one-candidate affairs.

Incumbent General Sessions Court Clerk Chris Turner effectively won the GOP primary for his position at today’s filing deadline for candidates in the Feb. 5 primaries. And Cheyenne Johnson won the Democratic primary for Property Assessor.

62. Assessor, Court Clerk Candidates Unchallenged in Primaries - Thursday, December 13, 2007

Two of the four Shelby County primary elections on the Feb. 5 ballot will be one-candidate affairs.

Incumbent General Sessions Court Clerk Chris Turner effectively won the GOP primary for his position at today’s filing deadline for candidates in the Feb. 5 primaries. And Cheyenne Johnson won the Democratic primary for Property Assessor.

63. Election Time Again - Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Don't look now but here come the first local elections of 2008.

Thursday at noon is the filing deadline for candidates to file their qualifying petitions for the Feb. 5 Democratic and Republican primaries for Shelby County's General Sessions Court clerk and property assessor.

64. Technology vs. Unique Resume - Tuesday, May 29, 2007

In the annals of Memphis mayoral elections, it seems no candidate has run a race quite like Herman Morris Jr.

Morris - Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division's former top executive - has built a campaign operation that boasts the technological edge and efficiency of a small corporation. His supporters can sign up for cell phone text alerts and Internet podcasts. Videos are posted to his Web site.

65. Wally Joe Joins the Brushmark - Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Chef Wally Joe has joined the Brushmark Restaurant at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art as executive chef. Joe began his culinary education as a child in a restaurant owned by his family, KC's Restaurant in Cleveland, Miss. He also owns Memphis-based Wally Joe Restaurant, which he will continue to run. Chef Joe and his chef de cuisine Andrew Adams will take over operations for the museum's food and beverage services beginning in November.