Early voting in the Memphis City Council runoffs ends Saturday
Early voting in the three runoffs for Memphis City Council Districts 2, 3 and 7 is open through 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. Election day is Nov. 16.
Reporter
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for more than 40 years.
There are 3662 articles by Bill Dries :
Early voting in the three runoffs for Memphis City Council Districts 2, 3 and 7 is open through 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. Election day is Nov. 16.
Wanda Halbert addressed the sudden closing of the County Clerk’s Poplar Plaza office at a press conference Thursday, Nov. 9. She maintains the exit was not an “eviction” but acknowledged her office missed paying two months’ rent and called it “trivial.”
The County Commission Scorecard catches up to a trio of police-reform ordinances — two approved and a third falling one vote short. Also, the 10 rounds of balloting to elect a new leader demonstrated ongoing divisions on the commission.
Wanda Halbert’s office has been under investigation since June. The Chattanooga prosecutor leading the probe tells The Daily Memphian the closing of the Poplar Plaza clerk’s office has his attention.
“We are talking about nearly a $37 million increase — either we put all of that on the utility bill or we put it on the property tax rate,” said Council Chairman Martavius Jones. “We can’t do it in November.” City Council pushes final votes on primary elections, mayoral runoffs Related Story:
Final votes on the two 2024 ballot questions are now set for the Nov. 21 council session. The city council also approved the first increase in city tow rates in 16 years.
Shelby County Chief Administrative Officer Harold Collins said Monday, Nov. 6, County Clerk Wanda Halbert has fallen behind on rent payments for her office in the Poplar Plaza shopping center. Halbert makes no mention of past-due rent.
The monthly city solid waste fee for residential properties would rise 37% — from $29.96 to $41.05 — under a proposal from Mayor Jim Strickland’s administration.
More than 700 Memphians have cast early ballots in the runoffs for three city council seats through the first four days of the voting period.
Cohen said Tuesday, Oct. 31, time is of the essence in approving the aid package. He also again spoke in support of humanitarian aid for Gaza in Israel’s war with Hamas.
The $3 million in federal funding is being subbed for $3 million in private funds raised by the Overton Park Conservancy and the Memphis Zoo toward the parking solution.
The resolution directing the Economic Development Growth Engine to conduct a study of the controversial idea fell short by two votes. The commission also delayed votes on the county land bank and a police review board.
U.S. Rep. David Kustoff and Tenneessee Gov. Bill Lee visited the East Memphis school to also look over new security measures funded with state and federal grants since a July incident on campus.
The commission also considers a study of wages paid by economic development projects that get property tax abatements as incentives at its Monday, Oct. 30, meeting.
Beverly and Howard Robertson talk on “Behind The Headlines” about what they heard about crime from focus groups across the city as part of The Daily Memphian’s “Community Conversations” series. Memphis is in a ‘crime crisis,’ focus group participants say Who’s responsible for reducing crime? For some, the onus is on the mayor Like a weed, crime needs to be addressed at the root ‘Not willing to give up:’ What focus group participants said about crimeRelated content:
Here are the voting basics for the three Memphis City Council runoff elections during the early voting period that begins Friday, Oct. 27.
Early voting in three city council districts runs Oct. 27-Nov. 11. Runoff Election Day is Nov. 16.Related story:
The attorney, congressional contender and former chairman of the Memphis Housing Authority Board died last week when his brain cancer returned. Wilkins charted a political course that called for greater Black political unity in recent years.
The Daily Memphian’s D.C. Scorecard tracks the votes of the city’s two representative in the U.S. House as a new speaker was chosen Wednesday, Oct. 25.
The council also moved closer to final votes next month on two ballot questions for next year that would change city elections, approved extra funding for the Cobblestones river landing restoration and was told it will take the National Ornamental Metal Museum longer for its renovation of Rust Hall in Overton Park.
Council members JB Smiley Jr. and Chase Carlisle want the council to choose either a return of the runoff provision or allowing partisan primary elections. Both referendum ordinances are up Tuesday, Oct. 24, for the second of three readings.Related story:
City council members Chase Carlisle and JB Smiley Jr. on “Behind The Headlines” say they are ready for a more assertive city council in the new term that begins in January as well as a more collaborative mayor.
The 28 people named Wednesday, Oct. 18, will lead a team of more than 85 in making recommendations between now and Jan. 1, 2024, when Paul Young takes office as the mayor of Memphis.
The increase reflected in certified vote totals approved by the Shelby County Election Commission did not change the outcome of any of the races on the Oct. 5 city ballot. The commission also approved early voting locations and hours for the Nov. 16 runoffs in three city council districts.
The Shelby County Election Commission may take a closer look at its procedures after a poll inspector’s car was broken into the day before election day. The commission voted unanimously Monday, Oct. 16, to certify the election results.