Political Roundup: The general election campaign shift
The May county primary results are certified and the Democratic and Republican nominees who advanced to the August ballot are now seeking to appeal to a larger group of voters in that election.
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Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for almost 50 years covering a wide variety of stories from the 1977 death of Elvis Presley and the 1978 police and fire strikes to numerous political campaigns, every county mayor and every Memphis Mayor starting with Wyeth Chandler.
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The May county primary results are certified and the Democratic and Republican nominees who advanced to the August ballot are now seeking to appeal to a larger group of voters in that election.
The certified results show more than 100 additional votes than the election night unofficial totals in the one-candidate Republican primary races for Shelby County Mayor and District Attorney General.
The County Commission Scorecard tracks commission votes on rounding the county property tax rate up or down, a fee for waiving the county residency requirement and whether to fill a vacant state House seat representing part of the city.
“It’s likely that nearly all property tax payers will pay less next year than this year even with the higher property values we are seeing across the country,” the county’s new budget chair said.
The one-mile section, which includes the Greenway bridge and a boardwalk, formally opened Tuesday, May 17.
Democratic state Rep. G.A. Hardaway reacted after some county commissioners said Monday they didn’t see any sense in filling the vacancy in a Memphis district because the Tennessee Legislature’s session has ended.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland went after critics of his backing of the state truth in sentencing law and his description of 201 Poplar as a “revolving door” for criminals during a lively interview on “Behind The Headlines.”
The former Shelby County Republican Party chairman and member of the Republican National Committee, as well as its general counsel, died over the weekend at the age of 72.
The City Council Scorecard tracks the latest moves on proposed August ballot questions that would extend term limits for council members and introduce city primary elections if approved by voters.
The problem that delayed the certification was combining tabulations from two different systems into a single statement of votes cast.
Strickland said he left the decision about whether to renovate the city-owned stadium or build a new one on the university campus to the university.
Former Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell is the new chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission.
Stephanie Gatewood, who finished third in the clerk primary, says Janeen Gordon should never have been allowed to run on the ballot as “Janeen Fullilove Gordon” — using the name of her mother, outgoing clerk Janis Fullilove.
Tennessee Valley Authority officials got a hostile reception when they took an economic development study to the Memphis City Council Tuesday.
The two issues could be up for a citywide referendum in August. Memphis City Council moves closer to hiring energy consultantRelated story:
MLGW is currently requesting proposals from various providers for a possible move to a new electric power provider.
The council will mix a first vote on the city property tax rate Tuesday with more discussion and votes on two ballot questions for the August ballot — one on expanding term limits and the other allowing for partisan city primaries.
U.S. Reps. Steve Cohen and Michael Kustoff commented at separate events Thursday in Shelby County, elaborating on earlier reaction to the leaked opinion draft on the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the U.S. Related story:
Some Memphis Democrats in the Legislature say they want a replacement appointed even though the Legislature is out of session. The commission put off a decision on the matter until its May 23 meeting.
Leaders of county government’s effort to bridge gaps in the local juvenile justice system and move children with non-violent offenses away from contact with the system talked about the approach on “Behind The Headlines.”
The Shelby County Commission approved an expanded kitchen, an outdoor pavilion and more parking at the Barretville General Store.
The story of a man who rescued 32 people from the Mississippi River 100 years ago inspires three high school seniors who won the first Tom Lee Poetry and Spoken Word Contest.
The rate of $3.399 advanced Monday, May 9, on first reading with uncertainty ahead for the second of three votes on May 23. Barretville General Store gets green light for expansion despite ‘family squabble' County Commission debates filling open State House District 91 seatRelated stories:
The commission, at its Monday, May 9, meeting, also decides whether to fill a vacant state House seat in the Shelby County delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris outlined his budget proposal the day after winning the Democratic primary for county mayor and advancing to the August county general election in his quest for a second term.