Sanford: Judge Harry Wellford left a legacy of leadership in politics and the law
The judge deserves to be remembered as one of the most consequential public figures in Memphis during the second half of the 20th century, says Otis Sanford.
Otis Sanford
Columnist
Otis Sanford is professor emeritus of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Memphis and political commentator for WATN-TV ABC24 News. Contact him at o.sanford@memphis.edu.
There are 248 articles by Otis Sanford :
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April 2021
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Public Safety -
Otis Sanford Opinion: Strickland’s pick for police chief represents the change Memphis needs
CJ Davis will draw on her 28 years in the Atlanta Police Department, where she rose to commander of the Strategies and Special Projects Division. Isn’t that what Memphis needs, new strategies for fighting crime and making MPD more a part of the community?
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Otis Sanford Opinion: The Chauvin verdict is about more than one bad cop
Derek Chauvin’s conviction should continue the reckoning on race that started after Floyd’s murder shocked the world 11 months ago. A reckoning we have longed for since the night Thomas Moss and his companions were taken out and lynched in Memphis.
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Otis Sanford Opinion: Note to mayor — make a splash when choosing police director
When it comes to a diverse pool of candidates, the list of finalists for the police director’s job is a homerun. Three are from inside the department. Three are women and five are African American. But this search comes with plenty of challenges.
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Otis SanfordOpinion: Derek Chauvin trial is must-see TV thanks to legendary Memphis lawyer
As I have watched the evidence meticulously unfold against Chauvin, I have also thought about the highly-respected late Memphis attorney S. Shepherd Tate and the role he played in making televised trials possible.
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March 2021
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Otis Sanford Opinion: Waste Pro has got to go
It’s time for the city to cancel its five-year, $33.1 million contract with Waste Pro.
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Otis Sanford Opinion: Ford’s handling of Junior Achievement grant reminiscent of past scandals
An independent investigation by attorney Brian Faughnan flatly accuses Ford of deliberately deceiving his fellow commissioners by failing to disclose to them his obvious conflict of interest. To call Faughnan’s report damning is an understatement.
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Otis Sanford Opinion: Legislative roadblocks to voting are reminders of our shameful past
Voter suppression is very much alive and well in 2021. The cruel violence that once accompanied it has been replaced by underhanded legislative tactics at various statehouses controlled by Republicans.
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Otis SanfordOpinion: Vaccine blunders make Harris vulnerable in 2022 reelection bid
The vaccine distribution debacle on Mayor Lee Harris’ watch will figure prominently in the GOP campaign to retake his office, the party’s Shelby County executive director says.
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Otis Sanford Opinion: Voter suppression efforts still on the minds of state GOP lawmakers
Among the misguided proposals presented at the Tennessee Legislature, none would have as much negative impact on the majority of Tennesseans as the bill introduced last week to abolish early voting in the state.
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February 2021
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Otis Sanford Opinion: It’s big oil vs. defiant communities in major environmental dispute
In this fight, Black people and white people are on the same side. So are local politicians who don’t always agree on matters of public policy.
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Otis SanfordOpinion: Two years in, Gov. Lee is still pandering rather than leading
But when it comes to serving up political red meat – in both coded and straightforward language – to far right conservatives, Lee has perfected that nicely.
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Otis SanfordOpinion: Legacy of George W. Lee is instructive for today’s GOP
Lee encouraged Black Memphians to support Democrat Lyndon Johnson in 1964. But when emerging Black leaders in Memphis pleaded for Lee to officially abandon the Republican Party and become a Democrat, he graciously declined.
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January 2021
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Otis SanfordSanford: Tennesseans, politicians and others must answer for insurrection
As we look ahead with hope, we must also look back and demand accountability.
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Otis SanfordSanford: At this swearing-in, unity is missing, replaced by anxiety
On Jan. 20, 2009, there was remarkable unity and mutual respect among those in an inauguration crowd estimated at 1.8 million. Now, 12 years later, Jan. 20 promises to be a day of anticipation mixed with anxiety.
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Otis Sanford Sanford: Amid the chaos, the David Kustoff I knew is missing in action
“I never thought that the trappings of congressional power or Trump’s dominating and vindictive personality would turn the principled guy I’ve known and liked for years into a political lapdog.”
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Otis SanfordOpinion: Cries of election fraud are less about facts, more about race
At the heart of claims by Trump and his horde of conspiracy theorists is that it was statistically and historically impossible for Trump to lose the election, other than through fraud. How could they believe such grand-scale treachery occurred? The answer, sadly, is rooted in race.
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December 2020
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Otis SanfordOpinion: A year of despair and dissension still gave us bright spots
With so much tragedy, dissension and despair, it’s difficult to find many positives about 2020. But they do exist.
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Otis Sanford Opinion: Rev. Netters taught us to how to lose with grace, serve with humility
The Rev. Dr. Netters is one of the most revered figures in Memphis history, a legacy highlighted by his 1967 election to serve as one of the first three African American City Council members.
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Guest ColumnistsSanford: As Republican leaders fiddle, democracy hangs in the balance
Trump’s inexplicable refusal to accept the outcome of a fair election, combined with the shameful complicity from elected Republican leaders, is driving our country to the brink of chaos.
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Opinion
Otis SanfordSanford: A Biden presidency means Dunavant’s days as federal prosecutor are numbered
Democrat Joe Biden’s election as the 46th president brings the virtual certainty that there will be a new U.S. attorney and U.S. marshal for West Tennessee.
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November 2020
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Otis Sanford Opinion: Due to COVID, my Thanksgiving ritual is off the table
Politicians did not cause the virus, but many of them have contributed to its spread with decisions that are based on politics rather than public safety. That means we are in for a holiday season like none other.
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Otis Sanford Opinion: Black men supporting Trump chose policy over character
One of the major side stories to the 2020 presidential election is the noticeable shift of more African American men to Trump and his brand of politics.
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Otis SanfordOpinion: Despite defiance, Bradshaw won’t find ballots in the basement
The legend of Harold Ford Sr., the victorious underdog, was invoked Tuesday night by another upstart candidate seeking to take down a powerful foe in a Tennessee U.S. Senate race. But the comparisons were misplaced.
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October 2020
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Otis SanfordOpinion: Dueling fliers mean local campaigns are getting nasty
Issues and a candidate’s record should sway voters – not these glossy and trashy campaign fliers that are handy only as makeshift dust pans.
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