Suburbs

Well, things got real interesting Thursday night for the Germantown mayor’s race.

Tony Salvaggio, in his first term as city alderman, announced he will run for the suburb’s top elected office, challenging long-time incumbent mayor Mike Palazzolo.

The election is Nov. 3.

There are a lot of months and a lot of issues between now and Election Day, but this race has the makings of a good ’un.

Palazzolo has the track record. The longevity in office. The name recognition of an incumbent. The strides made under his administation as Germantown mayor the past 12 years plus 10 years as an alderman before that.

Salvaggio’s elected time brings a young voice to the race. Two years in office. New ideas, or at least a new approach. Is this the time for a generational transition?

As for name recognition, Tony Salvaggio may only have two years on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, but the name Salvaggio has a history of elected office. Tony Salvaggio is the son of former Mayor Charles Salvaggio, who served from 1989 to 1994. He actually was in office only two-plus years before he became mayor.

Much like the sons of Major League Baseball players coming into the game these days, there could be some evidence elected service could be part of the Salvaggio DNA.

Facing challenges in his reelection bids is nothing new for Palazzolo. After his 10 years as alderman, he turned back George Brogdon in 2014 to take over the mayor’s role after Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy retired. Then he faced a stiff challenge from Alderman John Barzizza in 2018, winning by 120 votes.

By 2022, reelection became easier. He was unopposed four years ago.

He was named Mayor of the Year by the Tennessee Municipal League in 2023.

It looks like Palazzolo, who has a reputation of campaigning door to door throughout the suburb, will have to return to walking the streets to secure votes in the November election.

But the campaign platforms will soon emerge. There is a vocal group of people on social media who are against the mayor. But they were out there for Barzizza in 2018 and couldn’t unseat Palazzolo. Will Salvaggio be able to tap into that opposition electorate?

Or are the quiet citizens satisfied with Palazzolo’s direction of running the city?

Will the Salvaggio name recognition put a dent in the capital Palazzolo has secured during his tenure as the city’s mayor? The strides made by Germantown in the last decade? Palazzolo’s incumbency?

Is this the time for generational shift that eventually occurs in an office? Palazzolo has 12 years in the role and will be seeking his fourth term. His predecessor, Goldsworthy, served for 20 years. After he was appointed to the office in 1989, Charles Salvaggio served as mayor five years.

All those questions, and we haven’t even gotten to the real issues for the race.

This has the foundation for an eventful campaign.

An eventful race.

And an eventful political year in Germantown. - Suburbs editor Clay Bailey

We hope you enjoy reading the latest news from our suburban reporters. If you’re a Daily Memphian subscriber, we appreciate your support. If not, please sign up for unlimited access to all of our local news coverage.