The issue of crime — violent crime in particular — is center stage in the race for Shelby County Mayor, where the first stop is the May Democratic primary.

Democratic county mayoral contender Ken Moody opened the first of what will be several headquarters opened by various campaigns in Whitehaven, underscoring the importance of the area’s Black middle class in the city’s political mix.

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Ballot basics: Early voting begins

The former sheriff and county mayor was the choice of Republicans in the Shelby County delegation to the Tennessee Legislature. The recommendation still must be ratified by the Tennessee Election Commission.

The Election Commission’s decision not to open early-voting sites at churches during the Easter weekend is renewing charges of voter suppression.

Former Probate Court Clerk Paul Boyd says he hasn’t made up his mind on filing his qualifying petition for the August ballot.

The Shelby County will commission fill the vacancy at its March 21 meeting. Most of those who applied for the appointment plan to run for a full four-year term in the August elections.

Kelsey announced the decision in a Twitter post Friday, March 4. The end of the current legislative session in Nashville will mark the end of an 18-year run in Nashville for Kelsey, who first came to the General Assembly as a state House member.

Ken Moody has got the one-on-one challenge of incumbent Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris he wanted in the May Democratic primary. 

Second term state House Democrat London Lamar moves to the Senate chambers after winning an appointment over nonprofit leader Rhonnie Brewer.

Bill sponsored by G.A. Hardaway recognizes Black first-graders who integrated four Memphis schools in 1961 as ‘young civil rights leaders.’

Brent Taylor resigned as chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission this week but didn’t mention a bid for the state Senate. 

Brent Taylor is expected to enter the Republican primary race for Senate District 31, the seat currently held by Brian Kelsey of Germantown.

The county could see new voting machines by August of this year, but two issues indicate overall differences between the Shelby County Commission and the Election Commission. 

The county commission Republican primary between incumbent Brandon Morrison and challenger Jordan Carpenter is the only contested GOP primary on the May ballot. 

Janika White opened her campaign for District Attorney General Saturday while federal legislators from Tennessee weighed in on the Ukraine situation. 

Harris joins state Rep. London Lamar and nonprofit leader Rhonnie Brewer in seeking the Senate seat, which has been vacant since Feb. 2.

There’s a new contender for an open school board seat while more incumbent judges file for re-election.

The commission could set dates Wednesday for interviewing applicants for the state Senate District 33 seat and the Memphis Shelby County Schools board seat.

The winner between Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and challenger Ken Moody will face Republican nominee and Memphis City Council member Worth Morgan on the August ballot.

Election Commission Chairman Brent Taylor and Shelby County Commissioner Van Turner spoke on this week’s “Behind The Headlines.”

“Blue Oval City is really what changed my mind entirely, because that’s a real make-or-break for the future of Bartlett,” said alderman Kevin Quinn. 

At the noon Thursday, Feb. 17, filing deadline to get on the county primary ballot, there was only one contested Republican primary. But every incumbent Democratic official holding countywide office had challengers in the May primaries.

This year, local voters will be asked to go to the polls three times: in May, August and November. 

On the way to the deadline for the May county primaries, the race for a new Cordova County Commission seat has grown and there are early moves by state Rep. London Lamar on the August ballot.