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Sanford: GOP effort to oust Mulroy is ‘Taylor-made’ political fight

By , Daily Memphian Published: June 27, 2024 4:00 AM CT
Otis Sanford
Daily Memphian

Otis Sanford

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. 

When it comes to political fights, particularly ones that stay in the headlines for weeks, State Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Eads, is an old pro.

Everywhere he has served — with the possible exception of the Shelby County Election Commission — rancor was sure to follow.


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Not all of it was his fault, of course. You might even say the other guy was the aggressor who viewed Taylor’s candor as an invitation for a spat.

The most notable example was the infamous face-off on February 17, 2004, between Taylor, a Memphis City Council member at the time, and then-Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton. During a council committee meeting that day, Taylor and some of his colleagues took Herenton to task for delaying his pick for a new president of Memphis Light, Gas and Water because of a separate dispute with the council over temporary mayoral appointments.

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Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy State Sen. Brent Taylor Subscriber Only

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