The One In Which I Stick My Nose Into District 7

There are several candidates from which to choose to replace Barbara Swearengen Ware on a full-time basis: SCOTT BANBURY, RAYMOND A BURSI. EVELYN FIELDS, KEMBA FORD, ERSKINE B GILLESPIE, LEE HARRIS, JESSE JEFF, MICHAEL STEVEN MOORE, JULIE RAY, COBY V SMITH, ARTIE SMITH, LEANDREA RENE TAYLOR, DAVID W VINCIARELLI and DARRELL WRIGHT.

Mr. Moore is the son of former Councilor Ware, Jesse Jeff has run for office before, as has David Vinciarelli.  Kemba Ford has that famous last name, and, being a former model, is drop-dead gorgeous.  With two exceptions, I have no idea whom the rest of these folks are; that's ok, they don't know who I am, either.

Which leaves us with the two people who have the best chance of winning, UM Law professor Lee Harris and naturalist Scott Banbury.  Harris has the backing of the Tennessee Equality Project (although they acknowledged Scott and David Vinciarelli as pro-equality) and they are phone banking for him.  I too have spoken with Lee Harris, he is personable and well-organized, and has moneyed people behind him, and you need money to run in districts as we have in Memphis that are too large.

However, I happen to believe that Scott Banbury is the better choice.  No, he's not as polished, and I can see where his posters might startle those gentle souls who don't venture into North Memphis or Frayser very often.  He is, however, a 13-year resident of the district with a history of activism that enables one to understand that he KNOWS the problems of District 7, and has excellent ideas on how to solve them. Now, mind you, these ideas might not meet with the approval of people who give large sums of cash to candidates, but, let's face it, isn't that one of the biggest problems with politics and government today as it is?

Scott lives right next to Cypress Creek, and he has advocated for his neighborhood for many years, and is well-known to city officials who have worked with him over the years.  His decisions will be based on the experiences of his neighbors, not on the experiences of people from outside the district who would just as soon pretend that North Memphis and Frayser didn't exist.

This is not to suggest Lee Harris is a sellout, or anything like that.  What I AM suggesting, however, is that we as voters don't take the time to judge candidates on what they DO, but how they APPEAR.  Anyone can look good and talk pretty, I do that all the time! (insert snide comment here).  However, it's how they vote, and how hard they fight for their districts that matter.  Sometimes, compromise is NOT the best solution, especially when the needs of the district are overlooked.  I can't speak for anyone else, but I know Scott will put his district's needs over the needs of anyone else; he has done that for years, long before he sought elective office.

For once, is it possible that policy can trump money in politics? I'd sure as hell like to think so.  If you live in District 7, please vote for Scott Banbury, he will be there for YOU.