Alright aready, it's time for the picks for Mayor and the Commission

if you couldn't wait, you could have gone straight to Steve Ross and gotten almost everything I am going to give you,

He is right that this is the best Democratic countywide lineup and, while there may be one I didn't go with, I am NOT telling you which one it was in the sake of unity.

We will start straight up with the head of the ticket, LEE HARRIS for County Mayor.  He has a clear understanding of what the county needs and unlike the GOP Nominee, David Lenoir, he KNOWS that, population-wise, Memphis IS Shelby County, comprising 2/3 of its population.  He understands that the problems of poverty are NOT character-related but RESOURCE-related, and intends to do something about it.  Lenoir, on the other hand, keeps making dog-whistle noises to the SC residents outside the city limits, suggesting that he will direct as little as possible to those LAZY (INSERT SLUR HERE) who live in MEMPHIS.

Now, the new County Mayor (hopefully, LEE HARRIS) is going to need a County Commission that will work with him to achieve his goals.  This is why I implore you to vote for the Democratic nominee in EVERY DISTRICT.  Even 7, people, but more on that in a minute.

Our Nominees are as follows:
District 1- Racquel Collins
District 2- Tom Carpenter
District 3 - Monica Timmerman
District 4 - Kevin Haley
District 5 - Michael Whaley
District 6 - Willie Brooks (unopposed)
District 7 - Tami Sawyer
District 8 -Mickell Lowery (unopposed)
District 9 - Ed Ford Jr.
District 10, my friend and Commissioner Reginald Milton
District 11, Eddie Jones
District 12, one of the true heroes of statue removal, Van Turner
District 13, George Monger.

Before we move further, I need to say something about Tami Sawyer.  Ross gave her a glowing tribute, much of which I agree with, but it needs to be said that while the protestors helped bring new people into the statue removal movement that she named #TakeEmDown901, This had been in the works since January 1, 2016.  That is also the day Jim Strickland took office.

(NOTE: Our pal Hunter Demster seems to be of the opinion that none of you loyal readers are aware that since April of 2016, my lovely wife Susan has worked on the 7th Floor for Alan Crone, Dabney Ring, Ursula Madden, and oh yes, Jim Strickland.  Take any caveats from that you need to take.)

The insane law that the Mayor's legal team had to work around were passed in response to an ordinance that then-Councilor Strickland voted FOR to remove the statues.  Our Mayor had to keep a low profile and keep the statues up UNTIL THEY COULD DO IT LEGALLY.  If those protestors had managed to take down Forrest too soon, they, and you and me, all taxpayers of this city would have been forced to pay for putting them back UP.  So, this bullshit (and it truly is) that our Mayor wouldn't have moved without the protests is simply wrong.

Frankly, I am not thrilled that Tami and the protestors acted like the Mayor was the enemy, when his team were the only people in town who could get the damned things down FOR GOOD, which he did.

Having said all that, I supported Tami 2 years ago when she ran against John Deberry in District 90, and I wouldn't have changed that for anything.  She can be a bulldog, and we are going to need her to do that on the Commission, either working for Lee Harris or being the biggest PITA possible in the unfortunate event David Lenoir is elected.  We are in triage, people, at every level, and we need all hands on deck. 

Now, some day, Mr. Mayor, we need to see a damn BOOK from you about how all this went down.  Tell your story, because it is not mine to tell.

So, enough on that.