Give me some RED MEAT, y'all!

As Kyle Veazey noted in his coverage of last night's Democratic County Mayoral debate, (sorry, behind a paywall) there was not much disagreement among the candidates, other than Rev. Kenneth Whalum calling, as he has throughout, that NO SCHOOLS should be closed in the city.  It got to a point where my co-blogger Jon and I figured that if we had taken a shot of whiskey every time he suggested this, our livers would have fallen out of our bodies before the first hour had ended.

I believe he is sincere, and I agree that we have to focus on the inner city in order to turn the city around, I just don't know how you fund that, since it will take a hell of a lot more than the $57 million that the courts say the city owes Shelby County Schools.  To be blunt, if a school is closing in a neighborhood, that is a real sign that the neighborhood is dead anyway, with anyone who could leave having done so.

Enough on that.  Even with all of that, all three of the candidates, including outgoing Commissioner Steve Mulroy and my favorite candidate, former Commission Chair Deidre Malone, would be a dramatic improvement over the incumbent, Mark Luttrell, who runs the County like it was a jail, something that I wish all three candidates would point out.

Y'all, PLEASE give us some red meat, will you??  All three of you need to beat up Mark Luttrell and point out his failures, because you are asking the electorate to reverse a decision they made four years ago, and that's not easy.  This means you A) have to point out why continuing his employment would be a costly mistake for Shelby Countians, and B) you then have to prove why YOU are the proper replacement.

AND YOU NEED TO STOP BEING SO DAMNED NICE ABOUT IT.  HIT HIM, WILL YOU?

Not physically, of course, that would be assault!   But ALL three of you need to attack him and attack him HARD and stop worrying about whether you are offending anyone.  If you are doing your jobs properly, SOMEONE will be offended, you just have to make sure it's the people who deserve to be offended!  I can't imagine that there are that many people who are voting in our primary that worry about Mark Luttrell's feelings.

Once this primary is over, you have to go HARD every day whacking the incumbent about the head and shoulders, and it's not like there's not a litany of reasons to do so: Title X, the anti-blight plan, Head Start, screwing over the city of Memphis, and on and on and on.

And when the Mayor shows up at Sidney Chism's picnic in June, whomever the winner is needs to be all up in Luttrell's grill about this stuff.  If you can't go after the REPUBLICAN County Mayor in Southwest Memphis, where the hell ARE you going to do it?  We need to be sure that any GOP candidate who shows up down there (and they ALL do) is confronted about their performance in office (or lack thereof).

Oh, and Early Voting starts downtown on April 16, and in the satellites on Friday, April 25.  Be ready, and go vote.

In the interim, Mayoral candidates, GO KICK LUTTRELL'S BUTT. REPEATEDLY.  LEAVE BOOTPRINTS!

You can thank me later.

One last note:  Since my last post, this blog has not one, BUT TWO, writers that are now members of the Shelby County Democratic Party Executive Committee.  I replaced the legendary Steve Ross in House 90, and Jon Carroll is now representing House 93, along with our friend John Marek.  Thanks to all who voted for us to be there; we promise to raise hell, take names, and elect Democrats.

Come to the Peabody tomorrow morning!

Joe Ford is getting a bunch of endorsements tomorrow, one from someone he knows well!

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EVENT: Press Conference and Early Vote Reception Harold Ford Jr. and Mayor Joe Ford, Democrat for County Mayor Wednesday June 21st @ 10:30 AM The Peabody Hotel - Forest Room Mezzanine Level Join Former Congressman Harold Ford Jr. and Mayor Joe Ford for a Press Conference & Reception, 10:30 AM at the Peabody Hotel Forest Room. Let's unite as Democrats and build a future on "Hope" not "Fear". Both candidates have very different plans about how to "invest in our future": Democrat Joe Ford wants to build a "state of the art", new Med Hospital that will be a model for National Health Reform. Republican Mark Luttrell wants to build a $400 million dollar, brand new jail. Republican Mark Luttrell has admitted to attending "TEA PARTY" events and was the local campaign chair for Sarah Palin, John McCain, George W. Bush and Bob Corker. We can't afford to let Shelby County move backwards with their conservative Republican agenda. Join us tomorrow as we choose Democrat Joe Ford and future of "Hope" over "Fear"! Paid for by the Tennessee Democratic Party, David Garrison, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. www.tndp.org

Here's a new Joe Ford Spot!

Shelby County Democrats, Listen Up!

If you have yet to make up your mind for whom you will vote for County Mayor, Speak To Power has prepared 10 Questions for each of the candidates, and has published their responses, in their words.

Go there now to read each one!

The picture doesn't tell the whole story

Deidre Malone opened her Headquarters today for her bid for Shelby County Mayor, as lots of supporters and public officials came to the opening, which was from 12-3. Many thought that it started at 1 and missed her wonderful speech, in which she talked about her experience as Budget Chair and Commission Chair on the Shelby County Commission. She brought the fire, and people began to swarm in.

Among those in attendance were County Trustee Regina Morrison Newman, Senator Jim Kyle, State Representatives Larry Miller and G. A. Hardaway, Democratic National Committeewoman Gale Jones Carson, and candidates for office such as Norma Lester and Reginald Milton (both County Commission Dist. 2, position 3), Danny W. Kail (Probate Court Clerk), Coleman Thompson and Carlton Orange (both for County Register) and lots of well-wishers and supporters.

To learn about and to be a part of the campaign to elect Deidre Malone County Mayor, please go here!

UPDATE: Jackson Baker covers this in more depth here and provides a video:

Deidre Malone opens her County Mayor Campaign HQ THIS SATURDAY!

This Saturday from 12-3 P.M., Commissioner Deidre Malone opens her campaign headquarters at 3161 Poplar Avenue, across from East High School. The event is open to the public, so come on out and meet the next Mayor of Shelby County!

MOVED BACK TO THE TOP

The County Mayor's race just got more interesting

Sheriff Mark Luttrell has apparently decided not to run for re-election; instead he will run for his party's nomination for County Mayor.

He is clearly the most popular Republican in this very Democratic county, and means that my candidate, Deidre Malone, will have a tough general election fight. Here's my question: if this is now the circumstance, why is Interim Mayor Joe Ford still in the race?

As an APPOINTED replacement, the advantages of his "incumbency" are small to non-existent. He's a good guy and I personally like him, but he's never won a race outside his Council or Commission districts (remember how WWH waxed him in 1999?). if he were the nominee of the Democratic Party, Luttrell would beat him handily.

Not to mention, the Commercial Appeal would flog him mercilessly about his personal finances and would be digging for any scandal which which he may have been remotely connected. If he runs, there may very well also be a backlash against his son Justin, who is seeking Mayor Ford's old Commission seat.

Mayor Ford, you could ensure that the Democrats would have a good chance for victory this August; all you need to do is announce that you are not running for a full term. In so doing, you would be keeping your word that your political career would end at the end of August, and also keeping your respected political legacy intact.

Let's prevent a divisive primary that would put the Democratic nominee at a disadvantage in August. We would all applaud you for a statesman-like act.

Ok, let's think about things for a moment

Aside from the crazy suggestion by our new city Mayor that he arrange for an agreement to serve as BOTH City and County Mayor, lots of interesting things have happened regarding the deadlocked race for interim County Mayor.

The Democratic Women of Shelby County, who normally would collectively swallow broken glass than choose between two Democrats, yesterday endorsed Commissioner Joe Ford over Commissioner J.W. Gibson at their monthly meeting. Here is the text of that endorsement:

To Shelby County Democratic Commissioners:

After careful consideration by the Democratic Women of Shelby County, it is our pleasure to announce that the Democratic Women of Shelby County give their full endorsement and support of County Commissioner Joe Ford for Interim Shelby County Mayor.

Commissioner Ford’s history of commitment to public service and considerable attention to the City of Memphis as a Democrat, City Councilman and Shelby County Commissioner has earned this valuable endorsement. The Democratic Women of Shelby County have been long-time supporters of Democrats both in Memphis and Shelby County, and we continue to work long and tireless hours to promote the election of Democrats and the Democratic agenda to improve the lives of our citizens.

We have enjoyed a positive relationship with County Commissioner Ford as it is based on respect and fighting for issues that are in the best interest of the citizens of Memphis and Shelby County. This philosophy is consistent with our mission to support and help elect Democrats in Memphis and Shelby County.

We proudly add our endorsement and we encourage you to give your support and your vote to County Commissioner Joe Ford as Interim Shelby County Mayor. We are confident in the leadership and the experience that Commissioner Ford will bring to office of Shelby County Mayor and we look forward to the success that Joe Ford will bring to the County during his interim term as the future Shelby County Mayor.

Please, vote Joe Ford on Tuesday November 17, 2009.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mickey Klenz

President

Democratic Women of Shelby

OK then. Look, if I had to choose, I would choose Joe Ford myself. He's had experience with both City and County government, he gets along with both sides of the aisle, and would work with commissioner to get things done until September 1, 2010.

Here's my question, though: if NO ONE is going to get 7 votes, why select the interim Mayor from the Commission's body? At the end of the day, this will only lead to a tough time for whomever wins.

Former Commission Chair (and my candidate for County Mayor) Deidre Malone thought that she was on to something by nominating CAO Jim Huntzicker for the position. However, Huntzicker, who has a solidly GOP primary voting record (you can get it at the Election Commission) is no favorite of local unions for his slash-and-burn job-cutting for the County, went nowhere fast.

Right idea, wrong person.

Seeing as how this is my blog, I have my own idea.

The person I have in mind has NEVER been an elected official, but he was a key member of TWO different City administrations, working at high levels for both Dick Hackett and W.W. Herenton. He was a terrific go-between from Mayor Herenton to the City Council in the Mayor's first two terms. While he has never been a part of County government, it is less complex than City government, and he would be a steady hand at the helm, with no likelihood that he would seek the office himself.

This is a person whom I have not spoken with in years, and has no clue I am about to recommend him for this job, but, like Joe Ford, he gets along with EVERYONE and would be trusted by all parties to do the right thing.

My suggestion: former Herenton CFO and CAO Rick Masson.

Yes, if he reads that he is probably doing a spit take, but I think that he would be the right person at the right time for County government, and the perfect transitional figure to September 2010.

Your thoughts?