Commissioner Justin Ford is in a tough re-nomination fight for his re-drawn County Commission seat. During the redistricting, the parts of South Memphis surrounding the family funeral home at Florida and South Parkway were taken from him and given to Commissioner Walter Bailey. Now, Ford's seat is primarily composed of Whitehaven and Westwood; while he is certainly known there, his strength is not as solid there as it was in South Memphis.
Add to that two fierce primary opponents in former MCS Board Commissioner Patrice Robinson and Memphis Education Association President Keith Williams, and the Commissioner faces the toughest campaign that he has had to face as a candidate.
All of that puts today's interesting development into context.
My phone blew up this morning with news that the Commissioner was planning to challenge Congressman Steve Cohen - as an INDEPENDENT. This would have enabled him to avoid a primary; however, it would not have looked good if he were a sitting Democratic elected official who was undermining another Democratic nominee, regardless if it were the incumbent, Steve Cohen, or one of his challengers..
Then, it turns out that the petition was pulled but never filed, and by what Ford described as a "community group" that was not happy with the list of Democratic candidates for TN-09 and wanted him to run. Ford was later quoted as saying that he may consider a Congressional run in two years.
UPDATE: This is being edited to reflect new information, stop here and go read Jackson Baker, who, as always, has the full details.
Showing posts with label US House. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US House. Show all posts
Thursday, April 03, 2014
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
It's time to put these out...
UPDATE: Tomorrow is Election Day; if you haven't yet voted and you are registered, I ask you to consider these choices, as you will not hear from me again until after the election.
Ok, 'Mute has his endorsements up, so I might as well put mine out there.
We'll go Federal to State to County to Local...
US Senate - Democratic Primary - Bob Tuke
Bob Tuke has the best chance of the Democratic candidates to hurt, if not outright defeat, incumbent GOP Senator Lamar Alexander, who is a nice inoffensive guy that nonetheless has been round-heeled for the policies of the Bush Administration. Tuke is tough, he was a great TDP chair, and if you remember how former TDP Chair Jim Sasser stunned incumbent Bill Brock in 1976, you know anything is possible.
US House - District 7 - Republican Primary - Tom Leatherwood
Dwayne's spot-on commentary aside, it is not going to be possible for a Democrat to win in 7, so I am supporting Leatherwood because A) he is from Shelby County and not Williamson County, and B) he is decent and honest, neither of which I would say about his opponent Marsha Blackburn.
US House - District 9 - Democratic Primary - Steve Cohen
Yeah, THERE'S a shocker, eh? If you believe in more and better Democrats, A) we already have one and B) who could be better than who we have? No one, so why change? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Tennessee House - District 85 - Democratic Primary - Larry Turner
Larry Turner is one of the best in the General Assembly, so why change?
Tennessee House - District 87 - Democratic Primary - Karen Camper
Karen was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the tragic death of Rep. Gary Rowe this spring, and she has done a creditable job in Nashville. She is opposed by internet talk show host Jennings Bernard, and I see no reason to replace Camper.
Tennessee House - District 92 - Democratic Primary - G.A. Hardaway
I like GA Hardaway, he is outspoken and a fighter for his issues, even when they are not popular, like his bill to require that all newborns be given a paternity test. At first glance, it seemed like an attack on women, but after he explained his reasoning, I understood why he filed it. I am troubled by the fact that he is supporting the unqualifed Nikki Tinker for Congress, but, I just don't know Eddie Neal, and I am not ready to make a change.
Tennessee House - District 98 - Democratic Primary - Ulysses Jones
I am not happy with Rep. Jones' bill to weaken the Sunshine Law, I think it was ill-timed and misguided. However, aside from that, he has done a good job for his constituents and the city of Memphis. While I like Boris Combest and think he would be hard-working and conscientious, why throw away a committee chairmanship if you don't have to?
State-wide & Shelby County General Elections
Criminal Court Judge, Division 6 - John T. Fowlkes, Jr.
I know, for a supposed bomb-thrower, I'm playing it close to the vest. I rely on my sources in the legal community, and most, if not all, are very happy with the incumbent. I see no reason to replace him.
Assessor of Property - Cheyenne Johnson
Yes, I endorsed her months ago, because she knows this office backwards and forwards. She has been Rita Clark's Chief Administrative Officer for several years, and Cheyenne will provide continuity, ensuring that this office will continue to be run as outstandingly well as it has been since Rita took office in 1996.
Trustee - Paul Mattila
Paul was Bob Patterson's right-hand man, and. like Cheyenne, provides much-needed continuity in a well-run office. He is the DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, despite the mysterious LaTroy Williams' indications to the contrary. Paul is the right person for this position and deserves a full term on his own.
General Sessions Court Clerk - Your Choice Here
It is the policy of this blog not to endorse a Republican over a Democrat in a contested partisan election. This race is the closest I have ever come to over-riding that policy. While I have forgiven Democratic nominee Otis Jackson for his ill-advised Independent run for Register in 2000 that cost John Freeman that office, I cannot make the same arguments for him that I could for Cheyenne and for Paul.
Just because he starred at point guard for the Tigers in the late 70s and early 80s, that does not make him qualified to run a County office with dozens of employees. He is currently a security officer for FedEx Security, and yes, that's the same as a policeman out there. To my knowledge, he knows little or nothing about how the office should be run, and simply has no business there.
As Chris Turner ran crying to the GOP after the loss of his state House seat in the early 90s, I'm not going to endorse him, either. I really wish I could tell you to vote for the Democratic nominee here, but competence is too important. Pick 'em.
There are three County School Board races out there; however, since I have no knowledge or the candidates out there, you're on your own. Early vote started yesterday, so GET OUT THERE!
Ok, 'Mute has his endorsements up, so I might as well put mine out there.
We'll go Federal to State to County to Local...
US Senate - Democratic Primary - Bob Tuke
Bob Tuke has the best chance of the Democratic candidates to hurt, if not outright defeat, incumbent GOP Senator Lamar Alexander, who is a nice inoffensive guy that nonetheless has been round-heeled for the policies of the Bush Administration. Tuke is tough, he was a great TDP chair, and if you remember how former TDP Chair Jim Sasser stunned incumbent Bill Brock in 1976, you know anything is possible.
US House - District 7 - Republican Primary - Tom Leatherwood
Dwayne's spot-on commentary aside, it is not going to be possible for a Democrat to win in 7, so I am supporting Leatherwood because A) he is from Shelby County and not Williamson County, and B) he is decent and honest, neither of which I would say about his opponent Marsha Blackburn.
US House - District 9 - Democratic Primary - Steve Cohen
Yeah, THERE'S a shocker, eh? If you believe in more and better Democrats, A) we already have one and B) who could be better than who we have? No one, so why change? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Tennessee House - District 85 - Democratic Primary - Larry Turner
Larry Turner is one of the best in the General Assembly, so why change?
Tennessee House - District 87 - Democratic Primary - Karen Camper
Karen was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the tragic death of Rep. Gary Rowe this spring, and she has done a creditable job in Nashville. She is opposed by internet talk show host Jennings Bernard, and I see no reason to replace Camper.
Tennessee House - District 92 - Democratic Primary - G.A. Hardaway
I like GA Hardaway, he is outspoken and a fighter for his issues, even when they are not popular, like his bill to require that all newborns be given a paternity test. At first glance, it seemed like an attack on women, but after he explained his reasoning, I understood why he filed it. I am troubled by the fact that he is supporting the unqualifed Nikki Tinker for Congress, but, I just don't know Eddie Neal, and I am not ready to make a change.
Tennessee House - District 98 - Democratic Primary - Ulysses Jones
I am not happy with Rep. Jones' bill to weaken the Sunshine Law, I think it was ill-timed and misguided. However, aside from that, he has done a good job for his constituents and the city of Memphis. While I like Boris Combest and think he would be hard-working and conscientious, why throw away a committee chairmanship if you don't have to?
State-wide & Shelby County General Elections
Criminal Court Judge, Division 6 - John T. Fowlkes, Jr.
I know, for a supposed bomb-thrower, I'm playing it close to the vest. I rely on my sources in the legal community, and most, if not all, are very happy with the incumbent. I see no reason to replace him.
Assessor of Property - Cheyenne Johnson
Yes, I endorsed her months ago, because she knows this office backwards and forwards. She has been Rita Clark's Chief Administrative Officer for several years, and Cheyenne will provide continuity, ensuring that this office will continue to be run as outstandingly well as it has been since Rita took office in 1996.
Trustee - Paul Mattila
Paul was Bob Patterson's right-hand man, and. like Cheyenne, provides much-needed continuity in a well-run office. He is the DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, despite the mysterious LaTroy Williams' indications to the contrary. Paul is the right person for this position and deserves a full term on his own.
General Sessions Court Clerk - Your Choice Here
It is the policy of this blog not to endorse a Republican over a Democrat in a contested partisan election. This race is the closest I have ever come to over-riding that policy. While I have forgiven Democratic nominee Otis Jackson for his ill-advised Independent run for Register in 2000 that cost John Freeman that office, I cannot make the same arguments for him that I could for Cheyenne and for Paul.
Just because he starred at point guard for the Tigers in the late 70s and early 80s, that does not make him qualified to run a County office with dozens of employees. He is currently a security officer for FedEx Security, and yes, that's the same as a policeman out there. To my knowledge, he knows little or nothing about how the office should be run, and simply has no business there.
As Chris Turner ran crying to the GOP after the loss of his state House seat in the early 90s, I'm not going to endorse him, either. I really wish I could tell you to vote for the Democratic nominee here, but competence is too important. Pick 'em.
There are three County School Board races out there; however, since I have no knowledge or the candidates out there, you're on your own. Early vote started yesterday, so GET OUT THERE!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Stunning news from the Election Commission
My sources have told me that, by a unanimous 5-0 decision, the Shelby County Election Commission approved the petition of Rep. Joe Towns, Jr. (D-Memphis) to run for the Democratic nomination for Congress from the 9th Congressional District.
Holy crap!
Unlike Nikki Tinker, Towns has A) legislative experience, B) a record of public service to the Memphis community and C) an ability to draw votes from the African-American community, which makes him a viable candidate against Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis).
This changes everything, folks, stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Holy crap!
Unlike Nikki Tinker, Towns has A) legislative experience, B) a record of public service to the Memphis community and C) an ability to draw votes from the African-American community, which makes him a viable candidate against Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis).
This changes everything, folks, stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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