MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Richard Ransom reporting:
Tonight's "Ransom Note": our weak-kneed city council.
As important as this next election for Memphis mayor is, wouldn't you know it would get bogged down in a legal battle over whether three of the leading candidates who want to run this city didn't live in this city until months ago.
Sheriff Floyd Bonner just moved to Memphis from Bartlett months ago, and while van turner recently bought a home in Binghampton, he reportedly doesn't live there yet due to renovations.
Former mayor Willie Herenton is on more solid ground because while he did reside in Collierville in the past five years, He kept his home in Memphis during that time.
Which leads us to this election year dilemma: Does the city charter's five year residency rule apply to this year's election?
The mayor and city attorney agreed with the election commission's lawyer and say 'yes, it does,' but that's at odds with an opinion from city council attorney Allan Wade
So what does wade do?
Without a vote from the city council, he files a lawsuit against the Strickland administration and the election commission.
But why? He's already opined the five year rule is invalid.
Now he's offended, so he gets to sue the city without council's consent?
The idea of the city's legislative branch taking the almost unprecedented step of suing its executive branch based on one man's opinion and without a vote should have the city council up in arms.
Time for the city council to reign-in "renegade wade" and tell him don't sue the city until we tell you to.