MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It’s something that happens every now and then at Memphis City Hall: a test of wills between the city council and the mayor. And it’s happening now during the all-important decision of who will be the next president and CEO of Memphis Light, Gas and Water.
Mayor Jim Strickland has already announced his choice for the job. It’s his current chief operating officer Doug McGowen, and the mayor is not backing down.
On the legislative side of things is Councilman Martavius Jones, who is pushing a resolution urging the mayor for conduct a national search for the leader MLGW leader. Whether Jones’ resolution has much support from his colleagues depends on the day of the week. Tuesday, it got only five votes in committee, and who knows where council members will be on the issue when they meet again next week.
One thing we do know is that a national search will be time consuming as MLGW faces a more imminent decision of whether of continue getting electricity from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
But regardless, Strickland has no interest in a national search, and he’s not bound by a council resolution.
So the question is this: Who has the most clout – Strickland or Jones? The smart money is on the mayor. And eventually, a majority of the council will see it his way. That’s the way it works in local government.
