MEMPHIS, Tenn. — With the August 4th election just around the corner, one important side story is worth touting. Assuming the races are decided as predicted, the next county commission will consist of seven women – which is a majority – for the first time in history.
Six of the seats are guaranteed to be filled by women since three candidates – Britney Thornton, Miska Clay Bibbs, and Erika Sugarmon – have no opposition. And women are opposing each other for three other seats. That leaves only the District 5 contest between Democrat Shante Avant and Republican Todd Payne as the wild card, and Avant is viewed as the favorite.
This is worth pointing out because the commission has been so heavily dominated by men since it was created in the 1970s – replacing the old quarterly court. Most years since then, no more than four women have served as commissioners at the same time. So the likelihood of a female majority on the county’s top legislative body underscores a significant evolution in local politics.
Women make up a majority of the Shelby County electorate, so this change was only a matter of time and should be viewed as a progressive step. And yet, neither Memphis nor the county has ever had an elected woman mayor.
It still won’t happen this year in the county, but Memphis municipal elections will be held next year. Perhaps then more history will be made.