MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Partisan politics is something I talk and write about regularly – one, because it’s my job – and two, I’ve always been interested in the subject. But most people – including many in my family – couldn’t care less. In fact, they are tired of the fighting between Democrats and Republicans in Washington, at the state capital in Nashville – and more often than not at the Shelby County commission. Why would anyone want more of it in city government?
But that’s exactly what city councilman Martavius Jones and likely a few of his council colleagues do want – partisan political elections in Memphis mayoral and council races. Jones told The Commercial Appeal recently that he wants Memphians to decide if the city charter should be amended to allow candidates to run under the banner of a political party. If the referendum makes it on the 2022 midterm election ballot and is approved – it would affect the 2023 city elections.
I’m fine with a public debate on the issue. But I am against partisan elections in city government. People who identify as Democrat already have a huge majority on the council. And Mayor Jim Strickland is a former local Democratic Party chair.
I believe the last thing we need is more political division in government, which will only end up as more racial division. We have enough of that already. So let’s keep overt party politics out of City Hall. And that’s my point of view.