MEMPHIS, Tenn. — At least one person on the Memphis City Council admitted the council made a mistake when replacing one of it’s own. The vacancy was created when councilman Lee Harris quit upon winning his race for state senator.
On Tuesday, dueling documents of an email sent by city council person and chairman Myron Lowery and an opinion packet written by city council attorney Allan Wade helped set the record straight.
City law says candidates for the open District 7 seat have until Thursday before council members choose a replacement to file the proper paperwork, which in this case is January 15.
However, last week, chairman Myron Lowery said the deadline passed on Wednesday, December 7, and the election commission said only two of the seven candidates got enough signatures to qualify. Those candidates are Barbara Swearengen Ware and Bryan Carson. Carson is the current chair of Shelby County’s Democratic Part, while Swearengen Ware gave up her council seat several years ago over bribery charges.
While the change may seem confusing or create more problems, WREG political commentator Otis Sanford said what’s important is the city get it right.
“It has allowed people who did apply last week and didn’t have all the documentation can get that documentation in by Thursday and new prospective candidates who would like to apply now have until Thursday. So all that’s a good thing,” Sanford said.
Council member Kemp Conrad agreed with Sanford, saying overall the issue is good for the city. Conrad said it was simply a mistake.
Allan Wade did not want to talk about the issue but repeatedly said the date to file the proper papers was always January 15.