I have had numerous requests to explain Ordinance No. 5345, which is on
the ballot.
Two years ago, a charter amendment was passed changing over 40 years of
elections for city government.  The change moved city elections from
odd-numbered years to even-numbered years and staggered the terms of the
city council.

I am not against staggered terms, but am very much against moving city
elections into even numbered years.  Therefore, I am proposing that we
reverse the actions taken by the Memphis Charter Commission two years
ago.

I am proposing the change for many reasons.  By changing the elections
to even-numbered years, the city elections will coincide with the
elections of President, Governor, Senate, and Congress.  There is no way
that city elections can compete with those higher offices.

Many years ago, the city school board moved their elections to November
of even numbered years and staggered the terms.  As a result, not many
people know when the elections are, which results in incumbents going
unopposed or having weak opponents.  There are currently four school
board members on the ballot, and these races have gone almost completely
unnoticed due to the races for Governor and Congress.

Even-numbered elections for lower offices result in campaigns that get
little attention and debate; this is a recipe for keeping the status quo
and favoring incumbents.  As an example, there has not been an incumbent
state legislator in Shelby County lose in November in twenty years.
During that same time period, at least five city council members have
been beaten.

Also, as a result of staggering the terms and moving the elections to
even-numbered years, the city school board has not had a community wide
discussion of school issues that result from vigorously contested
elections.

In 2007, when there were only the city elections held, our city spoke in
unison about our city problems.  As a result, the city council
immediately addressed our problems with crime and worked with the police
director in recruiting officers and funding all the equipment he needed.

Compare that with the city school board; there is no community wide
discussion of school issues, no mandate for any particular action, and
little support for board actions.  Memphis City Schools have been
impaired by staggering the terms and moving the elections.

Staggered term proponents argue that they lessen a complete turnover of
council members with institutional knowledge.  The city has been well
served with odd-numbered elections for over 40 years, and the lack of
staggered terms has not been a problem.  Change is good, and new
representatives who question the status quo are a welcome change.

Proponents also argue that moving the elections into even numbered years
saves $1 million.  While no one in city government is more concerned
about spending tax dollars than me, this “savings” every four years is
only .04% of the total budget, and I do not believe that is outweighs
the benefits of well publicized and hotly contested races.

Jim Strickland
Memphis City Council, District 5