Strong leaders support strong neighborhoods. BLDG Memphis along with our partners MICAH Memphis, NAACP, Frayser CDC and LISC Memphis will host a nonpartisan candidate forum in the lead up to the Shelby County Municipal election in August. The questions posed to the candidates during the forum will focus on issues of neighborhood investment. Prior to the event on July 19, candidates submitted a questionnaire responding to questions related to affordable housing, transit & mobility, solid waste & litter, and racial equity. Here are the responses from candidates running for County Commissioner. 

Neighborhood Equity and Social Justice

Low-income & black and brown neighborhoods are historically undervalued, under-resourced, and disinvested across America and in Shelby County. Equitable community revitalization efforts must address systemic inequalities that hinder neighborhoods from thriving and center the voices and experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) residents on the ground.

What does equitable neighborhood investment mean to you?

County Commissioner District 5

Shante Avant (D): Equitable investment in neighborhoods means identifying ways to systematically level access to funding and opportunities in neighborhoods. As a member of the Shelby County Commission I will work to identify opportunities that increase equity in education, housing, recreation, neighborhood revitalization among other things. Ensuring every zip code gets the same level of resources is a great way to make neighborhoods equitable.

County Commissioner District 7

Shirelle-Dakota Brown (I): It means allocating funding to more of the marginalized areas in Memphis versus tourist attraction areas. Both Downtown and Whitehaven are ranked in the top 5 as being the most dangerous neighborhoods in Memphis, yet they somehow qualify for new developments. 

By creating more sustainable small businesses within low-income areas, it will help to revitalize the surrounding community. If more organizations will come together purchase and rehab dilapidated properties and act as banks to finance mortgages on these houses, it will create an autonomy to set rates at more realistic terms that will increase the possibility of creating more homeowners within low-income areas. This type of community in-house banking will also deter predatory lending, similar to seller financing. 

County Commissioner District 12

Erika Sugarmon (D): An equitable neighborhood looks like a self-sustaining and thriving community where families can take root and grow. As County Commissioner, I will advocate for intentionally investing in marginalized and disadvantaged communities so they will have opportunities not afforded in the past. Ensuring underprivileged communities receive equitable services like trash, fire and police protection, health care, and other public services is vital so communities will not become victims of blight and decay. I will advocate for community-owned and operated businesses. There needs to be more transparency, oversight, and accountability when granting public contracts, which will include a more inclusive process. I support community schools with wrap-around services to better serve children and families.

County Commissioner District 13

*Michael Whaley (D): Equitable neighborhood investment means working intentionally to ensure all communities have the opportunity and tools needed to invest in their neighborhoods.

Ed Apple (R): It means several things….Focus, investment, security and care. I have several ideas for reintroducing county owned property (lots and vacant homes) back into the community, creating valuable generational assets.

Housing

Research proves that access to healthy and affordable housing is key to thriving neighborhoods. However, in Shelby County, properties in the urban core are historically devalued, owned by disinterested out of town investors, and there is a shortage of quality affordable housing units to meet the needs of homeowners and renters. While the City of Memphis has established an affordable housing trust fund to address housing needs and barriers of Memphis residents, Shelby County does not have a similar fund.

Will you support and advocate for innovative strategies to increase resources to non-profit developers and Community Development Corporations (CDCs) for acquisition, development, and maintenance of quality affordable housing units across Shelby County?

County Commissioner District 5

Shante Avant (D): Yes

County Commissioner District 7

Shirelle-Dakota Brown (I): Absolutely, as well as extending it to the small-business developers because Shelby County has grant programs set in place to sustain faith-based organizations and non-profits, but not for small-businesses. We need more grant programs that assist in business start-up, entrepreneur and financial training, and expansion projects for small businesses. 

County Commissioner District 12

Erika Sugarmon (D): As Commissioner, I will advocate for developing and enacting strategies to discourage large corporate investor purchases in single-family housing. We have become a county of renters with out-of-town/out-of-country landlords where profits are more important than people. These types of landlords do not care about our communities. They are challenging to hold accountable when their properties become disrepair, or the lawn and landscaping are not addressed when the rental property is vacant. They are also more likely to increase rents beyond our resident's ability to afford.

County Commissioner District 13

*Michael Whaley (D): Yes

Ed Apple (R): YES!

Mobility and Public Safety

The Memphis region ranks as one of the deadliest metros in the country for walking. Since the pandemic, fatalities and serious injuries continue to rise.

In lieu of this ranking, as well as recent high-profile auto collisions involving pedestrians walking and biking in and around the city, what will you do to decrease the number of pedestrian and cyclist deaths within Shelby County?

County Commissioner District 5

Shante Avant (D): I will look for ways to create more outdoor public space where residents can enjoy free of car and bike traffic. I also think we can install traffic lights for bikers like other cities have at the same intersections where major traffic flows. We should also create ways to calm traffic where there are high amounts of foot and bike traffic.

County Commissioner District 7

Shirelle-Dakota Brown (I): We need more traffic cameras extended to those hazardous areas just to keep drivers more alert, as well as speed bumps, stop signs, flashing lights, more guard poles in biking areas, or whatever is necessary to enforce an extra sense of caution. 

County Commissioner District 12

Erika Sugarmon (D): As County Commissioner, I will advocate for the return of driver's education in public schools. According to research, inexperienced and young drivers contribute to crash involvement, and data also shows a correlation between parent-child frequency of citations. Children whose parents have three or more traffic violations are 40% more likely to commit traffic offenses. However, many parents cannot afford driver's education for their children. I believe that inexperienced and young drivers are a public safety issue.

County Commissioner District 13

*Michael Whaley (D): One of my focus areas as a commissioner has been to advocate for and invest in pedestrian and cyclist friendly infrastructure. For example, I've worked with the city of Memphis and non profits such as the Hightailers and Shelby Farms Park to help improve safety at Walnut Grove and Farm Road in my district. I'll continue to make it a priority to make Memphis and Shelby County safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Ed Apple (R): I am 100% for a pedestrian friendly city - I am frustrated by the lack of infrastructure protecting our citizens. My son suffered a Traumatic brain injury and I learned firsthand the implications and difficulties of how life after becomes for victims.

Blight

With over 13,000 vacant or blighted properties within the limits of Memphis and Shelby County, an effective strategy to address this issue will take a collaborative approach incorporating the work of government agencies, neighborhood organizations,  and community development corporations. Community Development Corporations (CDCs) have specialized knowledge, skills, and insight on how to activate parks and green space, convert vacant lots, and develop and manage properties.

How will you collaborate with CDCs, and neighborhood organizations in the design and delivery of programs to address issues of blight and illegal dumping in the city?

County Commissioner District 5

Shante Avant (D): We must think of ways to work with waste management companies and the city to identify programs and or incentives for trash pickup. Working with CDC's and developers to restore blighted buildings and turn them into multipurpose use is a way to address blight and illegal dumping.

County Commissioner District 7

Shirelle-Dakota Brown (I): I will work closely with the CDCs and other neighborhood organizations by gathering information as it pertains to the dedication and research of existing issues that they’ve already addressed and see how we can collaborate ideas and ultimately expand on efforts already in motion. 

County Commissioner District 12

Erika Sugarmon (D): There needs to be collaboration across public and private agencies and organizations. As County Commissioner, I believe community involvement and engagement are vital to addressing the issues of blight and illegal dumping in the county. CDCs, neighborhood organizations, the environmental court, code enforcement agencies, and policymakers can create programs and ordinances to address these issues. Public awareness and education need to be a component of this process.

County Commissioner District 13

*Michael Whaley (D): We've been able to do just that through collaborative partnerships with non profit groups such as The Works and Lifeline to Success that have the context, skills, and buy-in needed to make bold investments in the core of Shelby County. I've also worked with CDC's such as the Heights CDC to make collaborative improvements to neighborhood parks such as Gaisman Park in Berclair. These investments help create safe, equitable, and accessible green spaces for all.

Ed Apple (R): I will be in constant contact with organizations addressing this issue. Blight is on my push-card as one of my top four initiatives!

Public Transit

The Memphis 3.0 Transit Vision calls for increased investment in public transportation across the city to achieve a network of higher frequency bus routes serving more communities, at an estimated additional cost of approximately $30 million annually.This past budget cycle, the city proposed a permanent funding source for MATA; however more funding is needed to serve Shelby County residents effectively.

Would you support efforts to find new and increased funding sources to implement the Transit Vision network and serve Shelby County neighborhoods more effectively?

County Commissioner District 5

Shante Avant (D): Yes. Memphis and Shelby County are in desperate need of a major transit plan that will allow more residents access to various parts of the city and county. I will work towards any plan that helps advance a budget to address our transit gaps.

County Commissioner District 7

Shirelle-Dakota Brown (I): Absolutely. 

County Commissioner District 12

Erika Sugarmon (D): I am encouraged that MATA is creating innovative ways to service residents in Shelby County, like Ready rides on demand. Disadvantaged people are impoverished, and transportation is key to better-paying jobs and educational and vocational opportunities. I support fully funding MATA. I will encourage the Commission to revisit implementing a light rail system. Investigate opportunities to expand Amtrak routes from Memphis to Nashville, Knoxville, Atlanta, and New Orleans.

County Commissioner District 13

*Michael Whaley (D): Yes, and we just recently passed an ordinance dedicating expiring PILOT funds to public transportation in order to help fully fund Transit Vision.

Ed Apple (R): YES!

Solid Waste

Litter and waste in Shelby County has become a large issue. There are 1.7 million tons of waste produced in Memphis & Shelby County annually, and 38% of land waste in Memphis is food waste. Peer cities around the country are tackling these issues by developing  comprehensive solid waste policies. These policies aim to eliminate waste and pollution and transform waste to business opportunities that promote healthy environments and create jobs.

The first step to advancing to a cleaner Shelby County is to understand the waste that we are producing. Are you committed to supporting funding for a waste characterization study and other resources to reduce waste and pollution in our county?

County Commissioner District 5

Shante Avant (D): Yes

County Commissioner District 7

Shirelle-Dakota Brown (I): Absolutely. We should mimic the ideals of other progressive cities so as to improve our living conditions in Shelby County. I would also love to see a joint venture with a rubber and glass recycling plant, which will help to eliminate abandoned tires and beer bottles. If a system was created where people could cash in on collecting items such as glass and rubber, it would contribute towards reducing dumping and excessive littering. 

County Commissioner District 12

Erika Sugarmon (D): As Commissioner, I will advocate for Shelby County to receive grant funding from the U.S. EPA recycling and waste prevention initiative through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for recycling, reuse and waste prevention programs. These programs will help create jobs and help to make Shelby County more sustainable.

County Commissioner District 13

*Michael Whaley (D): Yes

Ed Apple (R): YES!

July 19th Candidate Forum

BLDG Memphis will host a public non-partisan candidate forum in the lead up to the Shelby County Municipal election in August. Neighborhood leaders are invited as the questions posed to the candidates during the forum will focus on issues of neighborhood investment, such as affordable housing, transit and mobility, solid waste, and racial equity.  

Date: Tuesday July 19th, 2022
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Benjamin Hooks Library Room C

Will you attend the July 19th candidate forum?

County Commissioner District 5

Shante Avant (D): Yes

County Commissioner District 7

Shirelle-Dakota Brown (I): Yes

County Commissioner District 12

Erika Sugarmon (D): Yes

County Commissioner District 13

*Michael Whaley (D): Yes

Ed Apple (R): Yes

This is a nonpartisan questionnaire and all candidates running for County Commissioner are invited to submit their answers. All candidates are also invited to attend the Forum on July 19.

The following candidates have received the questionnaire:

County Commissioner District 1

• *Amber Mills (R)
• Donna McDonald-Martin (D)

County Commissioner District 2

• *David C. Bradford, Jr (R)

County Commissioner District 3

• *Mick Wright (R)

County Commissioner District 4

• Brandon Morrison (R)
• Britney Chauncey (D)

County Commissioner District 5

• Todd Payne (R)

County Commissioner District 6

• *Charlie A. Caswell, Jr. (D)

County Commissioner District 7

• Henri Brooks (D)

County Commissioner District 8

• *Mickell M. Lowery (D)

County Commissioner District 9

• *Edmund Ford, Jr. (D)

County Commissioner District 10

• Britney Thornton (D)

County Commissioner District 11

• Miska Clay Bibbs (D)

* - Incumbent

Read the responses from candidates running for Executive Offices and Environmental Court here.