HOW QUALIFIED IS OUR CITY COUNCIL?


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	CITY COUNCIL BIOGRAPHIES This is who is spending your $495 million city budget. The original, 1968 Memphis City Council was comprised of individuals each of whom had achieved significant success in her or his life prior to election to the city council. They were elected because of their prior outstanding achievements. Each succeeding city council has been comprised increasingly of individuals with fewer qualifications, lower achievement, less experience in business and financial management. Only five out of 13 members of today’s council has any business management experience. Six of the thirteen have formal educations that include less than a bachelor degree. Today’s city council is notable in that the single, major achievement of 12 out of 13 members has been her or his election to the city council. There is not one private company with an annual budget a fraction the size of the Memphis city budget that would place that budget in the hands of 13 people with these limited qualifications. E.C. Jones, District 1, for 10 years Qualifications • Education: High school graduate, some college courses, no degree • Professional: Former Memphis Police Patrolman, Firestone plant protection manager and Cook Convention Center manager of security and parking. Brent Taylor, District 2, for 9 years Qualifications • Education: Associate degree in mortuary science from a junior college • Professional: A funeral director at Memphis Funeral Home Tajuan Stout Mitchell, District 3, for 5 years Qualifications • Education: Bachelor degree in sociology and education, Lane College; Master degree, education administration, Trevecca Nazarene College • Professional: Regional director of cancer control for American Cancer Society Janet Hooks, District 4, for 13 years Qualifications • Education: Attended Fisk University and Western Kentucky University, no degree • Professional: Real estate appraiser Carol Chumney, District 5, for 2 years Qualifications • Education: Bachelor and law degrees, University of Memphis; Presidential Scholar, Herff Law Scholar, Editor of Law Review • Political: Tennessee House of Representatives for 13 years, House majority whip, chairman of Shelby County Legislative Delegation • Professional: Trial attorney, former partner of Glankler Brown law firm Edmund Ford, District 6, for 5 years Qualifications • Education: Bachelor degree in government, Tennessee State University: mortuary science degree, John Gupton College • Professional: Embalmer and funeral director Barbara Swearengen Holt, District 7, for 10 years Qualifications • Education: Courses at LeMoyne Owen College and Shelby State CC, no degree • U.S. Postal Service customer service representative Joe Brown, District 8 (Position 1), for 6 years Qualifications • Education: Certificate of continuing education from University of Memphis, courses at Tennessee State University, no degree • Professional: Founder, CEO of Empire, Inc., janitorial service company Rickey Peete, District 8 (Position 1), for 9 years * Qualifications • Education: Bachelor degree in business administration, Morehouse College; Master degree in operations management, University of Arkansas. • Professional: Executive director, Beale Street Merchants Assn. * While previously a member of the city council, Mr. Peete was convicted in 1989 of extorting money from a developer in exchange for his influence on the council, and served a 20-month prison sentence before he was re-elected to the council. Myron Lowery, District 8 (Position 3), for 13 years * Qualifications • Education: Mr. Lowery has a Bachelor of Science Degree from LeMoyne-Owen College, a Master of Science in Education from New York University and a Master of Science in Urban Education from the University of Tennessee. He holds an honorary degree from Southeastern College of Technology. Professional: A former TV reporter. FedEx lists Mr. Lowery as a “Senior Communications Specialist.” * Mr. Lowery has sued both his current and previous employer for racial discrimination. Scott McCormick, District 9 (Position 1), for 2 years Qualifications • Education: Bachelor degree in finance from University of Memphis • Professional: Owner of Matrix Printing Co. Tom Marshall, District 9 (Position 2), for 18 years Qualifications • Education: Bachelor degree in architecture, University of Tennessee, master degree in architecture, University of Illinois at Chicago • Professional: Partner with father in O.T. Marshall, Architects Jack Sammons, District 9 (Position 3), for 5 years (total 13 years on council) Qualifications • Education: Bachelor degree in business administration, University of Memphis • Professional: President, The Sammons Group LLC and partner in Sammons-Hooper, LLC \| HOW QUALIFIED IS OUR CITY COUNCIL? \| MISTAKES THAT HAVE COST YOU MONEY \| \| Return Home \| 2009 NEWS \| MEMPHIS CITY GOVERNMENT NEWS \| MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL NEWS \| MLG&W NEWS \| SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT \| CONTACT US \|