On June 15, the Shelby County Election Commission will hold another Primary Election for Rep. Justin Pearson’s District 86 seat.
Pearson will face educator and longtime community activist David Page in the primary after President Joe Biden honored “The Tennessee Three”—Rep. Justin Jones (Dist. 52-Nashville) and Gloria Johnson (Dist. 90)—at the White House for their globally inspiring protest against Tennessee’s gun laws.
Page denies that his bid is pointless after Pearson easily won the first primary on Jan. 24th. It was shortened.
“It’s easy.” We need someone determined to stand out in serving District 86 clients. State Representative Barbara Cooper and I visited Nashville in 2020. I watched Rep. Cooper take calls from residents concerning state agency issues from her office. She respected all complaints, no matter how trivial.
She handled the state agency the same but demanded results according to their protocols when she contacted. Her good relations with all legislators helped pass new laws.
If elected, I will spend my first term listening and understanding how to pass legislation with all legislators. District 86 people can call my office for help with all state agencies. I respect all legislators. I will attend District 86 activities and be a positive role model as informed and trained by the late State Representative Barbara Cooper.”
Page’s filing complicates Memphis’s rising political energy. Memphis City Council unanimously passed the Driver Equality Act last week. Conservatives slammed the measure, which aimed to reduce minor traffic offense stops that have historically led to black community violence and murder.
The council’s Housing and Community Development Committee may adopt the legislation, weakening the state’s hold on negligent landlords.
On Monday, Chairman Martavius Jones (Super District 8-3), along with members JB Smiley, Jr. (Super District 8-1), Patrice Robinson (Dist. 3), and Michalyn Easter-Thomas (District 7), announced a plan to build affordable, quality housing “that can be a wealth-generating asset” for Section 8 voucher recipients and help them become homeowners.
Five of the 11 major candidates attended a Memphis Daily News forum the day before the council meeting. Without potential frontrunners Van Turner, Judge Joe Brown, and Sheriff Floyd Bonner, Rep.
Karen Camper, District 2 City Councilman Brian Coleman, businessman J.W. Gibson, SCS President Michelle McKissick, and Downtown Commission President Paul Young had a great chance to promote their public safety ideas. Voters should have identified the most feasible solutions by October 5th, several months away.
