Shelby Co. Commission overrides mayor’s veto on moving all school board elections to 2026 ballot

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Monday marked a history-making night at the Shelby County Commission as members voted to override Mayor Lee Harris’ veto of the commission plan to put all nine Memphis-Shelby County School Board seats up for grabs in 2026.

This plan is contentious because it means the terms of five school board members will be cut short, having been elected to serve their four-year terms in 2024.

The resolution was originally approved during a commission meeting on September 22.

On the surface, the plan aligns all nine school board races into one election cycle, making it easier for voters and more cost-effective for the Shelby County Election Commission. But the plan was hatched as a direct result of four of those five school board members voting to remove former Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins.

And whether you’re pro or con on the issue, it’s going to cost everyone who pays taxes in Shelby County, as this matter, like so many others in Memphis and Shelby County right now, is likely headed to court.

Nearly two dozen citizens signed up to address the commission before Monday’s vote, including parent and special education teacher, Dr. Chantal Hess-Taylor.

“This is not a plea for the school board, but a cry for democracy,” she told the commissioners. “In this democracy of the United States, to remove officials who have been fairly elected by the citizens sets an unwanted, negative precedent. Simply… let’s not overturn these elections.”

Several members of the United Education Association, the union representing the district’s teachers, including the group’s president, Liz Marable, urged the commission to uphold the mayor’s veto.

“This is not a partisan issue,” said Marable, “this is voters’ rights. It’s a public schools’ issue. It’s a student issue. You’re risking silencing the very voters we spent time encouraging that their votes matter.”

But Charles Lampkin with Memphis Lift, the non-profit organization empowering parental choice in education, told commissioners that realigning the school board races is democracy at work.

“This is nothing personal,” said Lampkin, “this is a take-back of the power of the people. Give them the opportunity to vote. If they deserve to be there, this second opportunity will give them that.”

Commissioner Mickell Lowery proved to be the eighth vote needed to override Mayor Harris’ veto, something rarely used in Shelby County politics.

“There have been other mayors here before,” said Lowery, “A C Wharton, I think he used the veto one time in six years. From my research, I believe Willie Herenton used the veto zero times in 19 years.”

The commission’s controversial vote comes as state lawmakers threaten to take over Tennessee’s largest school district because of low test scores and questions about financial accountability. And this particular battle in the war to save MSCS is likely far from over.

“People say this is probably going to end up in litigation,” said Commissioner Lowery, “You know what? They’re probably right. And you know what? It probably should. It probably should. It probably should be decided by a court at the end of the day.”

Here are the eight commissioners who voted ‘yes’ to override the mayor’s veto and cut school board terms early:

• Michael Whaley
• Amber Mills
• Edmund Ford Jr.
• Mick Wright
• Britney Thornton
• Brandon Morrison
• David Bradford
• Mickell Lowery

Voting ‘no’ to override the Mayor’s veto:

• Miska Clay Bibbs
• Charlie Caswell
• Henri Brooks
• Shante Avant

It is worth noting that Clay Bibbs and Avant are former MSCS board members.

Current Memphis Shelby County School Board Commissioner Towanna Murphy released the following statement to Action News 5:

“The override of Mayor Harris’ veto undermines democratic principles and sends a clear message that voters’ voices are disregarded, which will likely result in litigation and constitutes a form of voter disenfranchisement.”

Action News 5 reached out to Mayor Harris for a comment, but did not receive a reply.

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