Decision On New Chair For Shelby County Commission Postponed After Democrats Protest Republican Nominee

Image Credit: shelbycountytn.gov

The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

The decision on who will be the new chairman for the Shelby County Board of Commissioners was postponed after Democrats protested that a Republican Commissioner was being considered to lead a board with a Democrat supermajority.

Former Commissioner Tami Sawyer urged Democrats to contact all Democratic Commissioners ahead of Monday night’s meeting to tell them to vote along party lines and support a Democrat for the position of Chair. Three Democrats on the board had allegedly planned to support Republican Commissioner Amber Mills.

Amber Sherman, President of the Shelby County Young Democrats (SCYD), addressed the Commission on Monday night threatening to remove the Bona Fides of Democrat Commissioners Brittany Thornton and Erica Sugarmon who were endorsed by the SCYD if they voted for Mills. 

Citing all of the work that the SCYD did in supporting the Commissioners when they were running for the board, Sherman said, “I wanna make sure that they are doing the right thing with this vote for a chair, make sure they’re voting for a Democrat.”

Sherman accused the Republican Party of being “actively anti-black, anti-LGBTQI… and anti-woman” and said that Mills “a staunch Moms for Liberty supporter” was “actively harming” the community.

In remarks to the board, Vice-Chair Miska Clay Bibbs pointed out the necessity of both sides needing to work together. “The reality of it is we have to work together versus further dividing us. And I would be outright truthful in saying that we cannot move forward if we continue to think about dividing us first in order to breach the gap. We’ve got to breach the gap. Not only just for us as a body but more formally for all of the citizens of Shelby County.”

Mills reminded the board of the partisan nature of the Commission. “We are the only partisan body in Shelby County,” she said, while acknowledging that other governing bodies within the county are nonpartisan, “and we have to work together.” Mills believes that embracing “a rotating system between parties will enhance our governance and foster an environment so that we are a team.” Such a system “promotes  fairness, unity and progress” she said.

Several attempts were made during Monday night’s meeting to get Commissioner Clay Bibbs – Chair Pro Tempore – or Commissioner Mills the seven votes needed in order to assume the position of Chair but neither of the two women received enough votes. Clay Bibbs was one vote short, Mills needed four more votes. Commissioners Edmund Ford, Brittney Thornton, and Erika Sugarmon chose not to vote along party lines, choosing to opt out instead.

After the board was unable to come to a consensus when voting on nominees, Commissioner Charlie Caswell made a motion for the discussion and subsequent vote to be moved to the next commission meeting mid August. In the end, it was decided that a special meeting was necessary to focus discussion solely on that one item of business. The meeting is scheduled for August 7th.

About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.