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- Mick Wright is the Commissioner of Shelby County.
It matters who governs, how decisions are made, and who has the power to decide.
All three dimensions are at work as voters approach the November 8 election and local leaders consider making important choices.
Two of the largest and most important organizations serving Memphis and Shelby County are pending sweeping and significant reforms, and both now have top executive vacancies.
A formal process to find the next principal of Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) is not yet underway, and the process to nominate the next president and CEO of Memphis Light Gas & Water (MLGW) is in a deadlock.
Both steering committee chairs hope to use a nationwide candidate search to fill these positions.
Candidate search
MSCS Chair Althea Greene said a nationwide survey will begin after the three new members of the board are settled and consulted. These final members will be appointed by the Shelby County Commission this week. This would be a reversal of the board’s previous actions, which abandoned a nationwide search to promote internal candidates to lead the district.
Memphis City Council Speaker Martavius Jones is also calling for a nationwide survey for top leadership roles in MLGW. If the majority instead approves the appointee chosen by Mayor Jim Strickland, it also follows the city’s previous selection process, in which J.T. Young, who returned to his native Florida last week, was selected following a national survey. becomes the opposite of
But far more important than any search process is identifying the best candidates with a proven track record, highly professional and skilled individuals. This describes both COO Doug McGowen and Interim Superintendent Toni Williams. We are lucky to have such quality individuals ready to join us.
no time to lose
Both MSCS and MLGW need top qualified leaders to make important decisions.
Meanwhile, the City Council is also considering measures to prevent county customers from participating in MLGW’s board of directors. The initiative, sponsored by Alderman Jeff Warren, aims to override state laws that extend representation to areas served by utilities outside local government jurisdiction.
I hope Alderman Warren reconsiders. Such actions would further exacerbate the urban-suburban divide in Shelby County. Already underscored by other infrastructure constraints and the potential for Memphis to select new power suppliers without the advice or consent of its neighbors.
But suburban MLGW customers also have a vested interest in operating utilities. We deserve representation.
Bad weather in February vividly demonstrated this principle. His MLGW service area most affected by blackouts immediately after “Winter Storm Landon” was Bartlett, with his 90% of customers affected, and Lakeland slightly behind with his 84%. In this he two cities alone he blacked out more than 25,000 homes. This is especially important to me as I make up District 3 on the Shelby County Commission that I represent.
These residents have no one to turn to but me if no solution is available through normal channels. On previous occasions when I had to reach out, MLGW seemed less than enthusiastic about working with me on behalf of my voters. It’s not hard to imagine why. They don’t report to the county government. But they should report to all customers.
Mick Wright is the Commissioner of Shelby County.
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