The League of Women Voters’ recent forum signaled that the race is on for Shelby County Mayor. A capacity crowd attended the event at the Benjamin L. Hooks Library to hear (left to right) Interim Shelby County Mayor Joe Ford, General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson, Sheriff Mark Luttrell and County Board of Commissioner Deidre Malone. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)

With a League of Women Voters banner hanging behind them, four contenders for Shelby County Mayor sat next to each other and faced a room full of people, including politicos, everyday citizens, candidates for other positions and media.

The venue for the Monday night forum was the Benjamin L. Hooks Library. Two of the four who shared the stage are a sure bet to face off in the General Election since Sheriff and Republican Mark Luttrell has no competition to speak of in Ernest Lunati for the May 4 GOP Primary.

So three Democrats – Interim Mayor Joe Ford, General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson and County Board of Commissioner Deidre Malone – essentially are vying for the chance to take on Luttrell, with early voting slated to begin April 14 and run through April 29.

All the forum questions – which were submitted in writing in advance – came from audience members, who mostly were disciplined as League of Women Voter moderator Danielle Schonbaum governed the exchanges.

Ford and Malone sparred over whether “The Med” has been saved by Ford’s efforts – as he asserts and she disputes. And while that issue clearly generated the most candidate conflict, the forum provided an opportunity for them to weigh in on a wide range of issues.

Here’s a sampling of the topics and some of what audience members heard from the contenders:

Funding for The Med:

• Ford explained the current budget allocation to The Med.

• Jackson said he wanted to collect from surrounding counties in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee, and impose “sin” taxes on alcohol, tobacco and lottery.

• Luttrell said although there is a reserve fund, there is a need for a steady stream of funding because the current funding is only patchwork. He doesn’t want to raise taxes and prefers to reach out to other sustainable resources; and neighboring counties need to pay their shares.

• Malone said the other candidates, particularly Ford, were putting forth off-base numbers and stats.

Economic segregation and how to ensure that the “whole” county is strong:

• Ford touted the ongoing work of a task force to increase locally-owned businesses and talked about his support for business development.

• Jackson said the small business owner is in bad condition and needs economic development. As mayor, he would “go after 1,000 additional small businesses.”

• Luttrell wasn’t asked to comment.

• Malone said she would focus on job creation through small businesses.

Low-wage earners:

• Ford talked about the need for a living wage for county employees.

• Jackson was not asked to comment.

• Luttrell said he wants to stimulate the economy by dealing with “wage theft” and hold employers accountable.

• Malone talked about the scope of the problem and said she has been in discussions with the Memphis Area Chamber and other economic development groups across the board, including the city and other cities.

Law enforcement selling confiscated guns:

• Ford said he would vote no to such sales.

• Jackson said he would vote no. He also said the guns should be melted down and large fees should be paid to carry a gun.

• Luttrell said he would vote no to gun sales, but he did not agree that they should be destroyed.

• Malone was not asked to comment.

Juvenile delinquency and crimes:

• Ford was not asked to comment.

• Jackson said crime is “off the chart” in juveniles, and reminisced about his childhood when community centers stayed open late at night, which he said helped him.

• Luttrell talked about the need for intervention grants to help control juvenile delinquency and crimes.  The emphasis should be on programs of prevention, he said.

• Malone said solutions are educational programs, after-school jobs, and after-school recreation.

Administration ethics to prevent cronyism:

• Ford referred to his civic duty history, including the number of times he has been elected and appointed, as an indicator of public trust. The county mayor’s administration must have high standards, he said, adding that he is conducting meetings to talk about ethics and policy.

• Jackson was not asked to comment.

• Luttrell said as Sheriff he has rooted out corruption and said as mayor he would continue to hold staff to the highest standard.

• Malone, with Ford clearly in mind, said, “start tonight by telling the truth – The Med is not saved!” Citizens, she said, have to have faith in the CEO of the County.

School Funding:

• Ford said he is not for single-source funding, adding that he believes that it is another way to consolidate city and county. He favored keeping the structure as is, saying he would look at it again if consolidation were to pass in November.

• Jackson said he would have to study and research it.

• Luttrell was not asked to respond.

• Malone – in a jab at Ford and Jackson – said ample research already had been made available.

Domestic Violence:

• Ford said the mayor’s office already works with domestic violence and “we need to pep it up!”

• Jackson talked about the need to educate students.

• Luttrell was not asked to respond.

• Malone said she is working with various services and churches to counsel men and women on domestic violence.

Lobbying at the state level:

• Ford was not asked to comment.

• Jackson said he was not expecting that issue. He asked Malone to repeat her answer, then he agreed with her.

• Luttrell said he would focus on resources in the governor’s office and the state finance office and hold them accountable, rather than depending on lobbyists.

• Malone said she has bipartisan relationships that have yielded good responses. She talked of working with state-elected officials to move ahead.

Green initiatives and jobs:

• Ford was not asked to respond.

• Jackson said he would build on the goals and objectives of the previous administration.

• Luttrell talked of urban sprawl and an overabundance of cars on the road. He said he would continue to work on existing initiatives put in place by former Mayor A C Wharton Jr.

• Malone talked about her support of “infill” and said there is already infrastructure in place to support green initiatives and create jobs.