Shelby County won't pick interim successor to Lovell
The Shelby County Commission voted Monday against appointing an interim successor to the Tennessee House of Representatives District 95 seat vacated by Mark Lovell.
The Board of Commissioners voted 5-6 against a resolution setting the schedule for the appointment, effectively killing the appointment. Some commissioners expressed concerns Democratic commissioners would appoint Germantown Democrat Adrienne Pakis-Gillon to represent the heavily-Republican district, alienating Republican lawmakers ahead of a vote on school voucher legislation opposed by the commissioners.
Commissioner Terry Roland, who vocally opposed the appointment, said he wasn't concerned after talking to legislators that the appointee would cast any swing votes. Plus, the appointee perhaps wouldn't even take office until after the session ended.
"I don't see any sense, us going through with this," Roland said.
Lovell, a Collierville Republican who displaced former representative Curry Todd in the 2015 election, resigned in February after a reportedly alcohol-fueled evening in which he allegedly groped a woman. His district included parts of Collierville, Germantown and Eads.
Schmoozing, boozing and a quiet resignation: Mark Lovell's 100 days on Capitol Hill
Voting to move forward with the appointment process were Democratic commissioners Walter Bailey Jr., Willie Brooks Jr., Reginald Milton, Van Turner Jr. and chairman Melvin Burgess. Voting against were David Reaves, Mark Billingsley, Roland, Justin Ford, Steve Basar and George Chism Sr.
The commission separately voted to approve $320,000 for the special District 95 primary and general election, reimbursable by the state, and $40,245 for the special election to replace Lakeland Commissioner Michele Dial, reimbursable by the town.
Ten candidates for the District 95 seat will face off in the special primary election Thursday, April 27, and special general election Thursday, June 15.
Dial resigned in February for unspecified family reasons, the second resignation of a Lakeland commissioner this year. Commissioner Sherri Gallick resigned in January after her husband accepted a job outside of the state. The Lakeland Board of Commissioners already appointed a replacement for Gallick, but can only have one appointed commissioner at a time, according to state law.
In other news, the commission unanimously confirmed the appointment of county budget director Wanda Richards as the new Division of Administration and Finance director, effective April 1. Former finance director Mike Swift retired earlier in March and was hired as finance director of Maryville.
The commission also approved an amendment to a contract with BRG3S Architects for architectural and engineering design services for a new Shelby County Health Department facility at 814 Jefferson Ave. After revising the contract, the county will pay the firm $1.5 million, laying the groundwork for the $14.5 million construction piece of the project.
Separately, commissioners voted 9-1 to approve a resolution sponsored by Basar urging the Memphis City Council to lift a moratorium on development in the Pinch District. The moratorium was put in place as the city worked with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and other area stakeholders on a strategic plan for the district, which includes St. Jude's expanding campus and the Bass Pro Shops in the Pyramid. Billingsley voted against the resolution while Commissioner Reginald Milton abstained.
Reach Ryan Poe at poe@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter at @ryanpoe.