Two weeks after the majority Democrats on the Shelby County
Commission voted Democrat Matt Kuhn into the suburban seat that had been
vacated by Republican David Lillard, who had left to become state Treasurer, partisan wounds have begun to heal on the
commission itself. Not so in Nashville – where Republican members of the Shelby
delegation are apparently protesting by sitting on legislation requested by the
commission.
The situation came to light Monday when Republican
commissioner Mike Carpenter of Cordova dispatched a letter to several of the GOP
legislators, including Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville, the
primary addressee.
While professing to share the “anger” of the aggrieved
Republican legislators on the matter of the commission appointment, which saw
Kuhn win out by a party-line vote over ex-commissioner Tommy Hart, a
Republican, Carpenter beseeched Norris to let the commission’s legislative
package get a fair hearing.
“It is
my understanding that
because of the Democrats [sic] partisan power grab, you and other members are at
least for now choosing not to move bills that are a part of the Shelby County
legislative package. While I am grateful for the strong gesture of support, I
would respectfully request that you allow Shelby County’s legislation to begin
moving through the legislative process,” Carpenter’s letter said in part, adding
in the concluding paragraph: “I would appreciate it if you would allow the
County’s legislation to begin moving, and I pledge to work with you to find
another way to remedy the action taken by Commission Democrats. …”
Democratic commissioner Steve Mulroy said that most of the stalled legislation
was non-partisan and had received unanimous or nearly unanimous approval across
party lines. Among the recommended legislation in the county’s package were
bills strengthening law enforcement that were sought by Shelby County Mayor A C
Wharton, Sheriff Mark Luttrell, and District Attorney General Bill Gibbons.
Another part of the county package would enable a statewide “senior alert”
network for missing senior citizens, similar to the “Amber alerts” for children
whose whereabouts are unknown because of suspected foul play.
Carpenter’s letter, seeming to confirm Mulroy’s description of the stalled county legislative agenda, notes: “There
are many important initiatives that are a part of the package. Each one
received substantial bi-partisan support. In crafting the agenda, the
Commission and Administration have been sensitive to the budget issues faced by
the State and have requested no alternative revenue sources from the
Legislature. Many of these bills, if adopted, could make substantial
improvements in the quality of life of all Shelby County residents. While I
believe my Democrat colleagues failed to act in a statesmen-like manner, I
believe I am obligated to rise above it for the benefit of the citizens.”
Reached by telephone and asked for a reaction, Gibbons responded to the
situation with this statement: “I think it is the duty of any elected official
to do what he or she feels is in the public interest.” While the D.A., now a GOP
candidate for governor, said that while he, too, like Carpenter, shared the
“frustration” felt by Republicans over the Kuhn appointment, he thought it
incumbent on legislators to consider “each piece of legislation on its own
merits.”
Besides Norris, other addressees receiving the Carpenter letter were state
Senator Paul Stanley and state Representatives Brian Kelsey, Curry Todd, Steve
McManus, Jim Coley, and Ron Lollar.
