Longtime Memphis political activist Gale Jones Carson, who has served for some years as state Democratic Party secretary, has had a new laurel bestowed on her — the position of national Democratic committee-woman from Tennessee.
Carson, a former administrative assistant to Mayor Willie Herenton who now serves in a similar capacity at MLGW, was informed of her appointment to the singular position over the weekend.
As an added fillip for local Democrats, Carson has informed friends that she was aided in getting the nod by considerable behind-the-scenes help from another longtime local activist, David Upton, with whom her relations have from time to time been strained. Upton, Shelby County Commissioner Sidney Chism, and Carson functioned a lobbying unit at the weekend’s meeting of state Democratic organizations Nashville.
Yet another party activist,Steve Steffens, was so impressed by this instance of cooperation between representatives of two different Democratic factions that he posted his enthusiasm at LeftWingCracker, his widely read blog.
Carson was also recently designated as one of three Memphians and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s statewide steering committee.
The number of national committee members from Tennessee has been reduced from four to three according to a formula gauged to the presidential vote, in which President Bush carried the state. The other two members are Bill Owen of Knoxville, Will Cheek of Nashville.
–Jackson Baker
