Still running by herserlf (at least for the time being) as a candidate for county mayor in 2010, Shelby County chair Deidre Malone was the beneficiary of two fundraising events last weekend. Bank of Bartlett president Harold Byrd is considered all but certain to oppose her in next year’s Democratic primary but hasn’t yet made a formal announcement.
As Malone notes, it’s now less than a year before next year’s countywide primaries.
Republicans have been slower than Democrats to express interest in the couty mayor’s race, but Malone’s commission colleague George Flinn has confided to her and others an interest in running on the GOP side.
Meanwhile, the other political Flinn, city councilman Shea Flinn, has apparently resisted efforts — from his father and from certain of his councilmates — to promote him as a candidate for city mayor.
* City court clerk Thomas Long last week publicly reiterated his intentions — previously noted in this space — of switching venues as a candidate for county clerk in next year’s elections.
Long had previously considered a race for mayor but discarded the idea. Though most observers reckon Long as the favorite in the race, he may face a stiffer than expected challenge in the Democratic primary from wrestling entrepreneur and former grappler Corey Maclin, who has already formally announced and held a series of fundraising events.
The clerk’s job has in the last few months become a hot potato, with multiple indictments of office employees for a variety of improprieties and illegalities, including extortion. Incumbent Debbie Stamson, a Republican, has not been implicated but has served notice that she isn’t running for reelection.
