JB Smiley’s Vision for Memphis City Council
JB Smiley received a Future901 endorsement as he ran for Memphis City Council Super District 8 Position 1.
A few thoughts post-election.
First, I just wanted to express my sincere appreciation for those who supported our campaign for Memphis City Council Super District 8 Position 1. Because of your support, we were able to get our message out and reach the breadth of Super District 8. There is no doubt in my mind that this directly contributed to our win on election day. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. I look forward to serving the City of Memphis well. Additionally, I would like to thank everyone who participated in the election process. It is absolutely essential for all of us who did participate to encourage everyone in our circles to do the same.
Second, on September 19, 2019, Jackson Baker, a reporter for the Memphis Flyer published an article titled “Memphis Election Guide: Mayor and City Council Races Dominate the Ballot.” In pertinent part, Baker stated “At issue overall is the question of whether grassroots city council candidates any longer have a serous chance against those favored by the city’s business elite, a group which has in recent years used its financial resources, in effect, to bypass the dialogues and forums of pure democracy…[T]he favored candidates can—and sometimes do—conduct entire campaigns while remaining remote enigmas to the voting population.” This article suggests what has been alluded to by candidates and some elected officials. Our democracy as we know it is in danger and has been for quite some time. We are at point in time where we, as a community, have to truly question whose interest our elected officials are serving. Is it the City? Is it Citizens as a whole? Is it the business elite? Or Is it solely self-interest?
The simplest definition for Democracy is rule by people. However, the article also seems to suggest that the days of the average voter, the people, truly electing its representatives without being unduly swayed by the business elite is a thing of the past. Our electoral process is being mocked because we are allowing a few groups of people, who may only have a financial stake in the community, to not only influence but virtually choose our representatives. It will continue to be this way unless we are intentional about increasing voter participation and making sure everyone who goes to vote is an informed voter prior to leaving home. We begin to bring the government back to the people, all of the people, it was created to represent by demanding that candidates and elected officials alike are accessible, willing to have dialogues, show up to community functions, and be independent thinkers. And if they are not, we must rally our friends, families, and organizations to vote against them. We must adopt a “you cannot represent me if you are not willing to walk my streets” mentality.
We begin to bring the government back to the people, all of the people, it was created to represent by demanding that candidates and elected officials alike are accessible, willing to have dialogues, show up to community functions, and be independent thinkers.
I am not at all suggesting that the business elite have no place in our community or the electoral process. What I am saying is the make-up of our community is much more than the business elite. It is the single mother living in 38126, who is struggling to make ends meet. It is the young married couple whose expecting their first child and recently purchased a home in Whitehaven. It is first-generation college students. It is OUTMemphis. It is South Bluffs. It is FedEx. It is entrepreneurs. It is blue collar workers. It is white collar workers. It is fast food workers. It is activists. It is Unions. It is corporate offices downtown. It is the retirees. It is “shade tree” mechanics. It is business owners. It is LeMoyne-Owen College. It is University of Memphis. It is Cooper Young. Collectively, we should choose.
Finally, as I inch closer to the swearing-in ceremony, which is tentatively scheduled for January 01, 2020, I look forward to working with you all to find ways to support our education system, fight for increased contracting for Black-owned and women-owned businesses, and investing in the under-served communities in the context of city government. With this in mind, my team and I are in the early stages of planning a listening tour, where I will listen to your concerns or proposals. If you would like for me to visit your club, church, organization, or neighborhood, please send an email to votejbsmiley@gmail.com.
All the best,
JB Smiley, Jr.
Councilman-Elect