“Democracy is based upon the conviction there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick.
“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” – Thomas Jefferson.
“Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.” – Pericles.
It is said that elections make a fundamental contribution to democratic governance. And they say that elections also reinforce the stability and legitimacy of the political community.
Elections are said to play a crucial role in democratic societies by promoting citizen participation, ensuring accountability, and facilitating the peaceful transfer of power. It is said that elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century.
The term “election” is said to refer to a formal process in which individuals or groups choose or select someone for a specific position, such as a political office or a leadership role. By electing officials, it is said that citizens can have a say in selecting leaders who will make decisions on their behalf and work towards fulfilling their interests and needs.
The Britannica encyclopedia mentions this below about the meaning and the importance of elections. “Because direct democracy—a form of government in which political decisions are made directly by the entire body of qualified citizens—is impractical in most modern societies, democratic government must be conducted through representatives.”
The Wikipedia encyclopedia explains these below in terms of such election campaigns. “When elections are called, politicians and their supporters attempt to influence policy by competing directly for the votes of constituents in what are called campaigns. Supporters for a campaign can be either formally organized or loosely affiliated, and frequently utilize campaign advertising. “
The encyclopedia mentions more like these. “It is common for political scientists to attempt to predict elections via political forecasting methods. The most expensive election campaign included US$7 billion spent on the 2012 United States presidential election and is followed by the US$5 billion spent on the 2014 Indian general election.”
The 2023 Memphis mayoral election will take place on October 5, 2023(Thursday). The filing deadline for this election is July 20, 2023. The current mayor Jim Strickland (D) is term-limited. Early voting starts in September.
They say that about twelve candidates have declared their candidacy as of June, 2023, including six Democrats, three Republicans, and two independents. While the election is officially nonpartisan, many candidates (and officeholders) are said to be affiliated with a political party. It is said that Memphis, the 27th-largest city in the U.S., has had a Democratic mayor since 1992, and Memphis is also holding elections for county clerk and all 13 seats on the city council in 2023.
The declared candidates for the next mayoral seat are Joe Brown, Brandon Price(Salamander Brandy), J.W. Gibson, Van Turner, Paul Young, Floyd Bonner, Karen Camper, Frank Colvett, Michelle McKissack, Willie Herenton, and so on.
According to University of Memphis professor Otis Sanford, the issues of crime and police conduct will have an outsized effect in the October election. “[…] The race for mayor will come down [to] who has the clearer and most convincing message — not just about fighting crime, but changing the culture in the police department in light of the police killing of Tyre Nichols,” Sanford said.(Source: Ballotpedia)
“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” – Abraham Lincoln.
“The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower.
“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.” – John F. Kennedy.
Both the ferocious dogs and the tottering ones already began to run in the next mayoral race in the City of Memphis. Which dog are the Memphians going to choose for their next mayor?
“The future of the City of Memphis is in the hands of the Memphian voter.” – The Memphis Times.
Published: June 29, 2023, (Thursday.)
[Link] The Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org
[Editorial] The Importance of the Next Mayoral Election in the City of Memphis (June 29, 2023)
www.memphistimes.org/20230629_election
[Reference]
The declared candidates (Source: Wikipedia except Brandon Price)
Joe Brown, former Shelby County Criminal Court judge and former host of the reality court show ‘’Judge Joe Brown’’ (Party affiliation: Independent),
Brandon Price(her social name is Salamander Brandy), Executive Director of the church Path of the Holy Hands, a member of Black Lives Matter Memphis and the New Black Panther party,
J.W. Gibson, former Shelby County commissioner,
Van Turner, former Shelby County commissioner and president of the NAACP Memphis branch (Party affiliation: Democratic),
Paul Young, president and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission and former director of the Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development (Party affiliation: Democratic),
Floyd Bonner, Shelby County Sheriff (Party affiliation: Democratic),
Karen Camper, Minority Leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives (Tennessee House Minority Leader) (Party affiliation: Democratic),
Frank Colvett, city councilor (Party affiliation: Republican),
Michelle McKissack, member of the Shelby County Board of Education and a former broadcast journalist,
(Party affiliation: Democratic),
Willie Herenton, former Memphis mayor (1992-2009) (Party affiliation: Democratic),
[Reference]
The Official campaign websites:
Joe Brown (I) for Mayor (link)
J.W. Gibson for Mayor (link)
Brandon Price(Salamander Brandy) (no link)
(Her campaign website is being made right now.)
Van Turner (D) for Mayor (link)
Paul Young (D) for Mayor (link)
Floyd Bonner (D) for Mayor (link)
Karen Camper (D) for Mayor (link)
Frank Colvett (R) for Mayor (link)
Michelle McKissack (D) for Mayor (link)
[Reference]
The Memphis Municipal Election is this fall. Here’s who has pulled a petition for office. (link)
Memphis mayoral frontrunners Turner, Bonner share stage for first time in 2023 (link)
Memphis mayoral candidates meet to discuss crime, transportation and more at Mosaic Church (link)
The Death Of Tyre Nichols Is Looming Over Memphis’ Mayoral Election (link)
[Reference]
Voting Quotes:
“There’s no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter.” – Barack Obama.
“Voting is a civic sacrament.” – Theodore Hesburgh.
“Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world.” – Sharon Salzberg.
“Voting is as much an emotional act as it is an intellectual one.” – Monica Crowley.
“A man without a vote is a man without protection.” – Lyndon B. Johnson.
“Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don’t vote.” – George Jean Nathan.
“Our political leaders will know our priorities only if we tell them, again and again, and if those priorities begin to show up in the polls.” – Peggy Noonan.
“Talk is cheap, voting is free; take it to the polls.” – Nanette L. Avery.
“This process of election affords a moral certainty that the office of President will seldom fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications.” – Alexander Hamilton.
“Democracy is about voting and it’s about a majority vote. And it’s time that we started exercising the Democratic process.” – Debbie Stabenow.
“The first duty of a man is to think for himself.” – Jose Marti.
“Not voting is not a protest. It is a surrender.” – Keith Ellison.
“By voting, we add our voice to the chorus that forms opinions and the basis for actions.” – Jens Stoltenberg.
“People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.” – Alan Moore.
“I love voting day. I love the sight of my fellow citizens lining up to make their voices heard.” – Beth Broderick.
“Somewhere inside of all of us is the power to change the world.” – Roald Dahl.
“If you don’t vote, you lose the right to complain.” – George Carlin.
“Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.” – Susan B. Anthony.
“Voting is not only our right—it is our power.” – Loung Ung.
“Every election is determined by the people who show up.” – Larry J. Sabato, “Pendulum Swing”.
“Elections belong to the people.” – Abraham Lincoln.
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” – Plato.