Shelby County Commissioner Shante Avant will chair the county commission for another year after fellow board members re-elected her during their regular meeting, Monday, Sept. 14.
Avant, who is the third Black woman to serve in the role, emerged from three rounds of voting along party lines with a 9-4 win over Commissioner Mark Billingsley. The Democratic Party currently holds a 9-4 majority on the commission.
“My hope is that we are now moving forward together as one body,” said Avant, who represents District 5, which encompasses Downtown Memphis, South Memphis, Frayser, the Medical District and parts of Midtown.
Charlie Caswell, Henri Brooks, Will Richardson, Karen Streeter, LaShanta Rudd, Miska Clay Bibbs, Erika Sugarmon and Amber Huett-Garcia voted for Avant, who voted for herself.
Billingsley, who voted for himself, picked up votes from Rhonda O’Dell, Derek Mills and Michelle Dial. All are suburban Republicans.
In addition to presiding over meetings, the commission chair determines committee assignments and workflow, and serves as primary spokesperson for the body. Top issues facing the commission include universal pre-K, funding for a new county jail, the presence of the federal task force and the possible state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
Avant called the post a “privilege.”
Four nominees competed for the chair position. Brooks nominated herself. Avant, who made history in the county as the first Black woman elected to represent a newly formed district in 2022, was tapped by Caswell. Both Mills and O’Dell opted for Billingsley.
During the selection process, commissioners appeared to put a premium on experience. Avant and Brooks both served on the previous commission board. Billingsley, who served on the board from 2014 to 2022, including a stint as chair in his final year, was elected to a four-year term in August to represent suburban District 4. The only newcomer, Rudd, who was defeated by the late G.A. Hardaway in the 2024 Democratic primary for the Tennessee House of Representatives District 93, was quickly eliminated.
Avant led all nominees with six votes during the first round of voting. Billingsley was second with four votes, followed by two votes for Brooks. Rudd was removed from the race after picking up only one vote. Commission rules require two votes to proceed to the second round.
“We have serious challenges. We need leadership that is willing to confront them honestly and bring this commission together around solutions,” said Billingsley. “We must restore fiscal responsibility to protect Shelby County’s ability to make its own decisions. If we fail to act, we risk state intervention and decisions being made in Nashville, instead of here.”
The second round of voting yielded similar results. Brooks picked up a vote from Rudd, but failed to overcome Avant or Billingsley, who each finished with the same number of votes as the first round. During the third round, the race narrowed to the top two vote recipients.
Brooks, who was the favorite among fellow Democrats for the pro tem slot, netted a decisive 9-4 win over Billingsley for second in command. A former state representative, she previously served on the commission from 2006-2014.
Along with regular commission responsibilities, a pro tem presides over committee sessions and assumes the chairperson’s duties during the leader’s temporary absences. Brooks’ nomination speech emphasized her 12 years on the commission and seven years in Nashville. She also took the opportunity to share her criticisms of the commission.
“This county commission office has some critical issues that need to be addressed,” she said. “Right now, our authority is being undercut by chronic tardiness, a casual disregard for our permanent rules of order, a breakdown in the professional respect in our ability to work with respect with all commissioners. This is a legislative body and it must be governed like one.”
Brooks offered no details or specific incidents as evidence of her complaints.
During the meeting, commissioners also set their standard salary at $34,900 for fiscal year 2027. As chair, Avant, who is also the president and CEO of the family advocacy nonprofit Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis, will earn $36,900.
