Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris vetoed a resolution that would align Memphis-Shelby County Schools board elections with those of the Shelby County Commission Tuesday, Oct. 7.
On Sept. 22, commissioners approved the resolution 7-5 to move up the election calendar of the nine-member board to 2026. In that scenario, five members of the board would have their four-year terms reduced by two years.
All 13 seats on the County Commission will be on the ballot in the next election.
“Absent an emergency or in the case of criminal misconduct, I do not believe the terms of elected officials should be shortened. As such, I hereby veto,” Harris wrote to commissioners in a memo on Monday, Oct. 6.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal was the first to report on the memo.
Commissioners have 30 days to attempt an override. The county charter requires a majority plus one — or eight votes — to do so.
The resolution came in response to the board’s 6-3 decision to terminate former Superintendent Marie Feagins’ employment. The former Detroit school administrator was fired on Jan. 21, following allegations of contract violations and professional misconduct. She was hired in April 2024.
Four of the members who voted in favor of Feagins’ removal were elected in 2024.
In September, Commissioners David Bradford, Edmund Ford Jr., Amber Mills, Brandon Morrison, Britney Thornton, Michael Whaley and Mick Wright agreed to the new election plan.
Chairwoman Shante Avant and Commissioners Henri Brooks, Charlie Caswell Jr., Miska Clay Bibbs and Erika Sugarmon opposed the move.
That leaves Mickell Lowery as the deciding vote. At the time, he was absent due to a family medical emergency. Currently, the swing vote is holding his cards close to the vest.
“I have every intention to be there when this item comes up and will consider all points before making a decision,” Lowery told The Daily Memphian.
