Do Leopards Change Their Spots

A person's background has a lot to do with their future. A Leopard doesn't quickly change his spots. Notice I said quickly. People can change, but there must be evidence. If a person hasn't admitted their guilt and taken steps to overcome their shortcomings, they are likely to do it again. Below is a list that was posted in the Commercial Appeal. Some candidates claim this is an organized effort by the newspaper to discredit certain people in the race. Some of them have paid off delinquent taxes and judgements, but no one has disputed the claims.


MAYOR

Laura Davis Aaron: Pleaded guilty to assault, 1980; open and notorious public lewdness, 1985. Four bankruptcies: 1994 and 1995 in Memphis, 2001 in Chattanooga, 2005 in Memphis.

Fred Askew: Bankruptcy, 2006. As of Tuesday, owed $1,061 in delinquent property taxes, penalties and interest (includes 2006 city taxes and 2005 and 2006 county taxes).

Carlos F. Boyland: Bankruptcy, 2003. Lost $2,612 judgment, 2001. pleaded guilty misdemeanor assault, 1989; guilty, misdemeanor theft, 1992.

Willie Herenton: Fined $50 for disorderly conduct, 1960.

Bill Jacox: Pleaded guilty, tampering with utility metering device, 1988.

Dewayne A. Jones Sr.: As of Tuesday owed $3,311 in delinquent property taxes, penalties and interest (includes 2005-2007 city taxes and 2005-2006 county taxes.) pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft, 1990.

James McKay: Pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and violating probation, 1982; driving under the influence, 1982; disturbing the peace, 1986; driving under the influence, 1992.

Sharon A. Webb: Two Bankruptcies: 1993, 1998.

John Willingham: Lost $6,930 judgment after alleged breach of trust, 2005; now paid.

CITY CLERK

M. Latroy Williams: As of Tuesday, owed $124,418 in delinquent property taxes, penalties and interest (includes 1997-2007 city taxes and 1997-2006 county taxes). Got 14 citations in Juvenile Court for nonpayment of child support and was held in contempt five times, 1979-2003. Bankruptcy, 1991.

CITY COUNCIL

District 1

Jerry Benya: Bankruptcy, 1996.

Rudolph Daniels: Lost $3,599 judgment in Maryland, 2001. Debtor, State Farm Insurance, now alleges default on $1,924 balance. Evicted from Memphis apartment, 2007.

Stephanie Gatewood: Received General Sessions Court order to garnish her wages after losing $400 judgment to city Memphis EMS, 2002. Lost $2,376 judgment to Methodist Healthcare, 2002.

Jesse Jeff: Three bankruptcies: 1997 (2) in St. Louis; and 1998 in Memphis. As of Tuesday owed $7,748 in delinquent property taxes, penalties and interest (includes 2006 and 2007 city taxes and 2006 county taxes).

Antonio "2 Shay'' Parkinson: Lost $156 judgment, 2007.

Riesel Sandridge: Wages garnisheed by General Sessions Court to satisfy $1,661 loan, 2003. Lost $2,282 judgment for breach of contract on home repairs, 2005. Wages garnished to satisfy $985 judgment, 2006.

District 2

Daryl Benson: Bankruptcy, 2007.

Scott Pearce: Served with federal tax liens for $330,948 in unpaid income and payroll taxes, 2002-2004. Lost a $552,000 judgment in Chancery Court to Trustmark Bank for alleged default, 2004 -- records indicate it remains unpaid. Lost $10,000 judgment in Circuit Cuourt to JEH Inc., 2007. Lost $43,000 default judgement in Circuit Court to Renasant Bank, 2007. General Sessions garnishment order served on his bank accounts to satisfy $17,782 judgment won by Marshall County Lumber Co., 2004. Currently fighting General Sessions eviction suit brought in July. Also fighting breach of contract suit filed in Circuit Court in August by Renasant Bank.

District 3

Albert Banks III: Two bankruptcies, 2001, 2005.

Harold Collins: Served with federal tax liens for $155,512 in unpaid tax penalties, 2003. Lost $44,059 agreed Chancery Court judgment to First Tennessee Bank after alleged default on business loan, 2005.

Davida Cruthird: Bankruptcy, 1998.

Ronald Peterson: Wages garnished by Department of Employment Security to recover overpaid benefits, 2007. Four contempt citations in Juvenile for nonpayment of child support, 1989-1992; jailed 1990.

Madeleine Cooper Taylor: In March 2006 paid $7,187 in back taxes owed the IRS from 1997, 2000 and 2002.

District 4

Wanda Halbert: Wages garnisheed after losing $1,660 judgment to Sign Services Inc. for campaign signs, 2001. Faces ongoing suit by LVNV Funding for alleged past due debt of $2,332.

Johnny Hatcher Jr.: Pleaded guilty to reckless driving and no driver's license, 1995.

District 5

Jeff Bailey: Pleaded guilty to patronizing prostitution, 1992. General Sessions garnishment order served on his bank accounts to collect $1,889 credit card debt, 2002.

Richard Parks: Pleaded guilty to contempt of court, 2005.

Kerry Rogers: Pleaded guilty, possession of controlled substance, 1989; reckless driving and no driver license, 1992. Found guilty, violation of vehicle registration, 1997. Two bankruptcies: 2002, 2003.

District 6

Perry Bond: Bankruptcy, 2000. Bank account garnished toward collecting $3,192 General Sessions judgment to Sears Roebuck, 1999.

Charles Etta Chavez: As of Tuesday owed $77 in delinquent property taxes, penalties and interest (includes 2007 city taxes and 2006 county taxes).

Alicia Howard: Bankruptcy, 2000.

Willie H. Justice III: Lost $863 judgment in General Sessions Court to Midland Funding, 2007. Faces ongoing suit by Capital One Bank seeking $6,346.

Clifford Lewis: As of Tuesday owed $5,966 in delinquent property taxes, penalties and interest (includes 1998 and 2000-2007 city taxes and 2001-2006 county taxes).

District 7

Veronica Sherfield Castillo: Five bankruptcies: 1995, 1996 (2), 1997, 2007. Wages garnisheed in General Sessions Court for nonpayment of furniture debt, 1999. Target of garnishment orders for nonpayment of student-related debt, 2006.

Barbara Swearengen Ware: As of Tuesday owed $1,379 in delinquent property taxes, penalties and interest (includes 2006 and 2007 city taxes and 2006 county taxes).

Preston Poindexter: Two bankruptcies: 1995, 2005. Served with federal tax liens for $51,000 in unpaid income taxes, 2004. Lost home in foreclosure sale, March 2007.

Derek D. Richardson: Lost $1,500 judgment in General Sessions, and paid, 2005. Lost $1,988 judgments with appeal pending, 2006.

District 8 Position 1

Ian Randolph: As of Tuesday owed $6,846 in delinquent property taxes, penalties and interest (included 2006 and 2007 city taxes and 2005 and 2006 county taxes). Bankruptcy, 1991.

Tiffany L. Lowe: Pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, a felony, 1997. pleaded guilty to felony forgery, 1997. Served with a restraining order after a former lover alleged she roughed up two people, 1999. Wages garnisheed after losing $5,691 judgment to Delta Medical Center, 2007.

District 8 Position 2

Janis Fullilove: Wages garnished to satisfy $370 judgment won by Dr. Christine Mroz, 2005. Ordered to pay $50 a month to the clerk of General Sessions Court to satisfy $600 judgment won by Metropolitan Anesthesia Alliance, 2007.

Henry Hooper: Subject of 2005 federal tax liens by IRS claiming $445,603 in unpaid income taxes owed from 1998 to 2001.

Matthew Jordan: As of Tuesday owed $6,604 in delinquent property taxes, penalties and interest (includes 2006 and 2007 city taxes and 2006 county taxes).

David Vinciarelli: pleaded guilty to criminal trespass, 1990. Two bankruptcies: 1997, 2004.

Trennie Williams: Bankruptcy, 2007.

District 8 Position 3

Del Gill: Bankruptcy, 2005. pleaded guilty to reckless driving, 1982.

Myron Lowery: Pleaded guilty to assault and battery, 1982.

Toni Strong: Two bankruptcies: 1996, 2006.

District 9 Position 3

Reid Hedgepeth: As of Tuesday owed $33,202 in delinquent property taxes, penalties and interest (includes 2006 and 2007 city taxes and 2006 county taxes).