I don't necessarily support Mayor Lowery's request that the mayoral candidates for the special election take a drug test. This could be opening up a can of worms that would better remain closed. Next you'll have to take a physical exam before you run for office. The majority of people holding office now wouldn't be able to run again.Anybody with high blood pressure and a history of cancer in their family need not apply. Myron Lowery himself would not be allowed to run simply because he's overweight. I understand he's using what he has in his arsenal to do battle with Willie Herenton, There have long been rumors of Mayor Herenton's drug use. Keep your eyes on the prize and don't get caught up in the mix.Now that I've said what I don't agree with, let me tell you what I like. I like his ideas about consolidation of city and county services and the fact that he tried to eliminate some things that were considered as problems before he became mayor. There have long been complaints of excessive spending in the city's law department and it's handling of lawsuits. So why all of a sudden this new found love for Elbert Jefferson? Everybody is chewing out Lowery for moving too fast. Those same people say Myron Lowery won't get elected to finish the remainder of the term. Since he only has a short time to do anything different. If not now when?
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/aug/18/herenton-puppetry-criticized/
Now
ReplyDeleteI was in total agreement with the things Myron Lowery had done since getting in the mayor's office. Then I heard the other side. I would like to hear Lowery's response to that.
ReplyDeleteCity Atty. Elbert Jefferson to be out sick till after mayoral election
ReplyDeleteBy Amos Maki (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Originally published 02:41 p.m., September 28, 2009
Updated 02:41 p.m., September 28, 2009
Embattled City Atty. Elbert Jefferson hasn’t been seen at City Hall for weeks.
Now it appears that Jefferson’s respite from city work will continue for a few more weeks. Today he turned in a request for sick leave until Oct. 19, four days after a special election to pick a new mayor of Memphis.
Jefferson, 45, is a diabetic. Assistant City Atty. Veronica Coleman-Davis, who Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery wanted to replace Jefferson, is running the legal department for now. Jefferson sent his notice to City Hall by fax, and it was accompanied by a letter from his doctor.
“He’s out even when he’s in,” said an exasperated Jack Sammons, chief operating officer for the city.
“At the end of the day we’ve got a $1 billion corporation to run and Mr. Jefferson has become a distraction,” said Sammons. “I regret that he’s ill, but we’re moving forward with the people’s business.”
Meanwhile, Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons is investigating Jefferson, already the target of federal investigators and a grand jury, for possible misconduct charges that could lead to his ouster.
At issue is Jefferson's authorization of $55,000 in city funds to pay a private attorney who represented former Mayor Willie Herenton while he was under investigation by a federal grand jury. The prosecutor’s staff has interviewed several city officials and has requested "a number of records and documents" from the City Attorney's Office.
Jefferson has said the payment to Spence was related to an ethics investigation Herenton had asked him to conduct. But city officials say they can find no record to back up Jefferson's claim that he has been conducting an ethics investigation of Herenton at the former mayor's request.
Jefferson never told Lowery that the FBI interviewed him about the payments to Spence.
Lowery had been trying to fire Jefferson since his first day as mayor -- even before the payment questions -- and only a court order kept Jefferson on the job. But in a 7-4 vote two weeks ago, City Council members declined to fire Jefferson.
During that council meeting, Jefferson reviewed Spence’s legal bills again and identified at least $7,362 worth of questionable items from the $55,000 payment.
"As a result of the review, it is my opinion that I inadvertently authorized payment on certain items and ask that those payments be reimbursed to the city. ... We ask that reimbursement be made expeditiously as possible to bring this matter to a close," said Jefferson in a letter to Herenton.
Jefferson, a Herenton appointee, has been embroiled in controversy for months and has been a lightning rod for criticism almost since he was appointed in 2007.
Just before Herenton left office, Jefferson approved the $55,000 payment to Spence to cover Herenton’s legal bills and over $400,000 in payments to Spence to cover the legal bills of former Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division chief Joseph Lee III. Lowery is now seeking to recover some of the money paid for Lee’s 2007 defense against corruption charges, which the government later dropped.
Jefferson, who oversees legal action against tax deadbeats, has been sued by the city six times since 1997 for delinquent taxes.
roshe run, lululemon outlet, celine handbags, nfl jerseys, ugg, asics shoes, insanity workout, giuseppe zanotti, hollister, nike huarache, longchamp, ugg outlet, ugg soldes, uggs outlet, canada goose outlet, mont blanc pens, babyliss pro, canada goose outlet, canada goose, p90x workout, ghd, instyler ionic styler, marc jacobs outlet, beats headphones, chi flat iron, vans outlet, jimmy choo shoes, ugg boots, birkin bag, soccer jerseys, ferragamo shoes, abercrombie and fitch, valentino shoes, mcm handbags, new balance outlet, mac cosmetics, reebok shoes, nike trainers, bottega veneta, soccer shoes, canada goose outlet, north face jackets, herve leger, wedding dresses, rolex watches, uggs on sale, north face outlet
ReplyDeletetimberland shoes, ugg, ralph lauren, supra shoes, wedding dress, parajumpers outlet, uggs canada, louboutin, converse, moncler, vans, canada goose, lancel, toms outlet, coach outlet, hollister canada, moncler, links of london uk, moncler outlet, swarovski jewelry, pandora uk, juicy couture outlet, karen millen, iphone 6 case, pandora charms, canada goose uk, hollister clothing, nike air max, ray ban, air max, gucci, montre femme, thomas sabo uk, canada goose, baseball bats, hollister, moncler, louis vuitton canada, pandora jewelry, canada goose pas cher, moncler, juicy couture outlet, moncler, replica watches, swarovski uk, oakley, moncler, converse shoes
ReplyDelete