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Saturday, September 12, 2009

Be Careful What You Ask For

Elbert Jefferson wants another chance to play on the same emotions that kept him from being ousted back in August. I said then it was just a matter of time. Looks like that time is just a little closer. http://indepcons.blogspot.com/2009/08/he-has-nothing-to-lose.html He already knows the six white council members are ready for his departure without further discussion. They are not so easily intimidated with his legal terminology and legal maneuvering. Many of them are lawyers themselves.

I suspect he is just trying to hold together those supporters he already has. Even with Myron Lowery gone you can't count the black votes before they are cast. Either Harold Collins and or Janis Fullilove are blacks who usually end up breaking ranks. Based on the latest twist concerning the case. I have a sneaking suspicion of how this whole thing is going to be wrapped up in a neat little package so fast the blacks won't know what happened. Be careful what you ask for.

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:34 PM

    Memphis City Council votes to keep Elbert Jefferson as city attorney
    By Daniel Connolly (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
    Tuesday, September 15, 2009

    The City Council voted this afternoon to keep city attorney Elbert Jefferson after he promised to seek recovery of some of the money that he ordered spent on defending longtime Mayor Willie Herenton from a possible criminal indictment.


    City Council member Bill Morrison, who had sought to fire Jefferson, withdrew his motion after hearing that Jefferson would try to recover $7,362.

    Jefferson was under fire for approving a $55,000 payment to private attorney Robert Spence.

    Documents suggest the payment was to prepare a defense for Herenton against a potential federal indictment, though Jefferson has disputed that.

    The federal government and Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons are looking into the payment, and Councilman Bill Morrison had asked that Jefferson be fired.

    Council members agreed at a committee meeting this morning to consider the case at the regular council meeting this afternoon, and they voted to keep him.

    Voting to fire Jefferson were William C. Boyd, Shea Flinn, Reid Hedgepeth and Jim Strickland.

    Voting not to fire him were Joe W. Brown, Kemp Conrad, Edmund H. Ford Jr., Janis Fullilove, Wanda Halbert, Bill Morrison and Ware.

    Harold Collins was recused.

    Jefferson left the committee meeting this morning without taking questions from reporters.

    Last week, he asked for a one-hour opportunity to make his case to the city council as a whole, but council chairman Harold Collins refused.

    Earlier today, Jefferson appeared to be making his case directly to city council members in one-on-one meetings. Councilman Shea Flinn said he had spoken with Jefferson about the issue this morning, and Jefferson was seen talking with Morrison.

    At a committee meeting this morning, staffers handed out a new statement from Lowery.

    “I have previously indicated my desire to terminate the services of Elbert Jefferson,” Lowery wrote. “Recent developments simply underscore my previous request. I also wish to reiterate that I am not asking that (assistant city attorney Veronica Coleman-Davis) be confirmed as City Attorney, but that the Council simply accepts my recommendation to terminate Elbert Jefferson.”

    Herenton’s resignation earlier this year cleared the way for Lowery, the city council chairman, to become temporary mayor.

    On his first day as mayor on July 31, Lowery asked Jefferson to resign and announced his intention to install Coleman-Davis.

    Jefferson refused to quit, and Lowery had guards escort him from City Hall. Jefferson successfully held off the firing through a court action.

    The conflict between Lowery and Jefferson reflects the fact that Jefferson is closely linked to Herenton, the controversial longtime mayor from whom Lowery wants to distance himself.

    Lowery is a candidate in the Oct. 15 special election to replace Herenton.

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  2. I think a deal was cut and if something doesn't materialize soon we'll know Jefferson has something on Morrison and Conrad.

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