University of Memphis Hosting ‘Local Elections Matter’ Discussion Featuring Expert Panel
September 12, 2023 — To prepare voters for the upcoming October 5 City of Memphis Municipal Election, University Libraries and the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis will present a moderated panel discussion, “Local Elections Matter,” on Sept. 19 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Ned R. McWherter Library.
The panel will include:
- Ebony Dawkins-Meeks, JD, Associate Professor of Teaching in Political Science, College of Arts and Sciences
- Daphene McFerren, JD, Executive Director, Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change
- Otis Sanford, BA, Professor Emeritus of Journalism and Strategic Media, College of Communication and Fine Arts
In recent Memphis municipal elections, only a fraction of registered voters cast a ballot. Those who voted determined who held positions for Mayor and City Council representatives. The people who hold those positions shape the community and influence issues such as crime, public schools and resource allocations (roads, land use, housing, public transportation, waste disposal and more).
On October 5, a new Memphis Mayor will be elected, and all 13 City Council positions are on the ballot. All positions serve a four-year term.
The panel will take questions from the moderator and the audience. Carl Hess, undergraduate success librarian and assistant professor at the University Libraries, will moderate.
This free event is open to all and will be held in the Second Floor Commons of the McWherter Library at the University of Memphis. On-site parking is available.