District 13 candidates focus on development, crime

Republican Brandon Morrison, 53, and Democrat George Monger, 29, are running for the District 13 commissioner seat in the Aug. 2 election. Current commissioner, Steve Basar was beaten in the May primary.

Morrison, is the current president of MBA Corp., a family office, and she volunteers with eight organizations in the area. The midtown resident never considered running for office until last fall.

“I had heard our preacher, Sandy Wilson, encourage members — from the pulpit — to do what we each can towards (helping the community prosper),” she said. “I humbly think that I have the time and energy to make a difference.”

Monger wanted to run for city council when he graduated from high school in 2007. Although he placed third, he wanted to show younger people could make a difference. He continued to stay involved in other political campaigns.

With a background in music technology, he said he could live on either coast.

“But I choose 901,” he said adding he hopes that young people in the area grow up proud of a Memphis heritage.

Both candidates said they knew crime was an issue in the district.

“I support the city administration’s efforts to strengthen the Memphis Police Department by adding more officers,” Morrison said in an email. “Thus, I believe the Shelby County Commission should make sure that the Shelby County Sheriff ’s Office is properly funded and fully staffed and that includes the county’s jail. I am told there are many cases when sheriff deputies work in support of the MPD.”

She said that many of the issues in the community stem from the growing crime rate.

Morrison also said that she would like to see various programs for youth to help provide “productive opportunities” in the area.

Monger said crime is an issue intertwined in education and economic development.

He wants to see less violent crime and gang-related crime, but even smaller crimes go back to jobs.

“If you had a job, a vocational job ... you’d probably be at work making money,” he said adding that if people have jobs, they do not have the time to commit large crimes and felonies. Systemic poverty is another issue for Morrison. According to Morrison, 40,000 children in Shelby County Schools live in a household of four that earns less than $10,000 each year.

“It’s an understatement to say that’s a major problem for our community,” she said in an email. “I don’t have all of the solutions, but I will try to better understand the reasons behind these unsettling statistics, and the policies our elected leaders can create to help solve these systemic problems. “

Both candidates would also like to see the county take steps toward economic growth and development.

Morrisson said taxes have hurt the community and would like to see more private partnerships.

“It’s critical that the commissioners keep an eye on government efficiency and insist that all divisions of county government operate on tight budgets to eliminate wasteful spending,” she said adding that the government needs to take a different approach to maintaining vacant buildings.

Monger wants to see people pursue the vacant jobs in society.

“We’ve got some real issues in our city and our suburbs and as a county,” he said.

Monger wants to see quality education opportunities for students. As a graduate of Memphis City Schools, he said it is “not realistic” that every Memphian goes to college.

“Memphis is a logistics town.” he said. “We have got to focus as a community on vocational schools.”

He agrees with the recent push to put Career Technical Education in school curriculum.

“There’s a very clear relationship with unemployment being very low, education attainment rate high and crime rates low,” he said.