Ballot Project

← Back to Shelby County, Tennessee: Election on 2023-10-05

Contest for Memphis City Council District 5

Memphis City Council 5
general - Non-partisan - Memphis City Council District 5

About this office

Term length: 4 years.

This role calls for

  • Policy judgment on Memphis-specific matters — budget, ordinances, MPD oversight, land-use, code enforcement, infrastructure — within the Memphis Charter and Tennessee municipal law.
  • Budget literacy: the 13-member Council approves the annual city budget and sets the city property-tax rate.
  • Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on ordinances and resolutions; committee work that precedes full-council action.
  • Constituent relations in a single-member district of roughly 90,000 residents — case-work, neighborhood issues, council-district services.
  • Memphis-specific issue depth: MLGW, MATA, EDGE incentives, blight, and the city's relationship with Shelby County government.

Derived from the office's statutory duties and operational reality. Candidate summaries below map each candidate's documented experience to these requirements.

Campaigns

Meggan Wurzburg Kiel

Meggan Wurzburg Kiel

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Meggan Wurzburg Kiel is a candidate for the elected position of Memphis City Council District 5. She is a native Memphian and has deep roots in the community. Meggan has a strong educational background, having graduated from Duke University and received her Masters of Education from the University of Massachusetts. She has worked in education, including teaching elementary school and serving as a post-secondary guidance counselor. Meggan is actively involved in various community organizations and is committed to the future of Memphis.
Philip Spinosa

Philip Spinosa

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Based on the information provided, Philip Spinosa is an experienced leader who served on the Memphis City Council from 2015 to 2017, focusing on public safety and economic development. He has a 15+ year career at FedEx, rising to an Executive Leadership position in Sales. He was recruited by the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce and served as Senior Vice President of the Chairman's Circle, where he increased membership and worked on strategic initiatives. He currently runs his own logistics and freight brokerage firm and is involved in various community organizations. Overall, the profile provides substantive information about Spinosa's education, work history, and community involvement, demonstrating his suitability for the elected position.
Luke Hatler

Luke Hatler

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Based on the limited information provided, Luke Hatler is a progressive candidate running for Memphis City Council District 5. The only educational background mentioned is that he attended White Station High School. No information is provided regarding his work history or previous offices held. Without more substantive information, it is difficult to evaluate his suitability for the job as mayor of a large city.