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

Contest for Memphis City Council Super District 9 Position 1

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general - Non-partisan - Memphis City Council District Super District 9 Position 1

About this office

Term length: 4 years.

This role calls for

  • Policy judgment on Memphis-specific matters with a citywide rather than neighborhood lens, since super-district seats are elected at-large within a geographic super-district covering roughly half the city.
  • 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.
  • Citywide constituent relations across roughly 300,000 residents — broader case-work and policy reach than a single-member district.
  • 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

Chase Carlisle

Chase Carlisle
👍 👎 🤡 😡 🤷
Chase Carlisle, currently serving on the Memphis City Council for Super District 9, Position 1, has a background in real estate and development, having previously worked as Director of Real Estate and Development for Carlisle Corporation and as Executive Vice President of Avison Young. He is currently a senior advisor at Carlisle Corporation, focusing on consulting, asset management, and development. Carlisle also has experience in budgeting and economic development, serving as Chair of the Budget Committee and Vice Chair of the Economic Development, Tourism, & Technology Committee, and has served on the boards of several Memphis cultural institutions.
Benji Smith

Benji Smith
👍 👎 🤡 😡 🤷
Benji Smith, a candidate for Memphis City Council Super District 9 Position 1, has been the Director of National Sales at DanceFloor USA since 2003. He emphasizes creativity, enterprise, and empathy in his vision for Memphis, with a focus on initiatives that stimulate economic growth and provide opportunities for all citizens. Smith also highlights his commitment to understanding and addressing the diverse perspectives and needs of the community.