{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\n- Democratic candidate for **Shelby County Trustee** in the May 5, 2026 primary. ([Shelby County Election Commission Final Candidate List](https://electionsshelbytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Final-Candidate-List-May-5-2026-Election.pdf), [Memphis Public Libraries 2026 voter guide](https://www.memphislibrary.org/informed-voter/meet-the-candidates-2025-05-05/))\n- Also filed for the 2026 Democratic primary for **U.S. House TN-9** (challenging incumbent Steve Cohen). ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/M._LaTroy_Williams))\n- Campaign site: [mlatroya-williams.com](https://mlatroya-williams.com/). Candidate profile: [justmymemphis.com/mlatroyawilliams](https://justmymemphis.com/mlatroyawilliams).\n\nFilings and press have used \"Marion Latroy A-Williams,\" \"M. LaTroy Williams,\" \"M. LaTroy Alexandria-Williams,\" and \"Marion Latroy Alexandria-Williams Jr.\" \u2014 all refer to the same person. ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Marion_Latroy_Alexandria-Williams_Jr.))\n\n## Office history\n\nLong record of campaigns (all unsuccessful):\n\n- **2008**: Independent for Shelby County Trustee. ([Memphis Flyer](https://www.memphisflyer.com/the-mystery-man-of-the-trustees-race))\n- **2015**: Memphis Mayor. ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/M._LaTroy_Williams))\n- **2016, 2018, 2024, 2026**: Democratic primary, U.S. House TN-9 (challenging Steve Cohen). ([Memphis Flyer](https://www.memphisflyer.com/candidate-m-latroy-williams-case-came-alive-again-briefly/))\n- **2020**: Democratic primary, Tennessee State Senate District 30 \u2014 lost to Sara Kyle.\n- **2022**: Democratic primary, Tennessee State Senate District 33 \u2014 lost to London Lamar. ([Memphis Flyer](https://www.memphisflyer.com/election-2022-kind-of-blue/))\n- **2023**: General election for Memphis City Council Super District 8, Position 2 \u2014 lost to Janika White.\n\n## Career\n\n- Self-described businessman, newspaper publisher, and community advocate.\n- Library of Congress records list \"M. Latroy A. Williams\" as editor of the **Mid-South Express**, a Memphis weekly newspaper, circa 1981. ([Library of Congress catalog](https://www.loc.gov/item/sn98069864/))\n- Describes himself on LinkedIn as *\"Businessman / Author & Newspaper/Magazine Publishers at International Communication & Associate's.\"* ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-latroy-alexandria-williams-98b264166/))\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\n- \"Trickle-up\" economic theory. Proposes Mud Island as an international trade hub (claiming ~80,000 jobs) and President Island as a green-jobs hub. Education reform; criminal-justice reform; property-tax relief for seniors and veterans. ([campaign site](https://mlatroya-williams.com/the-promise/))\n- **2008**: Campaign fliers carried fake endorsements and a misspelled version of former official Minerva Johnican's name; a now-defunct company of his, First Supreme Trust Company Inc., owed ~$67,000 in back taxes to the Trustee's office he was seeking to lead. ([Memphis Flyer](https://www.memphisflyer.com/the-mystery-man-of-the-trustees-race))\n- **2010**: The Shelby County Democratic Party sought a legal injunction against him over sample-ballot activities. ([Memphis Flyer](https://www.memphisflyer.com/wtf-latroy-you-got-some-more-splainin-to-do/))\n- **2014**: Signage suggested President Obama had endorsed congressional candidate Ricky Wilkins; Rep. Steve Cohen called it deceptive. Also the subject of **FEC Matter Under Review 6861**. ([FEC MUR 6861 (PDF)](https://www.fec.gov/files/legal/murs/6861/18044437027.pdf))\n- **2018**: The TN Democratic Party declared him ineligible for the TN-9 primary; Chancellor Walter Evans ruled in his favor twice; suit *Williams v. Goins et al.* was eventually withdrawn. ([Memphis Flyer](https://www.memphisflyer.com/candidate-m-latroy-williams-case-came-alive-again-briefly/))\n- **2019**: Commercial Appeal reported on bogus-ballot and election-deception allegations. ([Commercial Appeal](https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2019/11/15/memphis-bogus-ballot-and-election-deception-case/4168788002/))\n- Operates an entity he calls \"The National Democratic Party U.S.A.\" \u2014 not affiliated with the DNC, the Tennessee Democratic Party, or the Shelby County Democratic Party.\n\n## Family\n\nShelby County's 2026 candidate filings list **Marinda A-Williams** (Democratic primary for County School Board District 6) at the same filing address, 3693 Hermitage Drive. She appears on Ballotpedia under \"Marinda Alexandria-Williams.\" Relationship not stated in public coverage \u2014 inferred from shared address and hyphenated surname.\n\n*Merged on 2026-04-18 from two duplicate person records (HRXole8Q95 and 15nTBbipZX). Several biographical claims on the candidate's own site (civil-rights march at age 15, Carter-era committee appearance, Mud Island job projection) are self-reported and not independently corroborated. Memphis Flyer characterized him in past reporting as \"but a perennial candidate.\"*\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nNo statement of interest filing found as of 2026-04-25. Search the [Tennessee Ethics Commission Statement of Interest Search](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/search.htm).\n","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_trustee","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"County Trustee"},{"contest":"us_representative_district_9","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"tn","title":"US Representative, District 9"},{"contest":"memphis_city_council_super_district_8_position_2","county":"Shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 05 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"Memphis City Council Super District 8 Position 2"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Marion","fullname":"Marion LaTroy Williams","lastname":"Williams","middlename":"LaTroy","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_trustee","contest_title":"County Trustee","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-05-05","office_county":"shelby","office_key":"county_trustee","office_title":"County Trustee","party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":"shelby","cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"D","primary":{"contest":"county_trustee","contest_title":"County Trustee","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-05-05","office_county":"shelby","office_key":"county_trustee","office_title":"County Trustee","party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_trustee","office_title":"County Trustee","state":"TN","terms":[]},{"campaigns":[{"contest":"us_representative_district_9","contest_title":"US Representative, District 9","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2024-08-01","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_representative_district_9","office_title":"US Representative, District 9","party":"Democratic","pgr":"primary","state":"tn"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"Democratic","primary":{"contest":"us_representative_district_9","contest_title":"US Representative, District 9","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2024-08-01","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_representative_district_9","office_title":"US Representative, District 9","party":"Democratic","pgr":"primary","state":"tn"},"term":null,"year":2024}],"office_key":"us_representative_district_9","office_title":"US Representative, District 9","state":"TN","terms":[]},{"campaigns":[{"contest":"memphis_city_council_super_district_8_position_2","contest_title":"Memphis City Council Super District 8 Position 2","county":"Shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2023-10-05","office_county":"shelby","office_key":"city_council_district_super_district_8_position_2","office_title":"Memphis City Council Super District 8 Position 2","party":"","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":"shelby","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"memphis_city_council_super_district_8_position_2","contest_title":"Memphis City Council Super District 8 Position 2","county":"Shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2023-10-05","office_county":"shelby","office_key":"city_council_district_super_district_8_position_2","office_title":"Memphis City Council Super District 8 Position 2","party":"","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2023}],"office_key":"city_council_district_super_district_8_position_2","office_title":"Memphis City Council Super District 8 Position 2","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Marion LaTroy Williams is a public figure who is currently running for the position of Memphis City Council Super District 8 Position 2 in Shelby County, Tennessee. There is limited information available about his education and work history, as well as his community involvement. However, there are some negative reports and legal cases associated with his name, including allegations of election deception. It is difficult to objectively evaluate his capabilities based on the available information.","terms":[],"token":"15nTBbipZX"}