{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Edmund H. Ford Sr","chatgptsummary":"Edmund H. Ford Sr. is a member of the Memphis City Council representing District 6. He has previously served in this position from 1999 to 2007 and was re-elected in 2019. Ford has a B.S. degree in Government and Public Affairs from Tennessee State University and a Mortuary Science degree from John Gupton College. He is the founder of E.H. Ford Mortuary and has been a licensed embalmer and funeral director since 1979. Ford is involved in various committees and organizations, including the Economic Development Growth Engine and Minority Business Development Oversight Commission. He is married with four children and is an active member of Ford Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church.","notes":"https://ballotpedia.org/Edmund_Ford_Sr.","party":"","person":{"biography":"[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_family_(Memphis)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_family_(Memphis))\n\n\nFollowing a decade of service and commitment to the citizens of District 6 and the entire City of Memphis from October 1999 until 2007, Councilman Edmund H. Ford, Sr. was re-elected to the City Council in October 2019. Ford is grateful that his constituents saw fit to return him to office to continue his service to the people of this community. Born the 15th child of N.J. and Vera Ford, Mr. Ford was raised in the West Junction section of Memphis and graduated from Mitchell Road High School. Mr. Ford received his B.S. degree in Government and Public Affairs from The Tennessee State University and a Mortuary Science degree from John Gupton College in Nashville, Tennessee. Councilman Ford has been a licensed embalmer and funeral director since 1979 and founded the thriving E.H. Ford Mortuary in 1995. Mr. Ford previously worked as a freelance contractor and embalmer all over the Tri-State area.\n\nCouncilman Ford is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and a proud alumnus of Tennessee State University.\n\nCouncilman Ford is the Council liaison of the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) and Minority Business Development Oversight Commission (MBDOC). He serves as Chairman of the Economic Development, Tourism & Technology and Vice-Chair of the Transportation Committee.\n\nMr. Ford is married to Myrna O. Ford and has four children: Former City Councilman and current County Commissioner Edmund Ford, Jr., Christopher, James, and William.\n\nCouncilman Ford and his family are active members of Ford Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church.","firstname":"Edmund","lastname":"Ford","middlename":null,"suffix":"Sr","token":"asdf6"},"token":"edmund_h_ford_sr"},{"candidatename":"Larry Hunter","chatgptsummary":"Unfortunately, the provided link does not contain any information about Larry Hunter's education, work history, or previous offices held. Therefore, it is not possible to evaluate his suitability for the elected position of Memphis City Council District 6 based on the information provided.","notes":"https://www.touchedbyanangelman.com/","party":"","person":{"biography":"Director of \"Touched by an Angel\" - project which gives bikes and toys to underprivileged children at Christmas every year.\n\nLinks:\n\nProject: [Touched by an Angel Man](https://www.touchedbyanangelman.com/)\n\nYouTube: [YouTube](https://youtu.be/FiJa5W1BhAc)\n\n\n\n\n","firstname":"Larry","lastname":"Hunter","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"ddtTK7AWvi"},"token":"larry_hunter"},{"candidatename":"Keith D Austin II","chatgptsummary":"Based on the limited information provided, Keith D Austin II has studied at LeMoyne-Owen College and Remington College Memphis Campus. However, there is no further information available regarding his work history or previous offices held. Without additional information, it is difficult to evaluate his suitability for the elected position of Memphis City Council District 6.","notes":"https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093950211973","party":"","person":{"biography":"## Background and education\n\nAustin grew up in the Walker Homes area of Memphis and attended LeMoyne-Owen College [4]. He also studied at Remington College's Memphis campus, according to his LinkedIn profile [3] (LinkedIn requires login; reflects the public profile as of 2023).\n\n## Career\n\nAustin worked as an employee at Blues City Brewery in Memphis [2].\n\n## Office history\n\nAustin was a candidate for Memphis City Council District 6 in the October 5, 2023 general election, challenging incumbent Edmund Ford Sr. [2]. Campaign coverage described Austin as active in neighborhood cleanup efforts in his community and framed him as an outsider \"challenging a local political dynasty\" [1]. Austin identified crime as the top issue facing Memphis and called for expanded community-center programming and after-school activities to give young people alternatives to gang involvement; he also expressed interest in economic development along Third Street, without providing specifics [2]. Ford Sr. won re-election in the three-way race, according to unofficial returns reported by the Daily Memphian, defeating Austin and fellow challenger Larry Hunter [5].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Keith Austin: I couldn't see the change, so I decided to be the change - JustMyMemphis](https://justmymemphis.com/view-post/2017) (published September 10, 2023)\n- [2] [Two challengers look to unseat incumbent in District 6 race - Daily Memphian](https://dailymemphian.com/article/38410/edmund-ford-sr-keith-austin-larry-hunter-district-6) (published September 11, 2023)\n- [3] [Keith Austin II - City Council Candidate - Memphis, TN - LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithforcityc) (LinkedIn requires login; not independently re-verified this session)\n- [4] [Memphis Election Guide: Meet the candidates for mayor and city council - WREG](https://wreg.com/news/your-local-election-headquarters/memphis-mayoral-debate-2023/memphis-mayor-candidates-who-are-they/) (published September 27, 2023)\n- [5] [2023 Memphis mayor and city council election results live blog - Daily Memphian](https://dailymemphian.com/article/38898/2023-memphis-mayor-city-council-election-results-blog) (accessed 2026-07-06)","firstname":"Keith","lastname":"Austin","middlename":"D.","suffix":null,"token":"AAgc02pJEY"},"token":"keith_d_austin_ii"}],"choices":null,"description":"","district":"6","districtgroup":"memphis_city_council","districtgroupname":"Memphis City Council","districtname":"District 6","job_type":"city_council","o.office":"city_council_district_6","office":"city_council_district_6","officedescription":"A city council member (alderman in some towns) serves on the municipality's legislative body, approving the city budget, setting the tax rate, and passing ordinances and resolutions. Members represent a district or the city at large.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment on Memphis-specific matters \u2014 budget, ordinances, MPD oversight, land-use, code enforcement, infrastructure \u2014 within the Memphis Charter and Tennessee municipal law.\n- Budget literacy: the 13-member Council approves the annual city budget and sets the city property-tax rate.\n- Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on ordinances and resolutions; committee work that precedes full-council action.\n- Constituent relations in a single-member district of roughly 90,000 residents \u2014 case-work, neighborhood issues, council-district services.\n- Memphis-specific issue depth: MLGW, MATA, EDGE incentives, blight, and the city's relationship with Shelby County government.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Memphis City Council District 6","partisan":0,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"Memphis City Council District 6"}