{"county":"shelby","description":"","district":"8","districtgroup":"memphis_city_council_super","id":182,"key":"city_council_district_super_district_8_position_3","lastchangeby":null,"name":"Yolanda Cooper-Sutton","next_election":"2019-11-08","notes":"192","officegroup":"memphis_city_council","partisan":0,"party":"","qualities":"- 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.\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- Citywide constituent relations across roughly 300,000 residents \u2014 broader case-work and policy reach than a single-member district.\n- Memphis-specific issue depth: MLGW, MATA, EDGE incentives, blight, and the city's relationship with Shelby County government.","quantity":1,"source":null,"state":"TN","term_end":"2027-10-05","term_start":"2023-10-05","term_years":4,"terms":[{"current":0,"description":"","electiondate":"2019-11-19","name":"Martavius Jones","person":{"biography":"Martavius D. Jones was elected to the Memphis City Council on October 8, 2015. He grew up in Memphis and graduated from Central High School. After obtaining his high school diploma, Martavius attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance, was named to Who\u2019s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and inducted into the Golden Key National Honor Society, and where he became a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.\n\nHe began his career in financial services with Aetna Life & Casualty in Hartford, Connecticut, where he worked in the Employee Benefits Division that was responsible for the overall operations of group health, group life, and pension benefits. In 1993, he relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, with Aetna, and worked for Aetna Health Plans, recruiting physicians and other health care providers for participation in managed healthcare networks such as PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations) and HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations).\n\nIn 1994, he began his career as a financial advisor with A.G. Edwards & Sons in Nashville. In 1998, he joined the investment department of what was First American Bank and returned to Memphis in 1999 with First American, which became AmSouth Investment Services, where he remained until 2001.\n\nIn 2001, he launched Jones Wealth Management Group, a financial services firm that helps individuals, families, and small business owners achieve financial independence through retirement, investment, and financial planning. Martavius earned the designation of a Chartered Federal Employee Benefits Consultant(SM), which is a designation for financial planning professionals who have been specially trained on the complexities associated with retirement and other benefits offered to the employees of the federal government. Additionally, he has served as an NFL Players Association Registered Financial Advisor.\n\nMartavius began public service in 2003 when he was appointed to the Memphis Alcohol Commission by then-mayor, Dr. Willie W. Herenton, and served until 2014.\n\nIn 2006, Martavius was sworn in to fulfill the remaining term of the District 4 seat on the Memphis City Schools Board of Commissioners. In November of 2006, he ran unopposed to serve a full four-year term. He was selected as Chairman of the Budget committee and in 2008 selected as the Chairman of the Superintendent Search committee. In 2009, he was elected as President of the Memphis City School Board. He remained on the school board until August 2013.\n\nCouncilman Jones currently serves as Chairman of the Memphis City Council and Chair of the Executive Session. His previous community service has included board service of the Methodist Hospital Extended Care Hospital Board, Playhouse on the Square, Memphis Rock \u2018n\u2019 Soul Museum, Airport Authority, Shelby County Schools, and the Memphis Police Foundation. He currently serves as the City Council liaison for the Pension Investment Committee and Memphis in May.\n\nOutside of his professional duties and accomplishments, Councilman Jones is a father to one son, Jarred.","firstname":"Martavius","lastname":"Jones","middlename":"D","token":"nAJr0b4yIM"},"term_end":"2023-12-31","term_start":"2020-01-01"},{"current":1,"description":null,"electiondate":"2023-10-05","name":"Yolanda Cooper-Sutton","person":{"biography":"[https://www.cooper-sutton.com/](https://www.cooper-sutton.com/)\n\nWhitehaven community leader Yolanda Cooper-Sutton is passionate about a variety of political issues including Juvenile Crime, Building within the Community. Yolanda has proven herself to be a hard worker and an effective leader for her community.\n\nMemphis Resident for 26 years\n\nMarried for 27 years\n\n* Riley Business College in Dothan, Alabama\n* Certified as a Health Care Advocate\n* Employed in Community Health Care\n* 18 Years Notary Public Memphis, Tennessee\n* Community Activist and Volunteer for Union Mission Homeless Shelter and After School Program for Tillman Community Center\n* Active Member of Church of God in Christ \u2013 Messiah Fellowship\n* Member of the following organizations: Junior League and Friends of the Memphis Public Library\n* Hobbies are tennis, golf, reading and spending time with my family\n","firstname":"Yolanda","lastname":"Cooper-Sutton","token":"d5uGgEIwdc"},"term_end":"2027-10-05","term_start":"2023-10-05"}],"title":"Memphis City Council Super District 8 Position 3","type":"legislative","url":null,"whenchanged":"2026-05-17 19:58:08"}