Writtern By JR Robinson

Editor’s Note: JustMyMemphis does not endorse political candidates. We endorse potential, vision, and the specific strengths that leaders bring to the table. Our goal is to ensure voters understand the unique value proposition of every voice in the race.

Shelby County doesn't need a politician who knows how to shake hands; it needs a leader who knows how to read a balance sheet.

For decades, we have elected leaders based on charisma, family names, and political alliances. The result? A county that often feels like it is running on autopilot while our peer cities in the South—Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte—zoom past us in innovation and growth. To change our trajectory, we don't need a traditional campaign. We need a structural audit.

Enter Dr. Marie Feagins.

Reframing the Narrative Let’s address the elephant in the room immediately: The Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) controversy. The headlines called it turmoil. We call it "The Audit."

When you bring a Turnaround Specialist into a system that has operated the same way for years, friction is inevitable. Dr. Feagins was not removed because she was incompetent; the argument can be made that she was removed because she asked the one question that makes the establishment nervous: "Where is the money actually going?"

She disrupted the status quo. She demanded metrics over vibes. If that is what she did in a school district, imagine what happens when she brings that same magnifying glass to the Shelby County budget. We don't need a mayor who wants to make friends; we need a mayor willing to find the funds to fix our problems.

The Vision: The Capital of the New South Dr. Feagins’ potential leadership offers a pivot from "managing decline" to "architecting growth." Her background in education and administration suggests a governance style built on data, not favors.

Imagine a Shelby County that operates as the Innovation Capital of the South:

• Health as Infrastructure: Instead of a Health Department that only reacts to crises, we build a proactive wellness network that lowers costs and keeps our workforce ready.

• Youth as R&D: We stop viewing our young people merely as "crime statistics" or "at-risk" liabilities. Under a Feagins administration, our youth are our Research & Development department—future entrepreneurs to be invested in, trained, and unleashed on the economy.

• Governance by Metrics: Every department, from MATA to Public Works, is judged not by effort, but by outcomes.

The Mandate There are many candidates in this race who can give a stirring speech. There are candidates who can work a room. But Dr. Feagins represents something different: the willingness to break the machine to build a better engine.

Shelby County is at a crossroads. We can choose the comfort of the familiar, or we can choose the potential of the disruptor.

Dr. Feagins has the blueprint. Now, she just needs the mandate.