Six Democrats vying to replace term-limited Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris are set to share the stage Monday evening at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, giving voters an early look at a crowded and competitive field. Doors open for a half-hour meet-and-greet at 6 p.m., with the debate kicking off at 6:30 p.m.
What’s Happening Tonight
As reported by WREG, the candidates scheduled to appear are JB Smiley, Heidi Kuhn, Melvin Burgess, Mickell Lowery, Harold Collins, and Marie Feagins. The forum is strictly for Democratic hopefuls, so Republican contenders will sit this one out.
Who’s On Stage And Why It Matters
The lineup reads like a who’s who of county and city government. JB Smiley Jr. serves on the Memphis City Council, Heidi Kuhn is Shelby County’s criminal court clerk, Mickell Lowery is a county commissioner, Harold Collins is the county chief administrative officer, Marie Feagins is a former schools superintendent, and Melvin Burgess is the property tax assessor. That level of experience looms large with incumbent Mayor Lee Harris term-limited and the office up for grabs this year, as noted on Wikipedia.
Issues Likely To Dominate
Crime, schools, and the county budget are expected to drive much of the conversation. Those topics have powered local debates for months, from sheriff funding decisions to big-ticket capital projects, as ActionNews5 has reported. Public safety and criminal justice worries have been a steady drumbeat in recent coverage and interviews with local leaders, with WKNO and other outlets tracking those trends as candidates lay out their pitches.
How To Follow And What Comes Next
Monday’s debate is one of several early forums on a fast-moving local calendar that leads straight into the primary season. The Democratic primary is expected on May 6, 2026, with early voting opening in mid-April, according to Tri-State Defender. Voters who tune in tonight will get an early sense of who might emerge from a crowded field to run the county.
