The race for the open District 6 seat on the Memphis-Shelby County School Board has turned into a crowded, high-stakes contest. Five Democrats are vying in the May 5 primary, and the winner will go on to face Frederick DeWayne Tappan, a longtime local pastor running as an independent, in the Aug. 6 general election. The seat opened after incumbent Keith Williams decided not to seek re-election.
Who's on the ballot
The Democratic primary field features Juliette Eskridge, T. L. (Terrance) Harris, Marinda A-Williams, Contessa Glorianna Humphrey, and Stacey Kelly. All five appear on the county's certified candidate roster for the May 5 primary. That same roster also shows Frederick Dewayne Tappan filed as an independent for the Aug. 6 general election, according to the Shelby County Election Commission.
Candidate background that has drawn attention
One name on the ballot has already generated extra scrutiny. Court records show T. L. Harris pleaded guilty in 2006 to attempting to possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine, and he was later sentenced to 51 months in federal prison. Harris says he has turned his life around and has made redemption the centerpiece of his run. “Every time I tell my story, I feel like I'm saving a young Black male or female,” he told reporters, in coverage detailed in a voter guide published by the Daily Memphian.
Who Frederick Tappan is
Frederick DeWayne Tappan serves as senior pastor of Eureka TrueVine Baptist Church and, according to the church's biography, has spent decades in ministry and youth-focused work. He is listed on official election filings as an independent candidate who will face the Democratic primary winner in August, based on the Shelby County Election Commission's candidate list and filings. For more on his background, see Eureka TrueVine Baptist Church.
Key dates and where to follow the race
Early voting for the Shelby County primary began April 15, and Election Day is Tuesday, May 5. The general election match-up between the Democratic nominee and the independent candidate is set for Aug. 6. Voters can watch candidate video interviews and find election information through the Greater Memphis Chamber, along with other local voter guides.
Why this race matters
This is the first partisan primary for Memphis school board seats, and it lands in the middle of legal fights over county election timing and a separate push in Nashville for a state-appointed board of managers that could limit local control. Those broader disputes, covered by the Memphis Flyer, mean that the outcome in this one district could ripple through citywide debates over schools, budgets, and leadership.
