Six veteran Shelby County Democrats in the state Legislature — two senators and four representatives — are paired against each other in the primary elections as a result of redistricting and their qualifying petitions filed by Thursday’s deadline, reports Zack McMillan in a rundown on the Shelby election situation.
Sens. Jim Kyle and Beverly Marrero are running against one another in the new Senate District 30.
Reps. John DeBerry and Jeanne Richardson are running in House District 90, along with Ian L. Randolph.
In House District 93, Reps. G.A. Hardaway and Mike Kernell are facing off.
…Pending the withdrawal deadline next Thursday, seven other Shelby County incumbent state legislators up for election this year would face either primary or general election opposition, or both.
Surprise developments included the emergence of a Democratic challenger, FedEx pilot and Navy veteran Robert Noziglia, to Rep. Curry Todd, R-Collierville, in southeastern Shelby’s House District 95, and intra-party challengers to Republican Sen. Mark Norris of Collierville and Republican Reps. Ron Lollar (Bartlett) and Steve McManus (Cordova).
Kyle and Marrero agreed that running against party colleagues is uncomfortable.
“Yet it’s happening all over the country,” said Kyle, who added that the newly drawn district consists of 70 percent of his old district. “I believe I do a very good job in the Senate and I will work my best to prove my case to the constituents.”
Marrero said she’s already been visiting parts of Raleigh and Frayser added to the district and that Memphis needs “female representation” in the Senate.
“Whatever district I’m in, there will always be poor people, there will always be young people, there’ll always be people who have been abused or neglected that need a voice in Nashville,” Marrero said.
Kernell, elected in 1974, said, “I’m going to go apply to be rehired, apply for employment in the district and show people what I’ve done and what I can do to help as many people as possible.”
Hardaway decided to enter the District 93 race as opposed to the state Senate or District 86 where his home is located. He said he’ll move into the district, which is a couple of blocks from his home, by the election.
“I’ll continue to work as I’ve done to make sure that Memphis makes its own decisions when it comes to local education matters,” Hardaway said.
In House District 90, John DeBerry couldn’t be reached for comment. Richardson, who will also have to move about two blocks into the district, said several communities in her current district were shifted into it and she was born in it and attends church in it.
“A lot of progressive Democrats live there and I am a progressive Democrat. I’ve already started knocking on doors,” Richardson said.