WAR! Memphis Democrats Turn on Each Other

SPEAKER_1 (0:01)

From the Principal Toyota Studios, it's Morning in Memphis with Todd Starnes.

Todd Starnes (0:07)

And good morning, everybody. Welcome to you, all of you folks that are right now sitting in a kiddie pool or sitting in your freezer, good morning to you. It is gonna be hotter than Blue Blazes. I'm gonna tell you, the people that love this time of year more than anybody else are the Baptist preachers. This is when they hold revival outside and say, if you think it's hot here, you better get your heart right with the Lord, because it's gonna be hotter and you know where. I'm not sure if it's that much hotter, to be honest with you. Laura Huckabee, our Chief Meteorologist, on the way in just a little while. Again, you heard the news, 101 degrees today. So if you're heading out to high school football games, if you're heading out to the Memphis Tigers or Cooper Young this weekend, you gotta be careful and be sure to take this seriously. Hydrate, ladies and gentlemen.

All right, we have got a jam-packed show for you today. A lot of ground to cover. Democrats in Memphis are at war with each other. We'll talk a little bit later about Henry Reeves, the attorney attacking Mayor Paul Young. It is a free for all. We're gonna be taking your calls as well. 901-260-5926. That's 901-260-5926.

KWAM has been the place for politics in the Mid-South. And we're gonna have a lot of candidates walking through the doors today, including our very first guest. Right now, he is the mayor of Lakeland, Tennessee, Mayor Josh Roman. Mr. Mayor, good to have you with us today.

Josh Roman (1:42)

Good morning, Todd. It's great to be here.

Todd Starnes (1:44)

Well, look, we're gonna jump right into it because you're running for re-election. And you've got some opponents, and we're gonna talk about that, or an opponent. We're gonna talk about that in just a moment.

But I'm just wondering, Mr. Mayor, what is the biggest issue that you see right now in Lakeland?

Josh Roman (2:03)

The biggest issue is keeping the momentum.

We talk a lot about getting it done. In Lakeland, we're doing exactly that. You're seeing true local politicians getting it done, meaning that we're backing our school system, we're backing the blue, and we're keeping taxes low. So we need to keep that momentum going, Todd.

Todd Starnes (2:23)

You are, I mean, pretty much, you're almost a lifer there in Lakeland. You've been there, what, 20, 25 years?

Josh Roman (2:29)

25 years. It was the first home my wife and I ever purchased. We're actually on our third home, and we just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. So growing up military, it's the closest thing to a home I've ever known.

Todd Starnes (2:39)

Why Lakeland? What is it about Lakeland that sets it apart from all the other suburban cities?

Josh Roman (2:45)

Well, Lakeland, not only is it just a beautiful place, it's the people. I mean, we have a great community. Everybody says that, but Lakeland is exactly what you make it. You can be in a rural area in the northern part of Lakeland, or you can be closer to a suburban area.

Lakeland is exactly what you make it, and I've seen it in action.

Todd Starnes (3:05)

There has been concern about money and expenditures. You guys are putting in a lot of infrastructure, doing a lot of things. What is the money situation there in Lakeland?

Josh Roman (3:13)

It's great.

Our general fund hasn't ever been larger. We have the lowest tax rate in Shelby County. We're getting a lot done on a very little amount. We're using some very fun opportunities that the Shelby County Commission has given us through tax increment financing to work with not only developers, but we're having fun in Lakeland, and we're keeping that bank full.

Todd Starnes (3:38)

I'm curious about crime. That has been, of course, a major concern and focus, not just in Memphis, but Shelby County at large.

What's the situation like there in Lakeland, and how are you guys dealing with the... Are you seeing any spillover crime coming up from Memphis?

Josh Roman (3:56)

I'm glad you asked that, and this is actually one of the major reasons why I'm running for re-election. My opponent voted multiple times to not fund what we're trying to do in Lakeland to help lower crime. We got rid of two motels that were blighted. They took a lot of resources from Shelby County Sheriff's Office. There were drug hotspots. We did something crazy in Lakeland. We actually funded almost six million dollars to tear down those two motels.