By Tony Jones
MEMPHIS, TN — For 24 years now, Sidney Chism’s Community Picnic has been a priority stop for the city’s political body, especially for Democrats. Hosted by M.C. Stan Bell, this year’s edition was held June 22, 2024 in the sprawling fenced in yard behind the Chism-owned Horn Lake Road Learning Center, located at 3657 Horn Lake Road; near the Westwood community.
As it has been for a generation now, a stop at Chism’s could prove to be the right choice for candidates as the election cycle begins. The state and federal primary and county general elections will be held Aug. 1, 2024. Early voting begins July 12, 2024, and ends July 27, 2024. The last day to register was July 2, 2024, and the last day to request an absentee ballot is July 25, 2024.
Shelby County voters will be tasked to elect new General Sessions Court and school board members and will also have the choice to participate in the state and federal primaries on the ballot. Arlington, Bartlett and Germantown voters will also be facing important choices, including elections Arlington’s mayor and municipal judges in Bartlett and Germantown.
Shelby County Administrator of Elections Linda Phillips explained to local media how voters can participate in the primaries. “You’ll have to pick a ballot, either Republican or Democratic to vote for those candidates. But if you only want to vote for the general election, that’s the county races and the school boards, then you can ask for the general election ballot only.”
Now 84, Chism spent the afternoon in his usual friendly manner meeting and greeting everyone he could. Beginning in the 1970s as head of the local Teamsters union, his personal involvement led to the election of Dr. W.W. Herenton as Memphis’s first elected Black mayor and his fundraising skills sustained Democratic candidates for decades, including his own election to several positions. Still operating on a mostly full time basis, he’s earned the right not to mince words when it comes to politics, and he doesn’t.
“A lot of people call me to help them put together campaigns, and if I believe in the person I will help them,” he said. Right now, he explained, “And I’m also doing some consulting work in Coldwater, Mississippi. They’re hoping to bring industries, housing and grocery stores and I’m helping them to do that.”
The picnic began following Herenton’s crucial election. “I felt we needed something to keep the public enthused and involved. I felt we needed to do a picnic because that way we could keep it community oriented. We could feed people and keep it neighborhood oriented. We brought in horses and more animals because a lot of kids hadn’t really seen them before. After the first year I formed a non-profit and asked the corporate community to support it and it has turned out well. I don’t ever raise any more money than what we need. What we raise, we spend on the picnic.”
Politically, “I’ve always been noted for being a no-nonsense type. Don’t ask me if you don’t want to know how I really feel.”
And how does he feel about Memphis’s civic and political landscape?
Chism said, “I’ve always had the philosophy that you should not run for office if you’re not economically independent. Doesn’t mean you have to be rich. We have too many people running now because they need a job.”
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