Fresh off securing the Democratic nomination for Tennessee governor, Memphis City Councilwoman and interim Shelby County Chief Public Defender Jerri Green says her campaign will focus on affordability, public education, and other issues she heard about while traveling across the state.
Green joined host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries on this week's WKNO/Channel 10 "Behind the Headlines" to discuss her campaign against Republican nominee Marsha Blackburn, and her priorities if elected Tennessee governor.
Green reported that voters from both urban and rural Tennessee expressed many of the same concerns during her campaign.
"They are worried about affordability. Gas is up, groceries are up," Green said. "They're worried about the future especially for their children so they want good investment in their public schools they want affordable housing and living wages."
When asked how she could govern if Republicans control the General Assembly, Green stated she would seek common ground and use the powers of the governor's office to address disagreements.
"We will be able to work together on a lot of issues," Green said. "Where we can't, we won't. And I'll stand up and fight for what I believe in."
The discussion also focused on the Memphis Safe Task Force. Green expressed her support for collaboration among law enforcement agencies but opposed deploying National Guard troops on Memphis' streets. She contended that the city was already experiencing a decline in crime, attributing this progress to investments in policing, mental health services, youth employment programs, and efforts to address blight.
Green also pushed back on increased state oversight of Memphis and Shelby County, saying the area needs additional resources instead. She specifically mentioned Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), where Green said she would eliminate the state-appointed takeover board if it remains in place.
"The voters get to pick who's on that school board, not the governor," Green said. She added that the district still needs greater accountability and better auditing, but emphasized that voters should ultimately be able to hold elected school board members accountable.
On immigration, Green said she supports border enforcement but believes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished. She thinks immigration enforcement should be handled by other existing federal agencies and through legal processes.
Green also called for a pause on the establishment of new data centers in Tennessee while the state assesses their impact on communities and natural resources.
"I would put a moratorium on the data centers until we can get a handle on this," Green said, arguing that the state needs to consider their impact on air and water, as well as the jobs they create.
Despite the Republican dominance in Tennessee and Blackburn's financial edge, Green stated that her campaign is dedicated to boosting turnout in Shelby County while also reaching suburban and rural voters throughout the state.
"This is going to be hard," Green said. "But what I tell my kids every day is hard is not impossible."
