In a compelling new episode of Lean In, Commissioner Henri E. Brooks sits down with Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris for a candid discussion on the state of local governance. From the urgent need for a functional Ethics Commission to the legal battle against the National Guard’s presence in Memphis, the conversation highlights a shared commitment to accountability and the protection of civil liberties.

Restoring the Ethics Commission

For years, Shelby County has lacked a functioning Ethics Commission—a body intended to review complaints against unethical practices in government. Mayor Harris explains that while an Ethics Officer is in place, the legislative branch has failed to approve new commissioners.

The necessity of this body was brought into sharp focus following the events of a November 17th commission meeting. Both Brooks and Harris addressed the “total loss of civility” caused by Commissioner Edmund Ford, whom the Mayor described as the “epitome of a bully.”

“There is so much fear on that County Commission right now of confronting the bully and speaking up when he misbehaves,” Mayor Harris noted. He emphasized that the Ethics Commission is vital not just for rules, but to “model decency” for the public. Brooks reaffirmed her commitment to supporting the Mayor’s upcoming nominees to ensure that misconduct no longer stalls the public’s business.

The Fight Against an “Occupied City”

The discussion pivoted to the Mayor’s recent judicial win regarding the deployment of the National Guard in Memphis. Mayor Harris argues that a militarized presence on city streets—complete with armored vehicles and semi-automatic weapons—is a fundamental violation of freedom.

“This is America. These are free communities,” Harris stated. He pointed to reports of racial profiling, particularly against the Latino community, as a symptom of this unconstitutional deployment. Beyond the human toll, the Mayor highlighted the “millions of dollars of harm” the county faces in costs for an operation they never requested. “In order to have law and order, you’ve got to follow the law first,” he noted, referencing the lack of consultation with local officials by the state.

Management Over Infrastructure: The Jail Crisis

Finally, the leaders addressed the crisis within the Shelby County Jail. With four prisoner deaths in just three weeks and ongoing reports of drug trafficking, Mayor Harris described the facility as being in “freefall.”

While there have been calls for a new, larger jail building, the Mayor remains skeptical. “I don’t know about building a new bigger jail as long as these management practices go uncorrected,” he said. Instead, he is advocating for a third-party agency to intervene and reform the mismanagement he believes is at the heart of the crisis.

The episode concludes with a reminder that governance is about people, and whether it is an Ethics Commission or a jail facility, the primary goal must be the respectful and legal treatment of every citizen.