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With 75 days to go until he is sworn into office, Mayor-elect Paul Young has assembled a transition team that includes among its co-chairs and team members the former president of the University of Memphis, the former Chief People Officer for FedEx, multiple founders of non-profit organizations, private sector business owners, and community advocates. The team includes dozens of members and 25 sub-committee co-chairs representing Young's five pillars and other key focus areas. 

No new mayor in Memphis history, he said, would be as prepared for the mayor’s office as he is now. 

That assertion shows Young’s considerable confidence and ambition. He believes he is going to win the first political race he’s ever run. The early returns — polling and fundraising — reveal that his audacity is not misplaced hope. He’s near the top of recent polls and leads the field in fundraising. 

MEMPHIS, TN – Today, the Paul Young for Mayor campaign released its second quarter fundraising figures, showcasing overwhelming grassroots support for Young's mayoral bid. The campaign has raised $760,678.31 since Young announced his candidacy, including $254,656.15 in the second quarter alone. Young’s campaign reported $597,468.62 in cash on hand.

The next mayor of Memphis is likely to determine the future of policing in the city, including who serves as the police chief and what policies are implemented.

The DMC president raised $347,482 since September compared to the $311,719 raised by Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner and $300,000 by businessman and philanthropist J.W. Gibson. 

Multiple candidates from the packed field of people vying to be the next Memphis mayor will be in Whitehaven at the Southland Mall Saturday afternoon to speak with residents about crime and public safety.

Public safety and justice are at the core of every aspect of my platform. I am a citizen, just like you. I am also a parent and a husband, and I feel the same feelings you do when I pull into the gas station or drop my kids at school. I know that crime is the product of the trauma, economic disparity and broken families. These issues have been gripping Memphis for years. Crime is what we see; but the roots go much deeper.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about Omaha, Nebraska, where a network of nonprofits, neighborhood associations, churches, and local law enforcement have come together over the past 15 years to reduce crime – especially gun violence. According to an ABC News article, gun violence in Omaha was cut in half using this collaborative approach.

Memphis is a great city with amazing assets and amenities. However, many in our community - particularly our young people - have no clue that these amenities exist. I firmly believe that exposing our youth to the assets of our City will result in more pride and a higher likelihood of them staying in Memphis and becoming involved and active residents as adults. Simply stated: An engaged and mobilized youth is a critical ingredient to creating a stronger future for Memphis.

As President and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission, I have a front-row seat to the lingering impact of COVID-19 and the residual economic and social impact on our city. I work to combat the negative consequences every day.

Today, I am thinking about family and what that means to each of us - biological family or family of choice, nuclear family or extended family. Because at the core of all the proposed policies, protocols, and best practices that make up my platform, there are people and families. When contemplating the future of our city, I am focused on who will be impacted and empowered by our choices. I am focused on helping to create the path UP and not OUT because I believe in Memphis.

Next week is National Crime Victims Rights Week. And for Memphis, the remembering feels different this year, as the national spotlight has found Memphis too many times over the past twelve months. This year, as in prior years, there will be gatherings in honor and remembrance of those who have been impacted by crime, including violent crime. The crime stats may feel more personal this year because we all have grieved together too many times.

I am ready. Professionally, I have been preparing for the role of Memphis Mayor for my entire career. And my resolve, temperament, and moral compass were formed from a life of service in the church and the community I grew up in. There are many skills required in the top levels of business and government. I believe financial management is one of the most critical components of leading any organization.

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to participate in the Commit to Memphis Mayoral candidate forum at Mosaic Church in Midtown. This was the second candidate forum this week. And, similarly to the debate on Monday, most of the candidates joined me for the discussion - four others on Monday and five others on Saturday - while a few prominent names in the field didn’t show up to share their views, again.