James Harvey, The Best Candidate for Mayor to Transform Memphis Culture and Police Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Best Candidate for Mayor to Transform Memphis Culture and Police Department

Memphis, TN, July 19, 2023 – Former Shelby County Commission Chairman James Harvey officially

announces his candidacy for Mayor of Memphis today. Harvey is the candidate with the clearest and most

compelling message to fight crime, change the culture of our city and police department, and move

Memphis forward in economic progress and racial unity for a better Memphis.

The strategic decision to announce his candidacy at this time is driven by Harvey’s deep commitment to

the citizens of Memphis. After engaging with people from all walks of life and asking citizens if they want

him to run, Harvey has received overwhelming support and belief in his ability to lead the city towards a

brighter future.

“I’m dedicated to promoting bipartisan leadership, racial unity, and transparency,” he says, “guided by

values of faith, good character, honesty, and integrity.”

Harvey’s internal polling reveals that 35% of likely voters are undecided, and of those with a candidate

preference, 51% might change their minds. This means that 68% of voters are up for grabs, leaving the

race wide open.

Consistent with other recently published polls, Harvey’s polling confirms that crime is the most important

issue, with 77% prioritizing crime reduction as the top issue that will influence their vote for mayor.

James Harvey has been a Human Resource Manager/Administrator for FedEx since 2016. He has

recruited, hired, and trained employees in over a dozen states, demonstrating his track record of positively

impacting the culture of a large organization. Complementing this, his military background – he served

honorably in the U.S. Army Reserves and Army National Guard – has instilled in him the discipline and

leadership skills required to help tackle our escalating crime problem. As the owner of the second-largest

security company in Memphis, Harvey has shown unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of

the city’s residents.

“I’ve been a professional recruiter and trainer for years. I can recruit the number of police officers we need

and make certain they receive – and continue to receive – the training they need to do the job correctly,”

Harvey says. “We can improve communication and change the culture within the department to make our

police force more transparent and more effective.”

Harvey will address the critical issue of crime, along with promoting economic growth, supporting

workforce development and job training, prioritizing the well-being of senior citizens and the youth,

improving education, as well as enhancing the national image of Memphis. These elements of his

comprehensive approach align with the concerns expressed by likely voters.

James Harvey’s global executive expertise combined with his local government experience as past

Chairman of the Shelby County Commission uniquely qualifies him to manage the city’s $800 million

budget and thousands of employees. In addition to his human resources, cultural-impact experience with

FedEx, he has held management and consulting positions with notable national and local businesses,

including Tri-State Bank, Freddie Mac Mortgage, Bank of America, Pinnacle/Delta Airlines, and UPS.

With this versatile leadership background in entrepreneurship, government, finance, communication,

marketing, and economic development, Harvey is known for his strategic thinking and effective

communication skills – which are critically needed in our next Mayor of Memphis.

James Harvey holds a bachelor’s degree in business management with honors. He is also a 2005

Leadership Memphis graduate. As a family man, the father of one son and two adopted young men he

represents as a grandfather, as well as fully caring for his 93-year-old mother financially and otherwise,

he is committed to building an inclusive, safe, and prosperous Memphis for all.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Becky West

WestRogers

(901) 359-3323

beckyjoneswest@icloud.com