| | | Our local news outlets have frequently reported over the last several weeks, months, and years on allegations, investigations, audits, and arrests regarding local elected leaders. Most Memphians have seen at least one of the many such stories, and there will likely be more—as they say, “Power corrupts.” But, this is not unique to Memphis, Shelby County, or even Tennessee. All around the country, from the smallest local offices to the halls of Congress, there is no shortage of stories about people utilizing their elected office for their own personal gain. Each new story further erodes confidence in government and reinforces the belief that government does not always operate in the best interests of the people it serves.
Late last year, nationwide public trust in government was near an all-time low at 17%. Of course, values differ by ideology, party, race, and other factors, but there has been an overall steep decline since the 1960s. A local internal poll conducted by TN Prospers earlier this year found that every locally elected legislative body is unpopular among voters. |
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| Shelby County Voters View Local Governing Bodies Negatively(MSCS School Board Most of All) |
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| Source: Hart Research Associates survey conducted for Tennessee Prospers, February 4—9 9Study #15141). N + 500 likely May 2026 Shelby County primary voters. Percentages shown among all voters; remainder had no opinion / didn’t know the name. |
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| In a county that experiences high levels of poverty and economic hardship, it should come as no surprise that news of alleged self-enriching activities deepens mistrust in government. |
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| One of the traditional safeguards against governmental malfeasance is an independent and well-resourced press—often referred to as the Fourth Estate. Newsrooms provide balance by investigating wrongdoing, scrutinizing public funding, and providing residents with information to hold the government accountable.
With the proliferation of the internet, buyouts, and consolidation driven by private equity this century, however, news has become diluted and increasingly scarce. Though Shelby County has more outlets than many places, virtually every newsroom nationwide has faced pressures of resource constraints and a changing business model. In this environment, deep, investigative journalism often loses out. A recent study found that local media guard as a deterrent to public corruption; when news outlets wither or close completely, federal corruption cases against local officials increase.
In Memphis and across the country, philanthropy has emerged as a stabilizing force in local media. Many small newsrooms such as the Institute for Public Service Reporting provide valuable news locally. The Daily Memphian acknowledges several philanthropic supporters, but at least one recent review suggests that the Memphis region generates significantly less philanthropic investment in local news than most big cities across the country. This risks leaving small, not-for-profit newsrooms under-resourced as they attempt to compete with larger conglomerates owned by special interests. This is one area where targeted investments can aid in the process of instilling more confidence in our institutions among residents. |
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| Journalists cannot bear the responsibility of public accountability alone. Residents must also hold elected leaders accountable, beginning with participation at the ballot box. Politicians can only take advantage of the system and taxpayer dollars if we put them in those offices. Though Tennessee requires all high school students to pass a United States civics test in the style of the naturalization exam to earn a traditional diploma, there is no proportional requirement related to local civics and public participation. Locally, this manifests in a lack of organic civic discourse and extremely low voter turnout in non-presidential elections. Here’s the good news: our next opportunity to choose who will represent us is today, as early voting has started in county general elections, as well as federal primary elections.
Unfortunately, running for political office usually requires the financial means to mitigate the opportunity costs associated with the position. For instance: it may be difficult for a single parent to run for office if they cannot afford childcare or do not have access to childcare after working hours when they want to campaign and knock on doors. A more resourced candidate with a flexible schedule or no dependents may then have a leg up. You can see how this may exclude qualified candidates who would bring valuable lived experience and a voice for certain underinvested communities to an elected body from the candidate pool entirely.
No issue presented here, however, is the sole cause of political corruption. A sudden influx of philanthropic investment in local investigative journalism will not alone force politicians to eschew the call of corruption, just as higher voter turnout will not guarantee a more responsible group of elected leaders. Rather, the solution to local mistrust in government and the proliferation of corruption among local elected leaders, is multi-faceted. Our community needs: |
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| A more robust local journalism ecosystem, supported by philanthropic investors, that can hold leaders accountable before they have the chance to disappoint voters
Stronger local civics education, which can increase voter turnout in local elections
Systems that provide timely and accurate transparency in public finance—not just through public records requests that may take months to fulfill
A statewide public campaign financing solution similar to those that states like West Virginia and Florida have enacted, which aids underrepresented and underresourced candidates who otherwise would not have been able to run for office
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| We, at Seeding Success, will continue to pursue public policy and systems alignment that benefits all of the people of Memphis and Shelby County. Restoring trust will take time, but each of us have a role to play in creating an ecosystem that invites meaningful discourse, promotes civic participation, and pushes leaders to advocate for policies that would help their constituents and not just themselves. Trust in government will not be restored by promises; it will be earned through transparency, accountability, and public service that consistently puts people first. |
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