Shelby County Mayor Candidate Steve Mulroy wants it known that he will be the most progressive mayor in the south.
“I’d like to become the most LGBT mayor in the south,” “Mulroy said. Winning the May 6th Democratic is my first big step in that Journey. If I can get past May 6th we will be on overdrive to August to run against the Republican Mayor Mark Luttrell. Mulroy hopes to get the largest GLBTQ turnout in a low turn out May primary in history .
“ Most people vote in presidential elections but not these May elections. But these small may races are where you change the country from the ground up . Mulroy hopes to ally groups interested in progressive issues like Animal welfare , Homelessservices, with the GLBTQ community and the significant support he has from African American leaders to win the primary. The “ Rainbow Coalition “ has been put together many times effectively but not so much in the “Deep South.” He is doing things like campaigning in bars and late night clubs where most southern politicians don’t usually go.
During his first commission term, Mulroy authored Shelby County's first living wage, prevailing wage, as well as the first legislation anywhere in Tennessee to extend discrimination protections to the GLBT community, an effort Mulroy wants to continue working on.
“I authored and passed the first LGBT anti-discrimination legislation anywhere in the state of Tennessee,” Mulroy said. “This summer I’m hoping to strengthen the language of it. As county mayor should I win I also plan to move to partner benefits.”
Mulroy is no stranger to taking a stance on civil rights issues. He has spoken publicly at many LGBT rights rallies and vigils. He has made many addresses to the nation's critical shortage of lawyers by teaching constitutional law, criminal law, criminal procedure, and civil rights, and has also traveled the country fighting for civil rights.
“I want to be the first mayor in Shelby County to march in a gay pride parade,” Mulroy said. “Although, I’m straight I come from a civil rights back ground having worked for the Clinton administration; fighting discrimination has been my whole career.”
Mulroy said that he would also like to extend those anti-discrimination protections to teachers in order to provide them with a better atmosphere to teach.
“As county mayor teachers are particularly vulnerable to this type of discrimination,” Mulroy said.
Mulroy has also worked closely with the Tennessee Equality Project, a local gay rights group, in efforts to make Tennessee a place of equality including sexual orientation and gender identity status in the workplace and at places that provide public service.
“I’m also interested in symbolic gestures,” Mulroy said. “Having high ranking members of the administration be openly gay I believe it’s right but it’s also good business. My republican colleagues say government should be run like a business. Well most Fortune 500 companies have partner benefits etc. Government should also.
Commisioner Mulroy has also played a leading role in drafting and passing a tough Ethics Ordinance and plans to focus his efforts as Shelby County Mayor of strengthening ordinances for equality.