Grassroots Activist Takes Lead as New Commissioner

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Nearly a decade ago, the very mention of her name sent shivers down the spines of some local elected officials. Now a first term County Commissioner Heidi Shafer has decided- if you can't beat them, join them.

There were a half dozen knew faces at Wednesday's county commission meeting. At least one new commissioner has been in the seat before, one has a very familiar last name and another made a name for herself when NBA basketball came to town but none of that kept them from getting down to business.

When asked about her once, former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton flippantly referred to her as "that little housewife."

But, nearly a decade ago, then grassroots activist Heidi Shafer didn't mind being a big thorn in the side of Herenton and NBA-NOW proponents who supported the multi-million dollar public funding of an arena designed to lure the Vancouver Grizzlies to town.

"We're behind the 8-ball compared to the pursuit team. We don't have the money and the organizational powers behind us. But, we're trying to get organized," said Shafer back in 2001.

But, now the political "outsider" is now a political "insider" as the feisty Shafer has taken her seat as one of six new Shelby County Commissioners. She's ready to use her organizational skills to do some "spring cleaning" when it comes to reducing county expenditures.

"I really want to work to eliminate waste. Because as we're talking about reducing people's benefits or like laying people off. If there are areas in Shelby County where we can conserve and get more lean and limber the way every business and household has had to do," said Shafer.

Shafer, representing District One-Position 2 wasted little time on Wednesday in voicing her strong support and compassion for a commission committee resolution to transfer responsibility of the once controversial Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center to Shelby County Community Services.

"What is best for the victim? And if Community Services can do it in a faster, more effective, more efficient way that helps the victims, then I think that's exactly what I think we should do," said Shafer.

It's her forthright stances on issues that could prove to be Shafer's best asset during her four year term on the Commission. It was in many ways the reason her efforts in 2001 to embark on a bold petition forced the issue of arena funding- before the voters drew praise as well as criticism for her tenacity.

"If we put the word out. And if we work hard enough at it we come really close or die trying," said Shafer back in 2001.

"The first thing that it really taught me was that it's okay to stand up for our opinion and no matter what people say about you as long as you know what you believe in- you have the courage of our convictions. You can move forward even through opposition and you can have effect on what's going to happen," said Shafer at Thursday's Commission meeting.