As Shelby County Government's interim mayor Joyce Avery settles into her new but temporary role, she'll have a team of government veterans on her side.
On Monday, Avery unveiled her advisory committee made up of former county commissioners Charlie Perkins, Ed Williams and Cleo Kirk; former city councilman Brent Taylor; Tennessee Republican Party executive committee member Layne Provine; and businessman and former Memphis Builder's Exchange president Jay Weatherington, who has also been a member of the Shelby County Needs Assessment Committee that evaluates school building projects.
Add former Memphis Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery to that list. He'll also be around to lend guidance.
On Tuesday, Taylor said the team is heavily stacked with government veterans because both he and Avery thought it was best to have experience on their side.
"There's a lot of institutional knowledge there," Taylor said.
No matter that many of these appointees haven't actually served in government for years - Perkins, Williams and Kirk have all been out of office for three or more.
Taylor also pointed out that the team was diverse, even though Kirk and Lowery are the only African Americans on team.
But Taylor stressed that the team won't function in the same way as Memphis Mayor A C Wharton's 12-member team on the city side. Instead, this group will act more as an advisory committee.
"She will use this team as a sounding board and as a resource in helping her reach whatever decisions she might need to reach," Taylor said.
Taylor also stressed that because of Avery's short tenure - she could serve anywhere from two weeks to 45 days depending on when the County Commission selects her interim replacement - she doesn't have a long legislative agenda.
Echoing points made during Avery's speech on Monday, Taylor said Avery's chief goal is to provide continuity in county government.
"That's all she wants to accomplish," Taylor said. "To be a steady head and provide continuity. She's not looking to lower taxes, she's not looking to create some new initiative, she's not looking to replace division directors, she simply wants to provide continuity during period of transition, whether it be two weeks or two months."
Ironically, Avery's appointment has already presented the county with change. Avery is a longtime Republican, replacing Wharton, a Democrat.
But that change will likely be short-lived. The Democrat-controlled commission is expected to pick either commissioners Joe Ford or J.W. Gibson, both Democrats, to serve until the county mayoral election in 2010.
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