Demanding More From Our Elected Officials

Hi everyone!

Thank you for visiting my blog!  Many of you are aware of the twitter dialogue between commissioner Whalum and I that has caused great discussion.  Many of you requested to read his response if and when he responded.  Well, he did respond and below is the entire exchange...NO EDITS!

Please share with your network because this is definitely a situation that needs to go viral! This type of behavior is not acceptable, will NOT be tolerated, and Memphis deserves better!

I have also contacted several news stations and the commercial appeal.  If you all stand with me and would like to send emails to these stations  urging them to share this story, then please let me know.  I already have a generic email drafted!



Tamera Malone

Hello Commissioner Whalum,

My name is Tamera Malone.  You do not know me personally, but I was one of your followers on twitter. I am also a teacher and a registered and frequent voter here in Memphis. 

Earlier this morning I asked you a question about a comment you made on twitter.  Your comment was “ASD is set to ‘take over’ 10 more inner-city schools.  Entire staffs will be fired. Anybody still think the merger is a good idea?”  My question to you was “even if we didn’t merge…wouldn’t those schools still be set for ‘takeover’ by the state because they are in the bottom 5%?” Your response was “your point?” I stated to you that “I was simply asking a question that would hopefully help me better understand the point you are trying to make.” You then responded, “and I am asking you your point.”  You never answered my question and you BLOCKED me. 

My question was fair and legitimate and as an elected official, I believe it is your responsibility to provide me with an answer.  Instead, you asked me what my point was and completely ignored my question.  Anytime you can’t answer a legitimate question from a voter and a teacher and then you block me, you have no right to be in office.  As a teacher and a voter, it is disrespectful, rude, and insulting to be treated that way by a SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER especially when I was not disrespectful or rude to you.  What if as a teacher when my students asked me questions, I asked them “your point” and never answered them.  I would definitely be considered ineffective.  What an effective leader would have done was answer the question and engage in a civil dialogue.  I encourage you, Commissioner Whalum, to be open minded and understand that not everyone is going to agree with you and that people have a right to ask questions and/or voice concerns and as an elected official it is your job to keep the public informed and to address any concerns to the best of your ability.  Whether you agree or not you should listen to the people, hear their voices, and learn from them. You were elected in to your current position by the citizens of Memphis and you do not only represent the constituents in your district, but you represent the entire Memphis City Schools educational system and you should conduct yourself accordingly. I hope that in the future when I or anyone else has a question or concern for you that may differ from your views, you will respond differently than you did today.

I want to leave you with these quotes as they are true representations of how a true leader responds to his constituents. 

 “To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices.  I need your help and I will be your president too.” President Obama Election night 2008

“And whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you, I have learned from you, and you've made me a better president.”  President Obama Election night 2012.

Have a wonderful afternoon!

Commissioner Whalum

·       I blocked you because of the prevalence of “Trolls” on Twitter.
·       My question was self explanatory to all who read it objectively.
·       If you had a legitimate constituent concern you should have emailed it to me, as you obviously have my email address.
·       Your belief that I have “no right to be in office” is perfectly okay with me, and I urge you to do everything within your power to be sure that I am not ever elected again.
·       YOU have a “wonderful afternoon”, because “somebody done told you wrong”.
·       Block you very much.

Tamera Malone

Commissioner Whalum,

Thank you for responding to my email.  While I had hoped for a more tactful response, I appreciate you for taking the time out to respond anyway. 

• Let’s be honest, you blocked me because I asked you a question that challenged your comment. You have a history of blocking individuals that challenge you.  For whatever reason, you can’t handle it.  

• Let’s go back to your comment and my question.

Whalum: “ASD is set to ‘take over’ 10 more inner-city schools.  Entire staffs will be        fired. Anybody still think the merger is a good idea?”

Tamera: “Even if we didn’t merge…wouldn’t those schools still be set for ‘takeover’ by     the state because they are in the bottom 5%?”

   Pretty simple and objective question, one of which you could have answered “yes” or  “no.” Perhaps if I had of said “I agree Commissioner Whalum.  Is there anything we can  do to reverse the merger,” I would have gotten an answer from you and wouldn’t have  been blocked, maybe even a retweet.

• I’d like to think twitter is forum to ask questions (especially one as simple as mine that required a yes or no response) and address concerns seeing as though you use your twitter to inform your followers religiously and politically. I have also seen where you have addressed questions and concerns more serious than mine.  Therefore, my question did not require an email.

• As a civically engaged citizen and a voter, I will absolutely do what is in my power to inform the citizens of Memphis how ineffective and incompetent you are as an elected official. Everyone in my reach will know that you are disrespectful and rude to your constituents (well those that challenge you). I would run against you if it was possible because I certainly believe I could do a better job than you.

• Not sure what somebody has told me that is wrong, but please know that this is not over.  It is now my civic duty to keep you from doing any more harm to our beautiful city and it’s people.

Commissioner Whalum

Please re-read my previous response. For understanding this time.