Lee Harris (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lee Harris
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Harris in 2018
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| 7th Mayor of Shelby County | |
| Assumed office September 1, 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Mark Luttrell |
| Minority Leader of the Tennessee Senate | |
| In office January 13, 2015 – August 31, 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Kyle |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Yarbro |
| Member of the Tennessee Senate from the 29th district |
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| In office January 13, 2015 – August 31, 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Ophelia Ford |
| Succeeded by | Raumesh Akbari |
| Member of the Memphis City Council from the 7th district |
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| In office 2011–2015 |
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| Preceded by | Berlin Boyd |
| Succeeded by | Berlin Boyd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 10, 1978 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Morehouse College (BA) Yale University (JD) |
Lee Ardrey Harris (born August 10, 1978) is an American politician. He currently serves as the Mayor of Shelby County. Before becoming mayor, he was a state senator for Tennessee. He also worked as a law professor. Earlier in his career, he was a member of the Memphis City Council. Lee Harris was born and grew up in Memphis. He studied at Morehouse College and then at Yale Law School.
In 2014, he was elected to the Tennessee Senate. His fellow Democratic senators chose him to be their leader, called the Senate Minority Leader. He was the first Black lawmaker to hold a leadership position in the Tennessee State Senate. In 2018, Harris ran for Mayor of Shelby County and won. He was re-elected for a second term in 2022.
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Early Life and Education
Lee Harris was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. His mother was a high school guidance counselor, and his father repaired heating and air conditioning systems. He went to schools in Memphis, including Alcy Elementary, John P. Freeman Middle, and Overton High School.
College and Law School
Harris received a full scholarship to attend Morehouse College. He graduated from Morehouse in 2000. During his time there, he also spent a year studying at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He then went on to graduate from Yale Law School in 2003.
Lee Harris's Career Journey
After finishing law school, Lee Harris started his legal career at a law firm in Memphis. In 2003, he began teaching law at the University of Memphis, School of Law. He became a tenured professor in 2009, meaning he earned a permanent teaching position. He taught and wrote about corporate law.
Serving on the City Council
In 2011, Lee Harris ran for a seat on the Memphis City Council. He won the election with more than 60% of the votes. This role allowed him to help make decisions for the city of Memphis.
Becoming a State Senator
On April 3, 2014, Harris announced he would run for a seat in the Tennessee State Senate. He won the election and officially became a state senator in January 2015. His fellow Democratic senators chose him to be their leader, known as the Senate Minority Leader. This was a historic moment, as he was the first Black lawmaker to hold a leadership position in the Tennessee State Senate.
Mayor of Shelby County
In 2018, Lee Harris ran for Mayor of Shelby County. He won the election, defeating his opponent. During his campaign, he focused on important issues like reducing poverty and improving education. He also wanted to expand access to job training and apprenticeships.
During his first term as mayor, Harris made several changes. He increased the minimum wage for Shelby County employees. He also led the county's efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, he increased funding for early childhood education and started a program for paid parental leave for county employees.
Harris ran for re-election in 2022 and won a second term as mayor.
Policy Ideas
Lee Harris supported an important change to Memphis's anti-discrimination rules on October 16, 2012. This change made it illegal for the City of Memphis to treat people unfairly based on their age, disability, where they come from, their background, their gender identity, or their sexual orientation.
Books Written by Lee Harris
