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Opinion | Ryan's appointment as Memphis' COO was the biggest city hall news Wednesday | Otis Sanford

Otis Sanford gives his point of view on the appointment of Chandell Ryan as the city of Memphis' next chief operating officer.
Credit: Thomas R Machnitzki

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The biggest news out of city hall Wednesday was not the appointment of Doug McGowen as the next CEO of Memphis Light Gas and Water, although that is a major development at a crucial time for the utility. 

Instead, it was Mayor Jim Strickland’s announcement that Chandell Ryan will replace McGowan as the city’s chief operating officer. That will put her in charge of the day-to-day operation of city government.

Ryan’s appointment is notable because, once she’s confirmed by the city council, she will become the first woman – and first African American woman to hold that position. A fact that speaks to the longstanding glass ceiling in local government. Remember, no woman has ever been elected mayor in the city or county.

But Ryan’s appointment is significant for other reasons as well. She is a native Memphian who grew up in Binghampton and Frayser. She has come up through the ranks during her 17 years in city government and she is clearly a role model for other young women of color in Memphis – letting them know that they too can aspire to a career at the highest levels of local government. Or as Ryan said Wednesday, they can now believe even more that they belong. Strickland pointed out that with Ryan’s appointment, women will hold 67 percent of the leadership roles in his administration compared to 15 percent previously. That’s progress worth noting.

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