MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Like many people, I believe in second chances, including for those convicted of serious crimes. It’s the American way. And Calvin Williams has already gotten his second chance to work in local government.
The former chief administrator for the Shelby County Commission got the chance to work in city government again after being convicted and sentenced to prison in 2007 on federal bribery charges. He has been working in the City Court clerk’s office since December of 2016.
But now, a majority of city council members are unwilling to give Williams a coveted promotion to deputy clerk – which would be the number two position in the office headed by elected Court clerk and former councilman Myron Lowery. The final vote was seven against his appointment and four in favor. And I believe it was the correct decision.
Williams’ tenure in the clerk’s office has not been without controversy – some of which was aired this week during council meetings. He had the support of Lowery as well as former clerk Kay Robilio. But that was not enough to overcome the uneasiness seven council members had about handing Williams such a lofty job.
The message here is that working in local government is a privilege that carries with it public trust. The saving grace for Williams is that he still gets to keep his current clerk job, which in my book, is his second chance.