The Memphis City Council has 13 members: seven who each represent a single geographic district and six who represent two larger super districts. Together they form the legislative branch of city government, working alongside the mayor to pass ordinances, approve the annual budget, and oversee city departments. The current Memphis City Council members took office after the 2023 election, and all 13 seats are next on the ballot in October 2027.1City of Memphis. Gov Guide – The City of Memphis
Who Serves on the Council
As of 2025, the 13 seats are held by:
- District 1: Rhonda Logan
- District 2: Jerri Green
- District 3: Pearl Eva Walker
- District 4: Jana Swearengen Washington
- District 5: Philip Spinosa
- District 6: Edmund Ford, Sr.
- District 7: Michalyn Easter-Thomas
- Super District 8, Position 1: JB Smiley, Jr.
- Super District 8, Position 2: Janika White
- Super District 8, Position 3: Yolanda Cooper-Sutton
- Super District 9, Position 1: Chase Carlisle
- Super District 9, Position 2: J. Ford Canale
- Super District 9, Position 3: Dr. Jeff Warren
Office addresses and contact details for each member are posted on the council’s official page.2City of Memphis. City Council
How the Districts Work
Memphis uses a two-tier system. Districts 1 through 7 are single-member districts, each covering a specific area of the city with one representative. The remaining six seats are divided between two super districts, numbered 8 and 9, each covering a much larger portion of the city. Within each super district, voters fill three separate positions.1City of Memphis. Gov Guide – The City of Memphis
In practice, every Memphis resident is represented by four council members at once: one from their single-member district, plus the three from whichever super district covers their neighborhood. District boundary maps are published on the city’s website.
What the Council Does
The council passes ordinances and resolutions that govern daily life in Memphis, including zoning rules, land use decisions, and business regulations. Its biggest annual task is the budget. After the mayor submits a proposed budget, the council holds hearings, votes on the spending plan, and sets the property tax rate that funds it.1City of Memphis. Gov Guide – The City of Memphis The council also authorizes bonds for infrastructure and public works.
Other responsibilities include overseeing city departments, confirming or rejecting certain mayoral appointments to agency leadership, and overriding mayoral vetoes with a majority vote of the full membership. Much of the detailed work happens in committees covering areas such as public safety, economic development, and public utility rates, where members review proposals before they reach the full council.
Terms, Elections, and Vacancies
All 13 seats are elected on the same four-year cycle, which also includes the mayor’s race. Members are limited to two consecutive four-year terms, or eight straight years. After sitting out one full term, a former member can run again.
When a seat opens mid-term, the remaining council members appoint a replacement rather than holding a special election. Nominations can come from sitting members, from candidates themselves, or from the public. Each candidate must prove residency in the vacant district and submit signatures from 25 registered voters there, with the Shelby County Election Commission certifying eligibility. The council then takes a roll call vote, and a majority of sworn members is needed to fill the seat. The appointee serves out the remainder of the unexpired term.3City of Memphis. Council Rules of Procedure
Compensation
Serving on the council is not a salaried career. Under the municipal code, each member receives a base of $700 per fiscal year plus $25 per meeting attended, capped at $1,000 annually.4Amlegal. Memphis Municipal Code 30.15 – Compensation of Council Members The structure reflects the position’s origin as a civic service role.
Attending Meetings and Contacting Your Representatives
The full council meets on a biweekly schedule, usually Tuesdays at 4:00 PM. Residents who want to speak at a meeting must sign in for discussion beforehand under the council’s Rules of Procedure.3City of Memphis. Council Rules of Procedure Meetings are streamed live on the Memphis City Council’s YouTube channel and archived on the city’s Granicus media platform, which is useful for reviewing past votes.5City of Memphis. City Council Meeting Archives
If you want to raise a concern about a member’s conduct, Memphis maintains a Board of Ethics with jurisdiction over elected and appointed city officials. The board enforces standards set out in the city’s ethics ordinance and Chapter 2-10 of the Code of Ethics for City Officials, which cover financial disclosure and conflict-of-interest rules.6The City of Memphis. Ethics Complaints can be directed to the board for review.