Lee Harris (politician)
| Lee A. Harris | |
|---|---|
| Minority Leader of the Tennessee Senate | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Kyle |
| Member of the Tennessee Senate from the 29 district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Ophelia Ford |
| Member of the Memphis City Council District 7 | |
| In office 2011–2015 | |
| Preceded by | Berlin F. Boyd (appointed) |
| Succeeded by | Berlin F. Boyd (appointed) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 10, 1978 Memphis, Tennessee |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Alena Allen (m. 2005) |
| Residence | Memphis, TN |
| Alma mater | Overton High School |
| Profession | Professor |
| Religion | Christian |
Lee Ardrey Harris (born August 1978) is a law professor who currently serves as a TN State Senator, representing Tennessee's 29th district. Prior to his election to the state Senate, Harris served on the Memphis City Council, representing District 7. He was born and raised in Memphis, and studied at Morehouse College, followed by Yale Law School.[1] In 2014 he was elected to the Tennessee Senate replacing Ophelia Ford. He was elected in November 2014 by the Democratic Senate Caucus of the Tennessee State Senate to the leadership position of Senate Minority Leader. He is the first black lawmaker of either party to hold a leadership position in the Tennessee State Senate. [2]
Early life and education
Harris was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He is the son of a retired high school guidance counselor and a heating and air conditioning repairman. He attended Memphis city schools, including Alcy Elementary School, John P. Freeman Middle School, and Overton High School.[3] Lee Harris attended Morehouse College on a full scholarship, graduating in 2000. While at Morehouse, Harris completed a one-year course of study at the London School of Economics. Harris graduated from Yale Law School in 2003.[4]
Career
Harris began his legal career as an associate at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, a large Memphis law firm. From 2003, Harris began teaching at the University of Memphis, School of Law, attaining tenure in 2009. Harris teaches and publishes in the fields of corporate law.
In 2006, Harris unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives for the 9th congressional district.[5]
In 2011, Harris faced Kemba Ford in a runoff election for Memphis City Council. He won the race with more than 60% of the vote.
On April 3, 2014, Lee Harris announced his intention to contest a Tennessee State Senate District 29 seat currently held by state Senator Ophelia Ford.[6] Harris was elected to the seat and was sworn in in January 2015. He was elected by his colleagues in the Democratic Caucus of the Tennessee State Senate to be Senate Minority Leader for the session. He is the first black lawmaker of either party to hold a leadership position in the Tennessee State Senate. [7]
Policy Positions
Lee Harris was a proponent of an October 16, 2012 amendment to Memphis' anti-discrimination ordinance, which prohibits the City of Memphis from discriminating on the basis of age, disability, national origin, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.[8]
Books
- Corporations and Other Business Entities: a Practical Approach (2011) ISBN 9780735596368
- Mastering Corporations and Other Business Entities (1997) ISBN 978-1594604447
Personal
Harris is married to Alena Allen, a law professor at the University of Memphis, School of Law.
References
- ↑ "Lee Harris defeats Kemba Ford in Memphis City Council District 7 runoff" (November 10, 2011). commercialappeal.com/
- ↑ Boucher, Dave (25 November 2015). "Senate Democrats choose freshmen as new leaders". The Tennessean. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
- ↑ "Harris Legal Career Leans on Desire to Help Community", Richard Alley (Oct 25, 2012). http://www.memphisdailynews.org/
- ↑ http://www.memphis.edu/law/facultystaff/bio/harris.php Lee Harris Biography: University of Memphis, School of Law
- ↑ http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2011/11/10/harris-appears-to-have-easy-win-in-district-7 Harris Romps to Easy Win in District 7, Memphis Flyer
- ↑ http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2014/04/03/fords-make-election-day-news-big-time Fords Make Filing-Day News, Big-Time, Memphis Flyer
- ↑ Boucher, Dave (25 November 2015). "Senate Democrats choose freshmen as new leaders". The Tennessean. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
- ↑ http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/oct/28/a-controversial-mainstream-city-ordinance/ A Controversial, Mainstream City Ordinance (October 28, 2012)