My Thoughts: 10 elements for mayor we need to govern 'grown-up' city

For good reasons, we all have been consumed lately with Memphis politics. We have been bombarded with some embarrassing moments that reflect negatively on our city and the good people who live in and around it. But we are all in this together, and if Memphis is to advance we have to let the past be just that and focus quickly and strategically on what we need to do now and in the future.

FedEx Corp. CEO Fred Smith told the Memphis City Council in April that we need improvement in four key areas: crime, education, government efficiency and economic development.

It's worthwhile to note the attention these issues are already receiving. I met some of the city's finest in the Memphis Police Department last weekend, for example, and learned that our crime rate is actually down. The consolidation debate is beginning to sharpen the focus on government efficiency. As for economic development, discussions are continuing about how to better leverage our airport and bioworks ventures. And last week, education was in the spotlight with a visit from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. At a meeting with Duncan and other local leaders, businessman Pitt Hyde made a point about the importance of effective teachers: "We have to have a way to get the right people in the classroom," he said.

I hope our elected officials are listening when top community leaders like Hyde and Smith are speaking on such issues.

Let's stay positive and strategic, Memphis. We have had some great things happen in recent years, but as a whole have we moved forward much as a city? Are we attracting and retaining the key corporations that benefit our charities, arts groups and sports organizations such as the Redbirds and Grizzlies?

If we think critically about the improvements we need, and our community leaders create common-sense plans to tackle Smith's four important issues, we could move forward quickly.

As the owner of a small business in Downtown Memphis, a mom and someone not originally from here (I'm from Texas and Alabama), I plan to stay in Memphis, continue raising my children and try to help make some sort of difference here where I can.

The election of our city mayor in October will be one of the single most important steps Memphis will take toward meeting its many challenges. We don't have time to waste; it's time to act like a grown-up town with a grown-up attitude.

Here are 10 of the most important characteristics I think we must have in our next mayor.

1) A "no sitting on the fence" leadership style. You can't please everyone, so find the best people and execute their best ideas fast.

2) The ability to think like a corporate man (or woman -- ha!) and apply business best practices to building our community.

3) A readiness to use personal ego and position as mayor in healthy and strategic ways.

4) The willingness to listen to Smith, Hyde and other successful community leaders who care enough to say what they don't have to.

5) Colorblindness.

6) The ability to tap, delegate and connect -- to use all the talent we have in this city to work on the four goals Smith identified. We have some of the best nonprofits, churches, businesses and bright thinkers here -- just to name a few, think of ArtsMemphis, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, The Church Health Center, MIFA, ALSAC-St. Jude, EmergeMemphis, the Medical Educational Research Institute and the Memphis council of the Urban Land Institute.

7) A readiness to embrace social media and use it to market the "cool factors" of Memphis. To the outside world, Memphis is cool; social media allows us to blast our cool stuff out globally at no cost. I follow some of these folks on Twitter who are already spreading the "good news" gospel about Memphis: SpiritofMemphis, ilovememphis, MemphisConnect, DowntownMemphis, MemphisCVB, GracelandNews, FedExNews and NewMemphisJobs.

8) The ability to communicate directly with citizens. When we have a tornado or some other crisis -- can the mayor please get out on the front line and tell us what is going on and what we can expect?

9) Toughness, and a refusal to give up or give in -- stand your ground and stand by the folks you employ and empower.

10) A roll-up-your-sleeves attitude toward the real work that will be needed to make progress.

Memphis has so many strengths and opportunities. We need leadership and forward thinking that will capitalize on these and plan for a brighter future for those to come.

By Amy Howell

Amy Howell is the owner of Howell Marketing Strategies LLC in Memphis.