Germantown elections: Meet the 2 candidates running for Position One alderman

Only one contested city race will be on Germantown's ballot this November: Position One alderman.

Incumbent Scott Sanders faces challenger Manjit Kaur for the four-year seat on the Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Early voting for suburban elections starts Oct. 19 and ends Nov. 3. The general election is Nov. 8, and the deadline to register to vote is Oct. 11.

Here is a closer look at each candidate.

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Scott Sanders

Incumbent Scott Sanders moved to Germantown about 21 years ago and was first elected as alderman in 2018, his first governmental role.

"It's a work I thoroughly enjoy," Sanders, 59, said. "I've been a public servant all my life, and I just want to continue doing that as a way for me to give back to the community."

Sanders' reelection campaign focuses on public safety, infrastructure including road paving, schools, senior citizens, and accountability for tax funds.

The alderman, a retired U.S. Marshal in Memphis, said if reelected he wants to look into adding a senior citizen center in the city, continue bulking law enforcement equipment to enhance public safety, decide on ways to fix drainage and flooding issues and work the budget to allow more for paving city streets.

During his tenure, he said figuring out ways to improve drainage issues around the city was at the top of his list, and he helped convince the city to invest all the American Rescue Plan Funds into drainage projects.

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Sanders said another four years will allow him to build on the work he has done including capital investments for the Germantown schools, creating sociable areas and events for senior citizens, and fixing roadways and drainage.

"What sets me apart (from the other candidate) is my experience," he said. "I have experience, leadership experience in the government, I've supervised a good number of people, I managed budgets, I really do due diligence on the people's work, I listen and try to be fair. I look and see what is best for the entire community."

Manjit Kaur

Manjit Kaur, 53, moved to Germantown from Boston more than 13 years ago and has since been involved in uplifting the community. Kaur involves herself in several volunteer organizations, commissions, and boards including Germantown Forward 2035 Steering Committee and Germantown Public Safety Education Commission.

She also heavily involved herself with recruiting volunteers and supporting frontline workers with meals while the COVID-19 vaccination site at Germantown Baptist Church was active.

"The community I already knew," Kaur said. "I have a very good idea of what's going on in my city, what their needs are, so I'm quite well versed in those. I'm a planner, a go-getter, I don't jump into things blindly."

If elected Kaur hopes to enhance public safety, education, economic development, and youth empowerment. She also emphasized her goal to improve crisis management in the city and prepare for disasters like flooding, pandemics, and ice storms.

Kaur wants to focus on additional equipment for law enforcement including more K9s, drones, funding, and creating public safety campaigns — which she has done in the past with "don't drive drowsy" and "lock it or lose it."

She also hopes during her tenure to encourage more youth to work and volunteer in Germantown to provide the next generations an educated and experienced future in the city. She said a youth commission could attract young people to get active in the government.

"I'm a complete package" Kaur said. "What sets me apart from other candidates is my continuous involvement in the community for the last 10 years. Even though I haven't been in an elected position, I was able to handle the vaccination site. I accomplished so many projects instead of just saying yes or no at the mayor and aldermen meeting."

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Other Germantown city races

Elections for Germantown mayor and Position Two alderman are also on the ballot on Nov. 8, but both are uncontested.

Incumbent Mary Anne Gibson is running again for the alderman position and Mike Palazzolo looks to continue his work as mayor.

Dima Amro covers the suburbs for The Commercial Appeal and can be reached at Dima.Amro@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @AmroDima.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Germantown elections 2022: Candidates for Position 1 alderman