[This column was updated with the news that The Commercial Appeal and WMC Action News 5 will co-host a debate Sept. 19 at the University of Memphis.]

Good morning from Memphis, where we now have the full lineup for the Mempho Music Festival on Oct. 19-20. But first...

Memphis voters deserve a debate between the top mayoral candidates.

But with two months to go before the Oct. 3 election, it's still uncertain whether the major candidates will commit to any of the several debates currently in the works, including a debate co-hosted by The Commercial Appeal and WMC Action News 5 at 7 p.m. on Sept. 19 at the University of Memphis Michael D. Rose Theatre. The NAACP Memphis Branch, the League of Women Voters and the U of M are partners in the debate, which will be televised live by WMC and livestreamed on commercialappeal.com.

On Facebook yesterday, under a "DEBATE ME, MANE!" banner, mayoral candidate and Shelby County commissioner Tami Sawyer wondered aloud why her two most prominent opponents — incumbent Jim Strickland and former mayor Willie Herenton — had yet to commit to a debate.

"My team has committed to attend every debate but Mayor Strickland and Dr. Herenton have not done the same," her post reads.

Well, the short answer from Team Strickland is negotiations are ongoing, according to Steven Reid, political consultant to Strickland's campaign. He said Strickland prefers to have one well-publicized debate, although he's open to having two, but won't comto any debates unless all of the top candidates are on board.

"We're trying to get a debate that is fair and that also maximizes the exposure to the public," Reid told me this morning.

If Sawyer wants to debate and Strickland wants to debate, then it doesn't take a genius to see where the hold up is. And Herenton has a history of skipping debates. In 2010, he nixed a debate because he didn't like the panelists. And, in 2007, he skipped all of the debates because, as he told WMC Action News 5 at the time, he didn't "need them" and because his candidates were "unknown." The old Memphis Daily News had more:

"They had 14 candidates and I found myself sitting on the stage with all of these guys - everybody shooting at me because I was the incumbent," Herenton said [recalling a past debate]. "I said, 'Never will I do that again.' If I'm the incumbent, I have a record. I should be judged on my record."

Herenton was right about debates giving lesser-known candidates a stage and microphone. If he refuses a debate, maybe it's because he's banking on his high name recognition — and because he doesn't want to give a microphone to his opponents.

But that doesn't mean he should take the easy way out. Sawyer is exactly right about the importance of debates. For the city's voters, the debates are a rare opportunity to hear candidates publicly discuss their plans and poke holes in each other's rhetoric.

Yes, debates can be messy and risky for candidates, but it's also an opportunity to shine, as the Democratic presidential debate last night showed.

Herenton and his team didn't immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

If Herenton backs out, then it's doubtful Strickland will agree to debate either Sawyer or businessman Lemichael Wilson, the fourth candidate with enough fundraising to be considered a contender. Reid said as much when he said Strickland wouldn't debate if "all" of the top candidates aren't committed. No Herenton means no debate. Period.

And that's unfortunate.

Politically, I get why Team Strickland would make that call. If voters see Strickland and Sawyer bickering, that opens the door for a Herenton surge. But it's unfortunate because voter turnout has been so dismally low in recent Memphis elections, with just 27.8% of registered city voters turning out in the previous city election in 2015.

One reason why voters have given up on the democratic process is that they so rarely get to see candidates be real with voters. Not that candidates are "real" in every debate. But the best debates pull the curtain aside just enough to let us glimpse the person under the politician's facade, to see how they react when they're put on the spot. They give voters a sense of whether a candidate should actually govern.

So, if any candidates are considering skipping this year's debates, they should consider how important the debates are to an informed electorate — and reconsider.

Because, as I said before, Memphis deserves a debate.

Speaking of Memphis' Oct. 3 elections...

As Memphis enters the final stretch of the 2019 political season, the political news is piling up quickly. Here are a few interesting goings-on around town:

Parkinson snubs Greer at Raleigh event?

Last year, Rep. Antonio "2Shay" Parkinson, D-Memphis, went all in on Rhonda Logan's hotly contested appointment by the Memphis City Council to its District 1 seat.

And, judging by the latest from the Memphis Flyer's Jackson Baker, he's still a fan.

Parkinson, Logan and District 1 interim council member Sherman Greer were all together for the opening of the Raleigh Farmers Market earlier this week. And yes, it was awkward. Here's the anecdote from Jackson:

Logan was there as director of the Raleigh Community Development Corporation, as was Greer as councilman for the affected area. Both spoke at the event, and both were introduced by Parkinson, who noticeably stumbled over Greer's name and made a point of profusely apologizing. No harm, no foul — except that later, when Parkinson posted a video of the event on his Facebook page, he did so over the following text: "State Representative Antonio Parkinson, Rhonda Logan for Memphis City Council District 1, Willie Brooks For County Commission, Announce Plans for New Raleigh Farmers Market."

Reaves eyes Bartlett mayor's race

Former Shelby County Commissioner David Reaves of Bartlett announced on Facebook last night that he's decided against running for retiring Rep. Jim Coley's seat.

Instead, the Republican said he'll consider a campaign to succeed Keith McDonald as mayor of Bartlett in 2022 — which is a quite a ways away. In the meantime, he said, he'll focus on being a "Bartlett guy," doing community work. Here's his Facebook post:

The latest on the Southaven Walmart shooting

Two days later, here's what we know about the tragic shooting at the Southaven, Mississippi, Walmart, that left two employees dead and a police officer wounded:

Mempho festival unveils lineup, schedule

The Mempho Music Festival at Shelby Farms Park has announced its lineup and started selling tickets, our Bob Mehr reports. Bob's story has the details, but here's the lineup:

Oct. 19 First Tennessee Stage: The Raconteurs

Wu Tang Clan

Margo Price

Sun Studio Tribute featuring Jerry Phillips, Jason D. Williams, Amy LaVere, David Brookings, John Paul Keith, Will Sexton, Lahna Deering, Seth Moody, George Sluppick and Graham Winchester AutoZone Stage: DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia

Reignwolf

Matt Maeson

Marcella & Her Lovers

Summer Avenue Oct. 20 First Tennessee Stage: Brandi Carlile

The Revivalists

PJ Morton

Smith & Thell AutoZone Stage: lovelytheband

Valerie June

Missio

Lord T & Eloise

Mark Edgar Stuart

Speaking of Memphis music: Our Bob Mehr profiles Whitehaven-born rapper Duke Deuce, who — as Bob puts it — is having a moment.

Things to know, places to go, in the 901

The Fadeout: Allison Kasper's 'If Only'

Fading us out this morning, here's "If Only" from Memphis' Allison Kasper's debut album, "Seeing Red, Feeling Blue," released in June:

Like The Fadeout? The 901's Spotify playlist has all the Fadeouts featuring local artists.

Columnist Ryan Poe writes The 901, a running commentary on all things Memphis. Reach him at poe@commercialappeal.com and on Twitter @ryanpoe.

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