Shelby Co. Clerk Wanda Halbert asks to delay county commission appearance amid investigation

Brooke Muckerman, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·1 min read
Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert gives a tour of the clerk’s office to The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, January 5, 2024.
Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert gives a tour of the clerk’s office to The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, January 5, 2024.

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert was set to appear during Wednesday's Shelby County Commission committee meeting but requested a delay in her appearance.

Halbert said in an email obtained by The Commercial Appeal that she planned to speak during last week's full commission meeting but did not as she was only awarded 2 minutes as a "general citizen." Halbert sent the email Tuesday afternoon.

Halbert said in the email she would like a month's delay for her appearance because state auditors arrived only a few days before. Halbert also said she was informed of the auditors, requested by the Tennessee Comptroller, on Friday.

More: Shelby County Clerk submits revised revenue reports. Trustee says they are still incorrect

Comptroller of the Treasury Jason E. Mumpower's letter announcing he was sending a team to Shelby County was sent out on Feb. 27.

According to sources within Shelby County Government, Halbert's appearance has been rescheduled to an early April meeting.

The expected appearance comes after months of woes regarding the clerk's handling of financial reports and leases in her offices. This would have been the first time Halbert would have spoken with commissioners publicly since the announcement of a special investigation.

Brooke Muckerman covers Shelby County Government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at (901) 484-6225, brooke.muckerman@commercialappeal.com and followed on X, formerly known as Twitter @BrookeMuckerman.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert delays county commission appearance