Shelby County Trustee
August 6, 2026 · Shelby County, Tennessee · County · general
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 0 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 919,173 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(919,173 ÷ 919,173) ÷ ln(919,173 ÷ 5,079) = 0, comparing counties in TN (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: None · only 1 candidate
One candidate is running unopposed, so votes can't change the outcome.
Low representation + an uncontested race → Very low vote impact.
County Treasurer is responsible for:
- Holding and managing the county's money
- Collecting property taxes in many counties
- Investing county funds until they are needed
- Paying out money as the county board directs
Affected Areas: Anti-Corruption, Government Efficiency, Government Spending Reduction, Housing Affordability
Candidates
Joseph Lee, III
Democratic · declared
Joseph Lee III serves as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer in the Shelby County Trustee's Office, where he was appointed in 2019. His prior public-finance roles include City of Memphis treasurer and finance director and president and chief executive officer of Memphis Light, Gas and Water. Lee earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Christian Brothers University and a master's degree in operations management from the University of Arkansas, and he served nine years in the U.S. Navy.
Election sources
Source: electionsshelbytn.gov
Source: electionsshelbytn.gov
Source: electionsshelbytn.gov
Source: electionsshelbytn.gov