Willie F. Brooks, Jr. is a Democratic candidate for Register of Deeds, currently serving in the office after his election in August 2022. A retired professional HR Program Management Advisor, Brooks administered corporate compensation programs for U.S. Operations at FedEx, earning the company’s Five Star Award and holding Senior Professional Human Resources certification. His public service record includes tenure on the Memphis City School Board of Commissioners, the Memphis Charter Commission, and the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, where he served as Chairman starting in 2021. Brooks emphasizes community engagement and mentorship throughout his career. He has held leadership roles within Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., receiving the Elder Watson Diggs Award for meritorious achievements. Additionally, he served as National Chairman of St. Jude Partnership Initiatives, raising over $2.7 million through the Sunday of Hope Program. As Chairman of the African American Network at FedEx, he recruited more than 200 employees to mentor underserved youth. Brooks is also a Deacon at Temple of Deliverance of Church of God in Christ and a 33rd degree Prince Hall Mason. His civic affiliations include board memberships with the Memphis Urban League, April 4th Foundation, and Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau. The biography provided does not mention any public controversies or legal issues relevant to his candidacy.

Shelandra Y. Ford is a Democratic candidate seeking the Shelby County Register of Deeds position in the May 5, 2026 primary. A Memphis native and current Deputy Treasurer for the City of Memphis, Ford previously served as Register of Deeds from 2018 to 2022. She was the first woman and first African American elected to the office before losing her bid for re-election in 2022. Her professional background includes over 24 years in Shelby County government, with experience at the Health Department and six and a half years as principal court clerk at General Sessions. During her prior tenure, Ford established a free property fraud alert program, opened satellite offices in Downtown Memphis and Southbrook Mall, and upgraded office systems to support e-filing. She also advocated for state legislation requiring identification for deed filings. Ford highlights her record of integrity and transparency, noting that she publicly clashed with the Shelby County Commission in 2019 over funding for archives staffing. She describes finding permanent records stored in garbage bags during that dispute. Ford has also previously run for General Sessions Court Clerk, losing to Tami Sawyer in the 2024 Democratic primary.