Dick Hackett, the last man to win a special election for mayor in Memphis, believes that the condensed election schedule provides big advantages to more well-known, well-financed, well-organized candidates.
"It gives a distinct advantage to someone with name recognition slash track record slash campaign organization," said Hackett, who won a 1982 special election after Wyeth Chandler's resignation. "If you have to buy name recognition it takes money and you only have a short time span to raise money. That makes it difficult for a less well-known public figure."
In other words, advantage A C Wharton, the county mayor who enters the contest with a healthy campaign finance war chest, an established organization and a name that has always done well in public-opinion polls.
Hackett said that seeing people out at intersections this morning campaigning with "A C" for mayor paraphernalia reminded him of 1982, when his supporters spread out across Memphis to give the "Hackett" brand early visibility.
Hackett said he was also helped by having just run a successful race for County Court Clerk.
"So we just did not break stride," Hackett said.
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