It's been a whirlwind month since Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton announced his retirement. While it seems everyone in town has thrown their hat in the ring to be the next Memphis mayor, Herenton's own plans have been confusing, to say the least. On the eve of Herenton's official retirement Thursday, we hope this primer helps you understand what in the heck has been going on.
The Mayor
Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton -- the city's first elected black mayor - announced his retirement on June 25, pledging to run for U.S. Congress in 2010 and go into business with his son, Rodney. Herenton, 69, had originally planned to step down July 10 but later delayed his retirement until July 30, spurring confusion and speculation about whether he would leave office at all.
This is the second announced resignation for Herenton, a South Memphis native and former boxing champion who went on to win an unprecedented five terms as mayor.
He resigned the first time in March 2008 but later changed his mind after a failed pursuit for the Memphis City Schools superintendent's job.
The Letters
A lot of confusion surrounds Herenton's written intent to retire. When he announced his retirement on June 25, he submitted a formal letter of resignation stating his intent to leave office July 10. But two weeks later, Herenton replaced that letter with another announcing his decision to delay his exit until July 30. Still later he sent a sparsely-worded third letter "rescinding" all written correspondence surrounding his resignation plans. The lack of formal correspondence would pose a problem for the Memphis City Council, the body tasked with declaring a vacancy in the mayor's office. See below.
The City Council
The Memphis City Council is formally tasked with declaring a vacancy in the mayor's office. Such a vacancy sets in motion the process for the Shelby County Election Commission (see below) to organize a special election. But without a formal letter from Herenton, the Council faced a major problem when, in mid-July, it set about discussing a resolution declaring a vacancy. On July 21, the Council went ahead with declaring a vacancy anyway, after a tense 7-6 vote, prompting the Election Commission to later set dates for a special election. Herenton decried these actions, calling them "premature." He later called members of the council and commission "perverted" and racist for pushing him out of office.
The Shelby County Election Commission
The Election Commission is required to organize and hold a special election to replace Herenton. But without Herenton's plans in writing, the commission struggled to set definitive dates and start planning the election, which could cost city taxpayers in excess of $1 million. Still, after the council declared a formal vacancy, the commission met on July 22 and set an Oct. 27 date for the special election. The filing deadline for candidates will be Sept. 17 at noon. Some commissioners called the timetable premature, but others said dates were important as long as commission employees did not start work on the election until after Herenton's official departure.
The Mayor Pro Tem
According to the city of Memphis charter, City Council Chairman Myron Lowery will become the interim mayor if and when Herenton steps down. It didn't take long, however, for Lowery, a five-term councilman, to rub Herenton the wrong way.
Shortly after Herenton's announced resignation, Lowery started prepping for his 90-day stint as the city's leader, introducing his transition team and announcing projects he'd like to tackle such as development of the Mid-South Fairgrounds and The Pyramid.
At one time it was rumored that Herenton would delay his retirement to block Lowery from serving in the mayor's seat. Lowery has announced his intention to run in a special election to replace Herenton.
The Candidates
News of a vacancy in the Memphis mayor's office has piqued the interest of more than a dozen would-be candidates, and jockeying for the seat started only moments after Herenton first announced his retirement. Lowery and former mayoral candidate Carol Chumney jumped in the race at City Hall on June 25. Herenton's longtime campaign manager Charles Carpenter followed suit weeks later. But by far the candidate with the biggest head start is Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, who announced his intention to run in the mayor's race last fall and has so far raised more than $88,000, according to election finance filings. Other declared candidates include Memphis City Schools board commissioners Kenneth Whalum Jr. and Sharon Webb, Shelby County Commissioner James Harvey, professional wrestler Jerry Lawler and perennial candidate Robert "Prince Mongo" Hodges. Undecided candidates include former city councilman Edmund Ford Sr., former mayoral candidate Herman Morris, City Councilman Kemp Conrad and City Court Clerk Thomas Long.
The Mayor
Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton -- the city's first elected black mayor - announced his retirement on June 25, pledging to run for U.S. Congress in 2010 and go into business with his son, Rodney. Herenton, 69, had originally planned to step down July 10 but later delayed his retirement until July 30, spurring confusion and speculation about whether he would leave office at all. This is the second announced resignation for Herenton, a South Memphis native and former boxing champion who went on to win an unprecedented five terms as mayor.
He resigned the first time in March 2008 but later changed his mind after a failed pursuit for the Memphis City Schools superintendent's job.
The Letters
A lot of confusion surrounds Herenton's written intent to retire. When he announced his retirement on June 25, he submitted a formal letter of resignation stating his intent to leave office July 10. But two weeks later, Herenton replaced that letter with another announcing his decision to delay his exit until July 30. Still later he sent a sparsely-worded third letter "rescinding" all written correspondence surrounding his resignation plans. The lack of formal correspondence would pose a problem for the Memphis City Council, the body tasked with declaring a vacancy in the mayor's office. See below.
The City Council
The Memphis City Council is formally tasked with declaring a vacancy in the mayor's office. Such a vacancy sets in motion the process for the Shelby County Election Commission (see below) to organize a special election. But without a formal letter from Herenton, the Council faced a major problem when, in mid-July, it set about discussing a resolution declaring a vacancy. On July 21, the Council went ahead with declaring a vacancy anyway, after a tense 7-6 vote, prompting the Election Commission to later set dates for a special election. Herenton decried these actions, calling them "premature." He later called members of the council and commission "perverted" and racist for pushing him out of office.
The Shelby County Election Commission
The Election Commission is required to organize and hold a special election to replace Herenton. But without Herenton's plans in writing, the commission struggled to set definitive dates and start planning the election, which could cost city taxpayers in excess of $1 million. Still, after the council declared a formal vacancy, the commission met on July 22 and set an Oct. 27 date for the special election. The filing deadline for candidates will be Sept. 17 at noon. Some commissioners called the timetable premature, but others said dates were important as long as commission employees did not start work on the election until after Herenton's official departure.
The Mayor Pro Tem
According to the city of Memphis charter, City Council Chairman Myron Lowery will become the interim mayor if and when Herenton steps down. It didn't take long, however, for Lowery, a five-term councilman, to rub Herenton the wrong way. Shortly after Herenton's announced resignation, Lowery started prepping for his 90-day stint as the city's leader, introducing his transition team and announcing projects he'd like to tackle such as development of the Mid-South Fairgrounds and The Pyramid.
At one time it was rumored that Herenton would delay his retirement to block Lowery from serving in the mayor's seat. Lowery has announced his intention to run in a special election to replace Herenton.
The Candidates
News of a vacancy in the Memphis mayor's office has piqued the interest of more than a dozen would-be candidates, and jockeying for the seat started only moments after Herenton first announced his retirement. Lowery and former mayoral candidate Carol Chumney jumped in the race at City Hall on June 25. Herenton's longtime campaign manager Charles Carpenter followed suit weeks later. But by far the candidate with the biggest head start is Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, who announced his intention to run in the mayor's race last fall and has so far raised more than $88,000, according to election finance filings. Other declared candidates include Memphis City Schools board commissioners Kenneth Whalum Jr. and Sharon Webb, Shelby County Commissioner James Harvey, professional wrestler Jerry Lawler and perennial candidate Robert "Prince Mongo" Hodges. Undecided candidates include former city councilman Edmund Ford Sr., former mayoral candidate Herman Morris, City Councilman Kemp Conrad and City Court Clerk Thomas Long.
Thank God Willie Is Gone. He was a worthless Mayor for Memphis.
i think he should take back up prize fighting, boxing. i think he might be good at that. he has a heck of reach, and i think he won his last fight. he he he. richard henry.
He has tormented the City of Memphis long enough! I just cannot believe people ever voted for him in the first place.
why all the hate? is it because King Willie "Mugabe" is a proud black man? King Willie "Mugabe" has done more for Memphis than any other mayor. For example, the Pyramid, all of the catagories where Memphis is number one per capita, MLG&W, now this is leadership "Mugabe" style!
King Willie "Mugabe" is going to keep shaking off the haters all the way to congress.
Thank you very much for that nicely written entry.
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