As of today, Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton is still retiring.
That's the latest from spokeswoman Toni Holmon-Turner, who confirmed this morning that Herenton's last day is still July 30. The mayor is also still clearing out his seventh floor office at City Hall, even though it is "not empty" yet, Holmon-Turner said.
But the resignation that looks more real by the day is not official until it's in writing, according to City Councilwoman Wanda Halbert (left), who last week called the City Council's vote declaring a July 30 mayoral vacancy "unethical."
Halbert said today she'd still like the city's ethics compliance office to review whether the council "overstepped its level of authority granted by the United States Constitution."
She's asked city attorney Elbert Jefferson about spurring that inquiry.
Halbert said the seven members who voted in favor of the vacancy overstepped their role as legislators by circumventing the administration. Since the latest vote, the council has become divided because "some people love him and some people hate the mayor," she said.
But, Halbert said, "it's not about our personal opinions about the mayor. It's about the office and the authorities of both the legislative and executive body. The man rescinded his stuff. And I mean we can't do anything until we know when he's planning to leave."
Speaking of Halbert, the Internet is buzzing today about whether Halbert will consider a run in the special election to replace Herenton, if and when he steps down.
Halbert said even though a "diverse group of constituents have asked me to consider it," she's not discussing a mayoral campaign at the moment.
Wanda.... don't listen to the voices telling you to run. You've already reached your Peter Principle peak.
How long has Halbert been thinking about a possible run, 2 days? 2 month? 2 years? 2 decades?
Did this influence her vote? Please. This ain't unethical, it's political gamesmanship, put in motion by Mayor Herenton.
Let's all play along.....
"Rescinded his stuff"? Is that like "going down" as opposed to happening where it's easier to use words associated with belongings and crime than to come across as intelligent?
I don't believe the Memphis City Council is granted any powers one way or the other by the United States Constitution. The founding fathers may have been farsighted, but I don't think they were that farsighted.
Ha ha ha ha,
Wanda Halbert, or any other member of the City Council calling something unethical.....these folks have demonstrated time and again that they wouldn't know unethical if it was a large, hairy beast, and it bit them on the b**t. This statement is merely Ms. Halbert's attempt to get her name in print as "Defender of THE man".