While Eye on City Hall is not in the habit of printing all mayoral endorsements, the dual endorsement of Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery and Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton by the Memphis Police Association underscores some telling themes in the Oct. 15 election to replace Willie Herenton.
The Memphis Police Association, the union representing Memphis police, has never in its history endorsed two candidates. But union members were split between Lowery and Wharton, so union president J.D. Sewell said they decided to back both.
Officers have been happy with Lowery, Sewell said. While on the City Council, he's routinely supported Memphis police and earlier this year voted to let officers keep a negotiated 3 percent raise threatened by budget cuts. As mayor, officers have also been impressed with Lowery's openness and transparency, Sewell said.
But Wharton - the favored frontrunner in this race -- was not to be ignored. He's been "working hard to get our endorsement and telling us his ideas," Sewell said.
"And so to not lose either one, I thought why not endorse both?" Sewell said.
While Lowery has said as mayor he has no plans to get rid of police director Larry Godwin, Wharton has said he would find the most qualified person for the job, even if that means conducting a national search.
Sewell said he's told both candidates the association wants a police director who will work well with the candidates. Asked about the association's relationship with Godwin, Sewell said only that "it could be better."
This endorsement could also be interpreted to reveal the waning strength of candidate Carol Chumney, a former City Councilwoman.
Chumney received the association's mayoral endorsement in 2007 because she was perceived as the candidate most able to defeat Herenton, the incumbent, Sewell said.
Two years later, Chumney's strength as a candidate appears to have waned, at least in the eyes of some.
"She was up there but she didn't make the top two." Sewell said. "We just believe Myron and AC are a little bit better than Carol."
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