I’ve been watching the news this week, keeping up with the Draft A.C. movement. Concerned Memphians are trying to draft Shelby County mayor A.C. Wharton into the Memphis mayor’s race, believing he’s the only potential candidate who can beat current Memphis mayor Willie Herenton.
If he runs, things could get real interesting… the vote would be split four ways between Wharton, Herenton, former MLGW head Herman Morris, and City Councilwoman Carol Chumney. Given that there are other, minor candidates in the race, someone could win the election with only 25% of the vote. There are no runoffs.
So, who am I supporting for mayor?
Anybody but Willie.
Last election, I voted for Herenton, believing he had done a good job for Downtown Memphis. But since then, he has become arrogant and corrupt. He hasn’t done anything substantial to reduce crime, the #1 issue in most Memphians’ minds. Sure he proposed adding more police, but the move comes with such a big price tag that it will almost certainly never fly. He hasn’t been a LEADER – he hasn’t led the citizens of Memphis to become actively involved on a personal basis in the fight against crime. His most notable accomplishment of 2006 was beating a 63-year-old man in a boxing match.
It’s time for “King Willie” to go. I could live with any of Wharton, Morris, or Chumney as mayor. My first choice would be Wharton, but any of the three would be fine with me.
So, here’s what I’m going to do. As election day approaches, I’m going to watch the polls closely. If it appears that one of Wharton, Morris or Chumney is pulling away from the back, I’m throwing my support behind that candidate. I want to vote for a winner – as long as the winner isn’t Willie.
You know, last year I had a Steve Cohen banner at the top of my blog… maybe I need to make an “Anybody But Willie” banner.