Thursday, August 13, 2009
Dear God ... No: UPDATE -- Official Statement from Herenton
Posted by Jackson Baker on Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Saying that "the city I love deserves better" than the alternatives offered it, recently retired former mayor Willie Herenton picked up a petition from the Election Commission Thursday morning to run in the Ocober 15th special mayoral election to succeed himself.
Herenton also proposed in a statement to sponsor a referendum resolution "to rescind the current charter amendment that elevated Myron Lowery to the office of Mayor Pro Tem [and] prescribe limitations on the powers of a non-elected mayor. "
The mayor's statement follows:My primary political goal is to represent the ninth congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. I have every intention of being a congressional candidate during the August 2010 election.Even as a stunned city was awaiting elaboration on Herenton's reasons for running to succeed himself, reactions from others were coming fast and furious.However, during the interim, recent events have compelled me to step forth to provide leadership and express my sincere feelings on how our city can continue to move forward, despite our current dilemma.
My recent retirement from the office of Mayor has created this situation and I feel obligated to seek alternatives to Myron Lowery and an “anyone can win” mayoral race.
The city I love deserves better.
Therefore, I am also preparing a referendum resolution that would allow the citizens of Memphis to rescind the current charter amendment that elevated Myron Lowery to the office of Mayor Pro Tem. This resolution would prescribe limitations on the powers of a non-elected mayor.
It is clear to many citizens that my retirement from office created opportunities for Mayor Pro Tem Lowery and a puzzling list of mayoral candidates to turn our city backward. I am=2 0disappointed in Myron’s reckless style of leadership. He must be stopped.
We cannot allow Mayor Pro Tem Lowery to be elected mayor during the upcoming special election. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict a clear winner with a complicated array of mayoral candidates in the race.
Therefore, I have pulled a petition to run in the upcoming mayoral special election.
Calling Herenton’s action “outrageous,” Shelby County Election Commission chairman Bill Giannini noted, “Because of this man’s resignation we’re already going to be out a million dollars in order to hold this special election. I’m sure the voters will find that hard to forget.”
Mayor Pro Tem Lowery “welcomes anyone who wants to run in this race,” according to Donna Davis, his spokesperson. Said Davis: “Mayor Lowery thinks it’s up to the citizens to decide. If Mayor Herenton has changed his mind [about retiring], welcome to the pack. Mayor Lowery himself is still running."
Candidate Carol Chumney's reaction was even more matter-of-fact: "We're just moving ahead with our campaign."
Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, generally considered the front runner in the special mayoral election, had this to say via Twitter: "Tired of the drama? Show the world who YOU support for Mayor. Rally tmrrw nite," then referenced his campaign website. Wharton spokerson Tonya Meeks later issued a fuller statement on the county mayor's behalf, containing these key sentences: "Mayor Wharton has not and will not comment on any other candidate in the race. His focus is on running his campaign and laying out a progressive vision for this community.
Candidate Jerry Lawler released a lengthy statement in which he said, "Once more we are being hounded and polluted by the same tired, old political games. With the announcement that former mayor Herenton has pulled a petition to run in the upcoming special election, this city needs a fresh start more than ever."
But Lawler concurred with one aspect of Herenton's statement: "I, like Mr. Herenton and many Memphians, am extremely concerned and troubled by Mayor Pro Tem Lowery's overzealous power grabs."
Fox News 13 had reported this morning that a source close to Herenton said the former mayor knew nothing about the petition being pulled in his name. However, the Flyer subsequently learned from several sources at the Election Commission and first reported that Herenton himself picked up the petition.
Then came the issuance of Herenton's statement.
Back during the period between June 25, when Herenton announced his retirement plans and July 30, when his retirement ceremony actually occurred in the Hall of Mayors, Herenton had been notoriously evasive about when he would follow through on leaving the office.
It had largely been forgotten in the aftermath of the retirement, but mayoral intimate Sidney Chism had actually theorized during that period of uncertainty that Herenton might himself run in the special election.
More to come, as this story develops.
Comments (66)
Showing 1-50 of 66
And if it is true, please God, help revive the local real estate market so I can sell my condo and move to Germantown....
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So now he's saying he didn't?
Wonder what the voices in his head will tell him to say in five minutes....
Willie Herrenton thinks he's the sun, and each one of us is a tiny meaningless speck orbiting helplessly around him.
If Memphians really want someone with delusions of grandeur and a tendency toward inexplicable, erratic behavior, isn't it time they voted for Prince Mongo? Or would he be too stable?
It's like a James Brown stage show...he keeps throwing the cape off and stomping back to the microphone.....no wait.....more like a really bad B movie where the monster keeps getting back up...what will it take to kill this bastard?
Actually, doesn't Mongo spend most of his time in Florida?
He'd be an ideal mayor!
how about a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the citizens of Memphis asking for their $1 million back?
I'd like my share in small bills, plesae.
I dont know if anyone has read the statement that Herenton made, you will see how truly outrageous this is! He claims to be doing this because he cant bare to see the city he loves in this much turmoil and that he will still run for congress, but keep the city afloat in the mean time. He has truly lost his mind.
Clearly he did it just to kill off Les Paul, just like he did it last time to kill of Michael Jackson.
They should really name a strain of herpes after this man...a really bad, persistent strain.
Sailor: Like the James Brown Show analogy... "Please, Please, Please, Please ....!!!"
There was mention of a rally tomorrow night and a reference to the Wharton website. Their website appears to be down for maintenance. Does anyone have any additional information?
It seems rare that the citizens of this city gather publicly to demonstrate their disapproval of any situation. I would suggest this is the time, but where is the place?
Does this mean that he is drawing his retirement and if indicted won't lose his pension? A large portion of Memphis might vote to return him to office. I love living in Desoto County!!
Hmm, so since Herenton already has his pension, and since this election is about filling a vacancy, Herenton might be considered a "new hire". Would Herenton get paid the Mayor's salary AND receive his pension?!? Could Herenton effectively double his yearly income from the government?
I love Desoto as well, No need to go to a circus when I have this much entertainment.
Yes, because clearly he is the saviour of this city, and not at all responsible for any of the multitude of problems here.
I am sure Drake is beating his head on his desk now >>>>>>NO DEAR GOD NO, just when I thought this idiot was DONE.
To paraphrase Michael Corleone in Godfather III: "Just when I thought we were out, he pulls us back in."
I'm hoping for the next Flyer cover to be a headline "WTF" in 8inch type and a photo of Herenton.
RNF: Interesting you should say that. We were just discussing how to handle next week's cover. My position: Herenton's just another candidate now, no more deserving of special coverage than Myron, Carol, AC, whoever.
I'm at a loss for words on this one... except for WTF is wrong this guy. He has got to be senile! Definition below:
1 : of, relating to, exhibiting, or characteristic of old age ; especially : exhibiting a loss of cognitive abilities (as memory) associated with old age
2 : approaching the end of a geological cycle of erosion
— se·nile·ly \-ˌnī(-ə)l-lē\ adverb
So am I right?
bruce: true. But it certain adds to the confusion over who the F will this. welcome to the "et al." special election.
oops. meant to say "bruce: true. But it certain adds to the confusion over who the F will win. welcome to the "et al." special election.
Willie Herenton has no intention whatsoever of running for mayor again; he only pulled the petition to make the news. He's throwing a public temper tantrum in a bid to get the media to pay more attention to what he's saying about Myron Lowery than to what Myron Lowery is doing to clean up the mess he left behind.
He only gets to use that trick once, so let's just ignore it and move on.
He's like a kid whose temper tantrum bluff has been called. He can't give it up, because it's all he knows. If he isn't elected mayor, he's going to hold his breath.
Isn't there some sort of ethics committee that can stop this from happening. It all seems like a well orchestrated plan on his part. Draw his pension, and get a salary if he does indeed run in October and win? Somebody, somewhere should be able to find a way to keep the creature retired you'd think. This can't be happening, it's worse than my worst nightmare, he's like Michael Myers (a la Halloween), he just won't go away.......
Bruce, here's your cover: Herenton as a bull rampaging through glass shelves with small china figurines of the other candidates being sent flying all over.
Just when you think Memphis' reputation can't get any worse, someone comes along and lowers the bar yet again.
Willie was all set to run for the 9th Congressional seat until John Branston pointed out that Lowery was too fat to be mayor.
You gotta hand it to Willie...he couldn't get this much attention if he walked into a bar on Beale Street, ripped off his shirt and started beating up a half-naked old man.
Where are the "teabaggers" now that we really need them?
I'm convinced that Herenton is a vampire (in more ways than one), and that what it will take to finally get rid of him is a stake through the heart (figuratively speaking). The only thing I can think of that qualifies is a federal indictment, but I'm not even sure that would do it.
Herrenton should use "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley for his campaign song.
"Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Possibly"
Myron is simply a prop for Herrenton to use as a brilliant excuse to nurture his own attention fix.
The only thing more predictable than Herenton reversing himself, would be Marty the Humbug showing up to post more of his intolerant drivel.
If you don't like teabaggers, then simply quit showing up at the Pumping Station flying that particular hanky code.
I think I just saw Crazy Jackie (civil rights museum) and Willie discussing campaign strategy under her tarps by the fire department.
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