So far prospective candidates include Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, City Council Chairman Myron Lowery and former City Councilwoman Carol Chumney. Others rumored to be strongly considering a run include Herenton ally Charles Carpenter and City Councilman Jim Strickland.
Lowery said the special election could be held anywhere from 90 to 180 days from now.
Chumney, who lost the race for Memphis mayor in 2008, showed up at the end of the press conference and made herself known as a candidate for mayor.
Although Chumney has been out of the public eye since her failed bid, she spoke confidently about her ability to position herself as the best candidate for the job. She said she has had time to be a private citizen and has gotten a different perspective on government. She's also trying to position herself as the candidate for change, saying she's "the only one that can bring clean honest government. I'm the only one that can clean up the city."
Meanwhile, Lowery is taking the opposite approach. He will take over as interim mayor when Herenton resigns and plans to run in the special election.
He's positioning himself as the candidate of experience. He was sworn into the City Council in 1992, the same day Herenton was sworn in as Memphis Mayor. "No other candidate can say that."
"I will be the best candidate because of my history of experience with the city. No one brings the amount of experience dealing with the city of Memphis that I bring."
Both Lowery and Chumney expressed confidence in their ability to beat Wharton, who has already announced plans to run for Memphis mayor.
Lowery said, unlike Wharton, his experience has been working full-time for the citizens of Memphis.
Chumney said the public is sick and tired of the same old business as usual.
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