At least two Memphis mayoral candidates have blasted Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton - and his so-called attempts to "manipulate" the media -- for saying he's "troubled" by the crowded field of candidates jockeying to replace Memphis mayor Willie Herenton.
In a press release this morning, candidate Carol Chumney, a former mayoral candidate and longtime city and state legislator, said a crowded field is "expected in a democracy and demonstrates the fact that the race is 'wide-open with no clear frontrunner.'"
Wharton on Tuesday expressed concern about the growing field of candidates and said it would be preferable for the next mayor to be elected by "mandate" from the people and not in a "fluke" situation should candidates split the vote.
Chumney responded: "While there are some who would prefer to circumvent the will of the people in a democracy with back room deals, ultimately there will be an election and the people will have their say," she said.
Chumney went on to note Dick Hackett was elected Memphis mayor in a special election with a crowded field and went on to serve 10 years; Herenton also won in a margin of about 100 votes and later served 18 years.
She did not note, however, that the city's runoff provision was still in place when Hackett won the first time - he beat J.O. Patterson in a runoff in 1982 -- or that Herenton and Hackett were the primary candidates in the 1991 election.
Chumney concluded her statement by blasting Wharton's position in the race: "He knows he doesn't have a mandate of the people in this election and instead has to try to manipulate the press and the process."
This isn't the first time Chumney the candidate has raised issues with the media. After her defeat in 2007, Chumney expressed belief that the media contributed to Herenton's victory.
In her statement today she did not go so far as to accuse the media of being manipulated by Wharton.
But another candidate, Memphis City School Board commissioner Rev. Kenneth Whalum, Jr., wasn't so shy. Whalum has said numerous times that the media, specifically The Commercial Appeal, is pulling for Wharton.
He reiterated this belief in a comment on The Commercial Appeal's Web site Tuesday, saying the paper is apparently "reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally anxious for our county mayor to become our city mayor."
Whalum has also been critical of Wharton's campaign tactics, last week accusing Wharton of skipping a campaign forum in order to avoid being on equal footing with other candidates.
In an e-mail Tuesday Whalum blasted Wharton's statements on the crowded field.
"Where I'm from they call that HUBRIS :-)," he wrote.
Whalum also wrote that he got a call from a Wharton "emissary" last week asking if he'd be willing to "sit down and meet."
Stevie Wonder could see that AC Wharton has the full support of the Memphis paper and most of the ruling elite. The famously misinformed Otis Sanford has pronounced the county mayor the front runner and the CA loves nothing more than a front-runner.
Despite the media's fascination with polls, not every election is a horse race. Many Memphians will be unfamiliar with Wharton's record as county mayor. While the county has avoided financial boondoggles like the FedEd Forum and the Pyramid during his tenure, it's difficult to pinpoint Wharton's successes as county mayor. He may have managed to maintain the status quo, but the county's debt continued to grow throughout his administration. While the CA and Memphis power brokers would certainly be comfortable with a Wharton administration, the many problems Memphis faces will require far more than a caretaker.
Maybe, just maybe, the voters will overlook the CA's biased coverage and take control of city government. With a crowded field of candidates, it wouldn't require a vast majority to make a big difference. Wharton, the CA and the powers that be want a small field that is easier to control. I for one hope they don't get it. I hope Jerry Lawler and Prince Mongo both draw petitions along with a dozen others and may the best man (or woman) win.
Kevin, you show your ignorance, and your racial bias by blasting Carol Chumney.
All she is doing is telling it like it is.
If Wharton is the best man for the job, let him be elected from a field of candidates by the citizens of Memphis.
He's saying the same thing Herenton is by saying that he was concerned about who was going to run for mayor.
If you are a Memphis citizen, as well as an American, and you are old enough...guess what? You have the right to run for the Mayor's office of Memphis, whether you are black or white.
Now Kevin, you should ren-enroll in school, and learn correct grammar. Your 6th grade education is showing.
Pound for pound Carol Chumney is just as egotistical as Mayor Herenton. Her strongest trait to date is being there to complain, complain, complain. She's not offered any real ideas of what she wants to do to improve Memphis now and for the future. Listen to Jim Strickland's ideas stated at the candidates/potential candidates forum. Video is available at the CA website though I don't have the link.
He's a new breed - only 1.5 years in elected office though he's been involved behind the scenes for a number a years. I honestly don't agree with Strickland on everything politically and I've told him that (yes, I do know Strickland personally). Having said that, I know him to be a man that cares about his hometown, a man of integrity and a man that has ideas of what needs to happen and ideas to make that happen.
RUN STRICKLAND RUN!!!