Your Daily Mayoral Retirement Update comes from Shelby County Commissioner Sidney Chism, who confirmed earlier today that Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton still plans to retire tomorrow.
Herenton is serious about his run for U.S. State Rep. Steve Cohen's Congressional seat and he's ready to focus on his campaign for the 2010 election, Chism said.
Chism, who is serving as Herenton's campaign manager, said they're already moving furniture into Herenton's South Memphis headquarters on S. Third Street. The headquarters will be ready to open its doors in the upcoming weeks.
"We gonna beat up on Cohen bad," Chism said of the campaign.
Herenton has not yet raised any money compared to Cohen's $752,003, according to recent federal election commission filings. But Chism said they'll rely largely on support from Herenton's strong, South Memphis base. Those voters have given the five-term mayor unwavering support in the past 17 years.
As for strategy, Chism said they'll emphasize the need for African-American representation in Washington.
"We're going to drive that home and let the people decide," he said.
The campaign slogan will be "Keeping it Real."
Praise the Laud, Bro.
Chism's statement is the very reason why Herenton should not be in office anywhere. To say 'we're gonna beat up on Cohen' says he's only in it for the fight and NOT the people. Herenton simply likes to HOLD office. He doesn't actually want to do anything when he gets there.
Herenton has to hoodwink a whole new lot of people to pull this one off. I will volunteer for Cohen as well as financially support his campaign. Herenton's ego need not go any further than it already has. His only reason for wanting office is because Cohen is white.
I implore the people of Tennessee to stop Herenton's race-baiting, confrontational, noncommittal ways at the closed doors of Memphis City Hall.
That is all...
Will someone please tell The Mayor and Mr. Chism that their overuse of slang is starting to get irritating. Really, the Mayor has a PH.D. in EDUCATION and the best campaign slogan he could muster up is "Keeping It Real". And Mr. Chism, "we gonna beat up on Cohen bad", are you serious? I am a 27 year old black female and I -as well as many other blacks- wish you all would really stop with the ignorance and race baiting. And if you all are looking for CAMPAIGN DONATIONS, I'm sorry to say but South Memphis is the last place -it would seem- that a Ph.D. in Education would think to look.
"We gonna beat up on Cohen bad,"
Nice grammer Mr. Chism.
Am I really reading this right? According to Mr. Chism, Herenton's campaign is basically going be that he is African-American and Cohen isn't. You have got to be kidding me! Leadership qualities transcend skin color and while Steve Cohen hasn't had the same life as a young black male in Orange Mound, that does not at all mean he is incapable of providing proper and effective representation for the aforementioned young black male.
I'm torn between being glad that I am no longer in the 9th Congressional District (because this is no longer my problem) and being disappointed that I am no longer there to cast a vote against this type of race-baiting which can only lead to further deterioration in race relations...and we all know that Memphis has a pathetic track record in that category.
All Cohen has to do is let Little Willie open that fly trap of his.
Willie hasn't done squat for the last 8 years and that record speaks for itself!
Bass Pro ? up in the air
Fairgrounds? same thing
MSARC? what a fiasco!
His cronies as directors of city services? what a joke!
Crime in our fair city? ask Antonio Burks!
By the way Willie, how's your baby doing, have you visited him lately?
Greyhound bus station that one smells too.
I could go on and on but for the sake of brevity I won't.
Sidney,
You are going to lose bad.
Am I the only one that is uncomfortable with the use of a violent / fighting metaphor. First, its a U.S. house seat from one of the most violent cities in America. Second, it comes on the same day that warrants are issued for Antonio's shooter(s). It seems inappropriate, to say the least, and down right offensive to me, to invoke images of violence in this city at this time.
That Sidney. He's one classy dude.
Nikki Tinker tried to "beat up on Cohen bad" and look where it got her. What role models.
Cohen don't know nothing about "keeping it real". That confused, lottery promoting, African American exploiting chump is going to see what happens when King Willie "Mugabe" goes to beating up on him. If he can beat Smokin Joe he can take Cohen. Black folks know that dude aint kosher and they is gonna put a real man back in da House. A man that has shorties to feed.
It is curious to me tht the focus is always on the south part of town where the ex mayor's support is so strong. However, the line for that district extends into Cordova and Germantown Rd. if I'm not mistaken. Can't imagine that too many folks in annexed Cordova would vote for the likes of him.
Why doesn't Herenton try to become president of Lemoyne Owen College? He's always saying his heart's in education and he's a graduate.
Please tell me that this long nightmare is finally over.
Sidney Chism has been playing the race card ever since I've know him over 38 years.I battled Sidney when we worked at Schliz Brewing Co. in the Seventies and eighties he was a low life then and he is a low life now.For some reason the Black people don't mind being lied too and robbed by another Blackman.
This will come down to wheather Cohen votes for this dumass health care bill. If he does Cohen is gone....
Last time Sidney had class was in High school,How anybody could vote for Sidney Chism is beyond me.Steve Cohen is getting what he deserves,keep on feeding the monster and one day the monster will eat you or better yet play with fire and you will get burnt.