The Shelby County Democratic Party might host convention to pick a candidate to endorse in the special election to replace Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton.
With as many as 15 possible candidates in the race - most of them Democrats -- Democratic Party Chairman Van Turner said it's important for the party to back one so Democrats don't split the vote. Candidates A C Wharton, Carol Chumney and Charles Carpenter are all Democrats.
The city election, however, is non-partisan.
"We would want to promote one Democrat and at least have one person we could focus our efforts on and get that person in," Van Turner said.
By Aug. 6, the party should know how it will go about selecting this endorsee, Van Turner said.
Possible methods include:
Hosting a people's convention in which only registered Democrats would be invited to hear the candidates speak and vote on their pick. The winner of the event would win the party's backing.
Host a fundraiser for the party and conduct a straw poll where guests vote on a preferred candidate. The winner would win the party's endorsement.
Partner with another organization to host a forum, let the candidates talk, answer questions and then vote on a candidate of choice. The winner would win the party's endorsement.
"Although the mayor's race is non-partisan," Van Turner said, "most of the candidates in the field are Democrats, and the danger in all of this is you would have several Democrats running against one another. From a party standpoint, that's not entirely healthy."
Yeah, I can just see Chumney or Strickland getting the nod out of this process.
Here we go again with Coliseum Consensus, only by party proxy.
I bet there's a lawyer at the bottom of all this. OR I bet there's a lawyer at the top of all this? Which is it ? :)
Wait.. Wait.. I got it. Let's get all the candidates together at Libertyland (what's left of it). Get Steve Mulroy and his folks to get the Pippin cranked up. The candidate who can ride the Pippin the longest without falling out or having a heart attack wins !! Sell tickets to watch the event, and give the proceeds to St Jude.
Haters?!? It's pretty clear from Red Rumpknuckle's post where the hate is coming from.
A crowded field means Jim Strickland wins, A.C. loses. The "splitting of the vote" the democrats are concerned about is not to prevent a Republican victory, but an A.C. loss.
A. C.'s camp knows this, and have not only contacted every candidate and potential candidate, but now it seems they want the Democratic Party also on their side.
But, hey, it's good politics and they are right to try it; nevertheless, I will call them on it.