Lawler weighs in on Herenton news

The latest candidate to weigh in on the Willie Herenton news today is Jerry Lawler. Here's his statement, as posted on his Web site: 

Voters of Memphis:

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.

Mr. Herenton said in an earlier statement that he "felt obligated to seek alternatives to Myron Lowery and an 'anyone can win' mayoral race." To both Mr. Herenton and the voters of our city, I say, "What's wrong with an 'anyone can win' mayoral race? Isn't that democracy? Isn't that the will of the people? Isn't that what elections are all about and what our country was founded upon? Or is Mr. Herenton only happy with elections that only he can easily win?

The October special election is going to cost our city over a million dollars. That's a million dollars that could have been used to hire and train more police officers to keep our communities safer. That's a million dollars that could have been used to help the dilapidated school system. Instead, our city will have to spend this valuable taxpayer money for a special election that was created by a politician who resigned, but now just a month later, is wanting to resume power again. When does the political circus end? Meanwhile, our city suffers.

I, like Mr. Herenton and many Memphians, am extremely concerned and troubled by Mayor Pro Tem Lowery's overzealous power grabs. Within the Mayor Pro Tem's first week of power, the city was having to foot the bill over a personal battle waged by Mr. Lowery against the city attorney.

Now again, the city will suffer and pay the price over another political personality clash, more political backstabbing, and more "politics as usual". The politicians continue their in-fighting while our beloved city lumbers along with no leadership and no direction.

Yes, Mr. Herenton, the city I love does deserve better.

On October 15, voters will take to the polls and will have a choice to make -- a choice between a crowded, perplexing field of career politicians or someone with common sense, tired of the sideshow politics that has plagued our city, and is ready to get to work to do what's right for Memphis?

-Jerry Lawler