Rev. Kenneth Whalum Jr. filed his petition today to become a candidate in the City of Memphis' special mayoral election. He appears to be the first major candidate to get in the paperwork, although 29 others have so far pulled petitions and at least another four declared candidates plan to follow suit.
"I told people when I picked it up last week, if I can't get 25 signatures in seven days, then I don't need to run," Whalum said. "I hope that among those 100 signatures, 25 of them qualify.
"And I brought a fresh, new $100 bill -- a C-note or a Benjamin as the young people say."
Whalum is emphasizing a strategy aimed at energizing young voters to get behind him and propel his campaign. His Twitter post after filing read like this: "It's official! I filed my petition @ noon. Rumble young man, rumble!"
And though the pastor at New Olivet Baptist Church himself turns 53 in November, he takes indirect shots at Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton's age when he says, "Why is it we get a septuagenerian who says he is the hope for change in local politics?"
He adds: "That means we haven't done a good job grooming local leadership."
Wharton, who turned 65 on Monday, is planning to pull his petition on Thursday, and his campaign is organizing a noontime rally around it.
Whalum offered a characteristically blunt reply when asked if he thought 69-year-old former mayor Willie Herenton, who resigned on July 30 after 17 and a half years in office, would follow through and enter the race in a bid to replace himself.
"I don't care," Whalum said. "Bring it. Exclamation point."
Rev. Whalum may actually be the dark horse candidate! He has a strong base of support from his parsonage at Olivet. He seems to attract younger supporters and that may be one of the keys to victory.
Rev KW jr. is a self promoting, greed driven clown that has punked is congregation and insulted his faith. He aint keeping it real. He aint got no PhD like King Willie "Mugabe" Herenton and he doesn't have a chance in the race. This clown should tend his flock and keep his ignorant bumpkin butt out of politics. The only attraction for him is that the collection plates are bigger and deeper.
Get in there and handle your business Rev. Whalum. This is your time.
NEW MOVEMENT. NEW MAYOR. NEW MEMPHIS. VOTE Whalum!!!
no way no chance
Ahhhh...what a relief, I just left a Whalum floating
In response to : "By Red Rumpknuckle on August 19, 2009 10:22 AM
Rev KW jr. is a self promoting, greed driven clown that has punked is congregation and insulted his faith. He aint keeping it real. He aint got no PhD like King Willie "Mugabe" Herenton and he doesn't have a chance in the race. This clown should tend his flock and keep his ignorant bumpkin butt out of politics. The only attraction for him is that the collection plates are bigger and deeper."
It is obviuos you are ignorant to the man known as KTW JR. He has a bachelors from Morehouse, and graduated from law school in Philidelphia. He actually practiced law in Memphis successfully before he accepted his call to preach and got another degree in divinity.. He is well educated and has a clear vision as to where the city of Memphis needs to be heading. I attended high school in Memphis, but Im originally from Atlanta, and let me be the first to say Memphis is sooooo far behind. But to keep this simple, do some background research on the man of God before you judge. He is educated, he is a member of the school board. He has several successful programs implemented in the Memphis community already such as BAMM and Memphis Youth Manifesto... Get wit it MAN!
Whalum 4 Mayor! Its a brand....