In his first public speech since winning the Memphis mayor’s election in a landslide, A C Wharton reassured the Memphis Rotary Club today that the city was headed in the right direction.
“We’re going to pull this city out of the doldrums,” Wharton told Rotarians gathered for a luncheon at the Racquet Club in East Memphis.
While his speech was light on breaking news, the two-term Shelby County mayor used the moment to emphasis his campaign theme “One Memphis,” and underscore how it would be reflected in the regional approach of his administration.
He’s planning to convene a big meeting of the county’s mayors to discuss the crime and public safety issues facing everyone in Shelby County.
“What we refer to transcends geographical lines and governmental lines,” Wharton said. “What we’re saying is we in this region are one people and we’ll sink or swim together.” Wharton also touched on his 60 percent win last week — Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery was the runner up with 18 percent of the vote.
Wharton said the overwhelming approval of his campaign signaled Memphians’ desire for change, racial unity and all the aspects he touched on will campaigning, rebuking those who criticized his message and attempted to “spread hate and divisiveness.”
“I am so glad that we won this thing not by eking it out,” Wharton said.
“We beat them like a tied-up billy goat,” he added, with a laugh.
Wharton, who seemed to carry himself with a serene and self-assured demeanor, was greeted by excitement from the crowd. Only two questions were asked: one about curbing teen and unplanned pregnancy and the other about Bass Pro Shop’s plan for The Pyramid (which Wharton said he expects to happen).
And after the brief speech, streams of people came up to shake Wharton’s hand and take a photo with the new Memphis mayor.
Reginald Udouj, a Rotarian and business development manager for Dillard Door & Entrance Control, said he liked Wharton because of his family values and the feeling that Wharton’s goodness “comes from the heart.”
“He’s under the gun but you can see he can control himself,” Udouj said. “I just see really good things with him in control.”
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