The day after a mayoral election ushering significant changes to Memphis politics, it’s business as usual at City Hall.
The building still smells like Chinese food thanks to the city’s only in-house food vendor, Royal Jasmine Chinese Restaurant, and employees still showed up for work, even though many were likely hired under longtime former mayor Willie Herenton and could face a possible job change in the change of power.
But even after he takes office, don’t expect any drastic shakeups from Memphis mayor-elect A C Wharton. While he has said he would reduce the number of appointed positions at City Hall, he’s made comments both in a debate and on the radio that he wouldn’t commit to cleaning house.
As recorded by staff reporter Zack McMillin, Wharton said during a recent interview with Drake & Zeke In the Morning that he would make no promises on who would stay or go.
“It’s really demoralizing to employees to hear someone say we are going to come in and get rid of everybody,” Wharton said, “You shouldn’t do that. It’s unsavory. I’m not making any commitments. I don’t care if it costs me votes.”
I don't think Wharton is the stronger of the three top candidates that ran. The county has been adrift under his leadership and I expect the city will continue to drift as well. He hasn't made any tough decisions in cutting the fat from the county just raised taxes and let spending spiral. I think the city missed a great chance to elect someone who would really make drastic changes good or bad.
This shows that he is a responsible leader. Someone with a Herenton mentality would pronounce their intent to clean out City Hall.
Wharton will likely make major changes at City Hall, getting rid of excess positions and replacing Division heads on a piecemeal basis. This would be typical Wharton style and allows for smoother transitions and fewer interruptions in service.
willie's boys are going nowhere and willie will possibly get city money for some job - adviser, dept head or whatever..
I think this is a mistake. We needed change.
AC, it's OK that you're not making any committments but it's not Ok if you don't get rid of Willie's friends and appointees and that includes Jefferson and the rest of them including at the Library.
That also means not giving them other jobs especially Jefferson who had no regard for the atmosphere and distraction he caused at City Hall on top of unethically paying Willie all that money without permission.
He must be a genius to know exactly what day he would be well enough to come back to work from his bogus illness. Maybe he should go to work in a hospital or Doctor's office so he can give all the patients the benefit of his powers and wisdom to foresee the future.
You brag about how efficient you are and have and want to be a good leader that's beneficial to the taxpayers, prove it by cutting these incompetents from the city's payroll and save the taxpayers some money.