The Shelby County Commission has appointed Joe Ford as the interim county mayor, to finish out the final year of A C Wharton's final term. Wharton resigned Oct. 26 to become Memphis mayor, and Ford will take office Dec. 10, the final day of office for acting mayor Joyce Avery, who as Commission Chairwoman had taken over for Wharton.
Ford will serve until after a new county mayor is selected by voters in the August county general election.
Two commissioners, Democrats Henri Brooks and James Harvey, changed their votes from commissioner J.W. Gibson II to Ford, with Harvey doing so in dramatic fashion.
"At this time I will end the cycle and cross the line and vote for Ford," Harvey said when the roll call vote got to him in the second round of voting.
That moved the drama to Republican commissioner Wyatt Bunker, who had supported Ford in voting last week but had voted for Avery in the first round. He went with Ford.
"We will hit the ground running," Ford said, and promised to form seven new task forces.
"I will lead this county and lead this county well."
It was Bunker and Harvey who changed their votes. Bunker voted for Avery on the first round.
oh thank God! I was wondering how this city would cope not having a corrupt politician in office. We get at least one more year!
OH MY GOD! Just what we need. Now the rest of the county can end up in as great of shape as Memphis. Hopefully the voters of Shelby county will remember this come election time.
The people of Shelby County has elected another fine and outstanding African American man to be their leader and his name is Mr. Joe Ford,Mayor of Shelby County,Tennessee.