Memphis Mayor A C Wharton's latest appointments are earning slightly more than the previous administration's.
City Hall reporter Amos Maki has just received a list of new employee salaries from the city's human resources department, showing Wharton's chief of staff, Robert White, is earning $101.500. White is also doubling as a communications special assistant.
While former Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery didn't have a chief of staff, he did have a spokeswoman, Donna Davis, who earned $81,112.72.
It's hard to compare the slightly higher salaries on Wharton's payroll to Lowery's appointments because many of the job titles are different and could involve different duties.
But there are a few crossovers.
For example, Tonya Meeks is earning $64,500 as a communications specialist to Wharton, compared with Allison Fouche, who earned $56,650 in the same title working for Lowery.
Meanwhile, James Nelson replaces Sara Lewis as a special assistant to the mayor for youth and community, earning $87,000 compared to Lewis' $81,112.72.
Lois Riseling and Wilhemina Becton replace Regina Brandon and Lisa Nelson as the mayor's new administrative assistants, earning $49,000 compared to $47,041.80.
Taken together, the salaries for the seven new staffers will cost taxpayers $472,150.10, compared to the $430,298.44 to fund the seven staffers under Lowery's administration.
Following are lists of the six new appointments and one re-appointment, compared with the previous mayor's staff.
Wharton's new appointments (some titles may not be exact):
Robert White, chief of staff/communications special assistant: $101,500
James Nelson, special assistant to the mayor for youth and community: $87,000
Kerry Hayes, research and innovation special assistant: $64,500
Tonya Meeks, communications specialist to the mayor: $64,500
Allison Johnson Fouche, executive coordinator: $56,650.10
Lois Riseling, administrative assistant: $49,000
Wilhemina Becton, administrative assistant: $49,000
Lowery's staff (some titles may not be exact):
Sara Lewis, special assistant to the mayor for youth and community: $81,112.72
Donna Davis, special assistant for media relations: $81,112.72
Tonjala W. Flowers, office manager to the mayor: $70,297.50
Allison Johnson Fouche, communications specialist to the mayor: $56,650.10
Regina Brandon, administrative assistant: $47,041.80
Lisa R. Nelson, administrative assistant: $47,041.80
Susan M. David, administrative assistant: $47,041.80
Maybe some of the upstanding folks newly appointed to office can pony up some food for the animals at the animal shelter.
Can you idiots shut the hell up about those stupid dogs already>
Well it seems business as usual.the C.A. will have alot of stories to print about special assistants and assistant to assistants.And youth delevomemt,and innovation assistants and communication assistant to the assistant communication assistant.
Really that is good for the ignorant C.A. who endorsed Wharton and the ignorant people who voted for him to be mayor of Memphis when he didn't even finish his term as mayor of Shelby County.
As Wharton said you get what you paid for,when over paying Herman Morris for city attorney.What about Alan Wade who makes a ton of money outside of his position of council attorney.All of you are sick and need to take voter education classes including the C.A.