Main Street Journal: Opinion Editorial: The Race for Mayor, Part Two

The Main Street Journal Website

The following article is taken from the September 2009 issue of the Main Street Journal. Click “Subscribe Online” above to start your subscription.

The Race for Mayor, Part Two
By: Jonathan Lindberg

That Shelby County Mayor AC Wharton was reluctant to participate in the first Mayoral debate (co-hosted by WMC Channel 5 and Main Street Journal) should come as little surprise. More-often-than-not the front runner has the least to gain among the participants. That Prince Mongo was able to crowbar his way onto the platform through legal maneuvering only added to the reluctance and for a short time that day it seemed Wharton would bow out.

Much to his credit, Wharton did appear, however his political instincts were spot on. Wharton did not impress. He seemed distracted and distant much of the debate. Still, he did accomplish what seemed to be his singular goal of the evening – delivering the initial punch to Carol Chumney, considered by most to be his main competition. Both candidates sparred over “photo-op-politics”, though Wharton had the best lines. Chumney was clearly rattled and was one of the first candidates out the door after the debate.

It did not have to be this way.

Clearly the main argument against Wharton should be his closer-than-advertised connection with Herenton. From consolidation to collusion, the case can be made. That Chumney and others have failed to draw this line of connection in the mind of the voters over the past couple months baffles this writer to no end. (Think Herenton and Wharton standing side-by-side endorsing Steve Cohen in 2007. There should be ten-thousand push cards with that image floating around Memphis).

In reality, there were hardly any tough criticisms offered at the first debate and at times, the atmosphere felt more like a Junior High dance, everyone with their eyes to the ground and no one very much interested in looking around.

What the first debate did accomplish though was to draw very clear lines of distinction between the qualified and the not-so-qualified candidates. Charles Carpenter, the former campaign manager for Herenton, seemed to find his footing despite sounding very much like a politician status quo (one has to wonder if his campaign slogan A New Beginning is merely poorly worded, inadvertently redundant, or if there is some deeper meaning we are all still missing).

And then there were those candidates that should not be let anywhere near elected office. Not only should School Board Member Sharon Webb have stayed home that night, one has to wonder how she was ever able to convince any voters to elect her to the school board.

It was that bad.

Despite the large field, this election should pan out in typical fashion. Clearly AC Wharton remains the candidate to beat. He is poised and prepared and ready to fight. He is also the first candidate running commercials and he should be able to stay on air all the way to Election Day.

That matters.

Also, Chumney and Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery, his two main competitors, appear unable to match him in advertising dollars.

That also matters.

Chumney is counting on strong support from her base, a base that allowed her to finish a strong second in the 2007 race for Mayor. However, with so many candidates and without Herenton on the ballot one has to wonder how much erosion and candidate shifting will take place.

Lowery is counting on the free exposure his current position in City Hall will afford him. Every week Lowery serves as Mayor Pro Tem his poll numbers should go up. The problem is, Lowery has started so far behind, it would take more than a couple months to gain proper momentum.

Like the previous four races for Memphis Mayor, with each passing week the inevitable is becoming easier to see.

In many senses, politics is theatre. In that respect, Memphis politics never disappoints. This race for Mayor is no exception. Sometimes you get Shakespeare; sometimes you get an all out circus. With the first debate, depending on when you tuned in, you were likely to get a little of both.

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks