Fast Facts:
He can be a charmer. "Hey Watchdog," Willie Herenton yelled, "...I'll be watching. I'll be watching Watchdog."
Willie Herenton was clearly in a good mood just before appearing exclusively on News Channel 3's Live at 9. The former Memphis Mayor is kicking off his campaign to unseat the current 9th District Congressman, Democrat Steve Cohen. " There's a disconnect between some in Congress and the average person," Herenton said. " I'm a former Superintendent of Schools, and Mayor of the 18th largest city in America. I know the problems the common people face," he said.
Herenton, in fact, says he wants to debate Congressman Cohen on issues. " Why didn't the Congressman go to work on finding funding for the Regional Medical Center years ago," Herenton said. " Why did he wait until the 11th hour, with the Med facing a potential shutdown?"
The former Mayor of Memphis carries a white piece of paper with him. It's entitled Tennessee Congressional Delegation. It shows a map of the state, and pictures of both U.S.Senators and the Congressmen and woman from all 9 Congressional district. There's a question on the sheet. "What's wrong with this picture," it says.
When it comes to the Mayors call for inclusion and diversity, Otis Sanford of the Commercial Appeal says " That's a nice way of saying race. At least that's what I believe." News Channel 3 political commentator Norm Brewer put it this way. " Bull feathers."
Herenton says race is an issue in this campaign, because race is an issue in America. "I am amazed at the paranoia about race," Herenton said. "The only way you can address a problem is to talk about it, and do something about it."
Brewer is predicting Herenton won't be spending much money on this campaign. " You don't have to spend money on a campaign when the candidate is involved in a race baiting campaign," Brewer said. Otis Sanford agrees, and predicts Memphis will be in the public eye during the campaign. "The National Media will be covering this campaign," Sanford says, "...and we'll see stories about how Memphis still has trouble dealing with the black versus white issue. And I'm not sure that's a good thing for Memphis."
- Former Mayor Willie Herenton officially starts campaign on Feb.6
- Says all White Congressional Delegation not representative of Tennessee
- Calls Incumbent Congressman Steve Cohen "out of touch" with common man
He can be a charmer. "Hey Watchdog," Willie Herenton yelled, "...I'll be watching. I'll be watching Watchdog."
Willie Herenton was clearly in a good mood just before appearing exclusively on News Channel 3's Live at 9. The former Memphis Mayor is kicking off his campaign to unseat the current 9th District Congressman, Democrat Steve Cohen. " There's a disconnect between some in Congress and the average person," Herenton said. " I'm a former Superintendent of Schools, and Mayor of the 18th largest city in America. I know the problems the common people face," he said.
Herenton, in fact, says he wants to debate Congressman Cohen on issues. " Why didn't the Congressman go to work on finding funding for the Regional Medical Center years ago," Herenton said. " Why did he wait until the 11th hour, with the Med facing a potential shutdown?"
The former Mayor of Memphis carries a white piece of paper with him. It's entitled Tennessee Congressional Delegation. It shows a map of the state, and pictures of both U.S.Senators and the Congressmen and woman from all 9 Congressional district. There's a question on the sheet. "What's wrong with this picture," it says.
When it comes to the Mayors call for inclusion and diversity, Otis Sanford of the Commercial Appeal says " That's a nice way of saying race. At least that's what I believe." News Channel 3 political commentator Norm Brewer put it this way. " Bull feathers."
Herenton says race is an issue in this campaign, because race is an issue in America. "I am amazed at the paranoia about race," Herenton said. "The only way you can address a problem is to talk about it, and do something about it."
Brewer is predicting Herenton won't be spending much money on this campaign. " You don't have to spend money on a campaign when the candidate is involved in a race baiting campaign," Brewer said. Otis Sanford agrees, and predicts Memphis will be in the public eye during the campaign. "The National Media will be covering this campaign," Sanford says, "...and we'll see stories about how Memphis still has trouble dealing with the black versus white issue. And I'm not sure that's a good thing for Memphis."
