FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 11/9/2009) There is an old football saying "a tie game is like kissing your sister."
If that's so, there was a lot of sister smooching going on with Shelby County Commissioners on Monday, November 9th.
Commissioners must vote on who will be the interim Mayor. This happened because former Shelby Mayor A C Wharton was elected Mayor of Memphis. County Commission Chairman Joyce Avery became Acting County Mayor. She will stay on in her position until December 10th.
The fight for most of the day was between County Commissioners J.W.Gibson and Joe Ford. Both men have said they have no interest in running for County Mayor next year. But after 21 ballots the results were almost always the same. Five votes for Ford...five votes for Gibson.
At one point in this meeting, Commissioner James Harvey said he would be willing to change his vote to help matters along. Harvey has been supporting J.W.Gibson. But it takes 7 votes to elect an Interim Mayor and if Harvey changed by himself, it would give Joe Ford only 6 votes. Nobody else appeared to be willing to change votes at this moment.
The tie vote comes after a weekend of intense lobbying by the candidates. All of that lobbying will continue between now and the 17th...when Commissioners will meet to vote again.
- Two main candidates for interim Mayor are Commissioners Gibson and Ford
- Most votes ended in 5 to 5 tie
- Acting Mayor Joyce Avery will serve until December 10th
(Memphis 11/9/2009) There is an old football saying "a tie game is like kissing your sister."
If that's so, there was a lot of sister smooching going on with Shelby County Commissioners on Monday, November 9th.
Commissioners must vote on who will be the interim Mayor. This happened because former Shelby Mayor A C Wharton was elected Mayor of Memphis. County Commission Chairman Joyce Avery became Acting County Mayor. She will stay on in her position until December 10th.
The fight for most of the day was between County Commissioners J.W.Gibson and Joe Ford. Both men have said they have no interest in running for County Mayor next year. But after 21 ballots the results were almost always the same. Five votes for Ford...five votes for Gibson.
At one point in this meeting, Commissioner James Harvey said he would be willing to change his vote to help matters along. Harvey has been supporting J.W.Gibson. But it takes 7 votes to elect an Interim Mayor and if Harvey changed by himself, it would give Joe Ford only 6 votes. Nobody else appeared to be willing to change votes at this moment.
The tie vote comes after a weekend of intense lobbying by the candidates. All of that lobbying will continue between now and the 17th...when Commissioners will meet to vote again.
