FAST FACTS:
Lowery said, "Our city will move through this transition in a good fine way."
The resignation of Mayor Willie Herenton means Lowery gets a automatic promotion to mayor pro-tem. It's a job he says he is ready for.
"Citizens of this city need to know I've served on the council for as long as Dr. Willie Herenton has been mayor, so he's leaving our city in good capable hands," said Lowery.
However, Lowery knows his appointment to the city's top job is only temporary. He helped write new amendments to the city charter that say in a vacancy like this, a special election will be held in 90 days. Herenton is resigning effective July 10th that means the election is slated for October 8th.
"Right now, we're just waiting on word from the city council that the vacancy has been created and we'll go to work," said Election Commission Chairman, Bill Giannini.
Giannini says the qualifying date for those wanting to run is July 16th. That is just days after Mayor Herenton officially steps down. Candidates have one week to withdraw. It's an election that will keep commission workers busy for the next 4 months and cost between $750,000 and a million dollars.
"In the city of Memphis we have roughly 200 precincts, so we're not talking about that many fewer than a county wide election. It's a substantial cost it's unfortunate but this cost will be passed on to the city taxpayers but it will be," said Giannini.
The resignation of Mayor Herenton means a lot of changes at city hall. He said himself today there will be more resignations of his administrators coming over the next couple of weeks. The first was last week when his chief administrative officer, Keith McGee resigned.
- City Council Chair, Myron Lowery, becomes Mayor Pro Tem
- Special Election to elect city mayor slated for October 8th
- Special Election cost estimated at almost Million Dollars
Lowery said, "Our city will move through this transition in a good fine way."
The resignation of Mayor Willie Herenton means Lowery gets a automatic promotion to mayor pro-tem. It's a job he says he is ready for.
"Citizens of this city need to know I've served on the council for as long as Dr. Willie Herenton has been mayor, so he's leaving our city in good capable hands," said Lowery.
However, Lowery knows his appointment to the city's top job is only temporary. He helped write new amendments to the city charter that say in a vacancy like this, a special election will be held in 90 days. Herenton is resigning effective July 10th that means the election is slated for October 8th.
"Right now, we're just waiting on word from the city council that the vacancy has been created and we'll go to work," said Election Commission Chairman, Bill Giannini.
Giannini says the qualifying date for those wanting to run is July 16th. That is just days after Mayor Herenton officially steps down. Candidates have one week to withdraw. It's an election that will keep commission workers busy for the next 4 months and cost between $750,000 and a million dollars.
"In the city of Memphis we have roughly 200 precincts, so we're not talking about that many fewer than a county wide election. It's a substantial cost it's unfortunate but this cost will be passed on to the city taxpayers but it will be," said Giannini.
The resignation of Mayor Herenton means a lot of changes at city hall. He said himself today there will be more resignations of his administrators coming over the next couple of weeks. The first was last week when his chief administrative officer, Keith McGee resigned.
