FAST FACTS:
april.thompson@wreg.com
(Memphis 8/25/2009) Memphis is a city waiting for its next Mayor.
There is talk former Memphis City Councilman Edmund Ford may not run for Mayor after all.
Shelby County Commissioner James Harvey has also hinted he plans to bow out of the Mayor's race.
And former Mayor Willie Herenton made it official Monday, he is not trying to get his old seat back.
But some candidates say it never really mattered.
"It doesn't bother me, doesn't concern me. When he says he was going to run again, I said bring it on. I mean it. If he comes back, bring it on." says Mayoral Candidate Kenneth Whalum Jr.
Candidate Charles Carpenter never thought Herenton would run, saying his move was really about showing flaws in the city charter.
"His point was that 'even though my resignation created the special election, the amended charter did not prohibit me from pulling a petition and running again.'" says Carpenter.
City Council Member Wanda Halbert knows with Herenton out, his supporters will be looking closely at others.
"I am asking them to simply look at the message of Wanda Halbert, the fact it is an issue of economics." says Halbert.
And it's also the issue of candidates' plans to move the city forward.
"I am going to introduce to the city council the fact we just received a report that minority ownership is 1 percent across entire Shelby County. We need to increase that number." says Halbert.
"Tomorrow (August 26th) at 11 a.m. at our campaign headquarters in the Whitehaven Plaza we will be rolling out our detailed plan to decrease crime in our community." says Carpenter.
Candidates say look for more details of what they plan to do in office.
The filing deadline for the election is September 3rd.
More candidates will likely call it quits.
What remains to be seen is who gets the most benefit as the list shrinks.
- Some candidates in Memphis Mayor's race expected to drop out
- Candidates respond to former Mayor Herenton no longer running
- Candidates say look for more details on the issues
april.thompson@wreg.com
(Memphis 8/25/2009) Memphis is a city waiting for its next Mayor.
There is talk former Memphis City Councilman Edmund Ford may not run for Mayor after all.
Shelby County Commissioner James Harvey has also hinted he plans to bow out of the Mayor's race.
And former Mayor Willie Herenton made it official Monday, he is not trying to get his old seat back.
But some candidates say it never really mattered.
"It doesn't bother me, doesn't concern me. When he says he was going to run again, I said bring it on. I mean it. If he comes back, bring it on." says Mayoral Candidate Kenneth Whalum Jr.
Candidate Charles Carpenter never thought Herenton would run, saying his move was really about showing flaws in the city charter.
"His point was that 'even though my resignation created the special election, the amended charter did not prohibit me from pulling a petition and running again.'" says Carpenter.
City Council Member Wanda Halbert knows with Herenton out, his supporters will be looking closely at others.
"I am asking them to simply look at the message of Wanda Halbert, the fact it is an issue of economics." says Halbert.
And it's also the issue of candidates' plans to move the city forward.
"I am going to introduce to the city council the fact we just received a report that minority ownership is 1 percent across entire Shelby County. We need to increase that number." says Halbert.
"Tomorrow (August 26th) at 11 a.m. at our campaign headquarters in the Whitehaven Plaza we will be rolling out our detailed plan to decrease crime in our community." says Carpenter.
Candidates say look for more details of what they plan to do in office.
The filing deadline for the election is September 3rd.
More candidates will likely call it quits.
What remains to be seen is who gets the most benefit as the list shrinks.
