FAST FACTS:
Scott.Noll@wreg.com
( Memphis, 6/23/2009) Shelby County's mayor is calling for an investigation into the registering of a family car.
AC Wharton says says he wants to make sure the rules were followed when his wife's car was registered with the Shelby County Clerk's Office.
Wharton's request follows months of investigations into corruption inside the clerk's office.
Nearly a dozen workers have quit or been fired.
Eight of the clerk's employees face criminal indictments.
Mayor Wharton told WREG News Channel 3 Investigators that he had questions about the registration of the car, and didn't think it was proper to look into it himself.
On Monday, he asked the county attorney's office to get involved.
The mayor's chief administrative officer says the questions involve city-mandated vehicle inspections.
Specifically, Mayor AC Wharton has concerns, we're told, about whether or not his wife, Ruby's Mercedes, went through the process.
That's because, on multiple occassions, a county staffer took care of those inspections for the mayor's family.
CAO Jim Huntzinger says, as far as he knows, the unnamed staffer was not on the county's clock at the time.
Huntzinger adds, he believes the mayor paid the appropriate amount each year to register, and inspect the car.
Huntzinger says at question is whether or not that inspection was performed.
Without it, no one is supposed to be able to legally register their car or truck inside Memphis city limits.
But, this afternoon, Wharton wouldn't say what raised his suspicions.
"I'm not going to get into that," said Wharton. "It's under investigation. All that will come out in the investigation. I want to keep my mouth shut and let them talk to whoever they wish, ask whatever they wish and get me a report just as soon as possible," said the Mayor.
The investigation into the clerks office has concluded that for the last 20 to 25 years, friends of employees, and politicians, have been among the people granted waivers to bypass inspections.
Three clerks' employees have been criminally indicted after investigators say they accepted payments from Memphis City Councilwoman Barbara Swearengen-Ware to bypass the annual safety checks.
Swearengen-Ware has denied any wrongdoing, and has not been charged.
The county's chief administrative officer says he is not aware of any allegations any one was paid-off in the registering of the mayor's car.
- Mayor AC Wharton calls for investigation into registering of his wife's car
- Concerns center around whether or not car was inspected as required
- Investigators say politicians and friends were given waivers by clerk's employees to avoid inspections
Scott.Noll@wreg.com
( Memphis, 6/23/2009) Shelby County's mayor is calling for an investigation into the registering of a family car.
AC Wharton says says he wants to make sure the rules were followed when his wife's car was registered with the Shelby County Clerk's Office.
Wharton's request follows months of investigations into corruption inside the clerk's office.
Nearly a dozen workers have quit or been fired.
Eight of the clerk's employees face criminal indictments.
Mayor Wharton told WREG News Channel 3 Investigators that he had questions about the registration of the car, and didn't think it was proper to look into it himself.
On Monday, he asked the county attorney's office to get involved.
The mayor's chief administrative officer says the questions involve city-mandated vehicle inspections.
Specifically, Mayor AC Wharton has concerns, we're told, about whether or not his wife, Ruby's Mercedes, went through the process.
That's because, on multiple occassions, a county staffer took care of those inspections for the mayor's family.
CAO Jim Huntzinger says, as far as he knows, the unnamed staffer was not on the county's clock at the time.
Huntzinger adds, he believes the mayor paid the appropriate amount each year to register, and inspect the car.
Huntzinger says at question is whether or not that inspection was performed.
Without it, no one is supposed to be able to legally register their car or truck inside Memphis city limits.
But, this afternoon, Wharton wouldn't say what raised his suspicions.
"I'm not going to get into that," said Wharton. "It's under investigation. All that will come out in the investigation. I want to keep my mouth shut and let them talk to whoever they wish, ask whatever they wish and get me a report just as soon as possible," said the Mayor.
The investigation into the clerks office has concluded that for the last 20 to 25 years, friends of employees, and politicians, have been among the people granted waivers to bypass inspections.
Three clerks' employees have been criminally indicted after investigators say they accepted payments from Memphis City Councilwoman Barbara Swearengen-Ware to bypass the annual safety checks.
Swearengen-Ware has denied any wrongdoing, and has not been charged.
The county's chief administrative officer says he is not aware of any allegations any one was paid-off in the registering of the mayor's car.
