21ST Century Mayors!!!!!

THE NEW AGE MAYOR: FIGHTER, SALESMAN , LEADER! WHAT DOES MEMPHIS HAVE?



Being a Mayor of a major city requires a new set of skills that borders on being a salesman , consensus builder, policy wonk, and lawmaker. A big city Mayor was once a figure that could influence industry or effect public policy by just the mere prestige and power of the Mayoral seat. In these times of economic strife, a Mayor must be more strategic in his approach and be able to sale his city to corporations that can bring jobs and opportunity to a city. A Mayor must have the understanding of the social needs of people and have the ability to create public policy that provides relief and stability for a multitude of economic classes. A Mayor must have the strength and vision to create laws provide safety and protection for the millions of people that reside in Urban and Suburban areas. A Mayor must also have the support of other elected officials that share vision and have the desire to build livable and thriving communities.

Our new Mayor in Memphis, A.C. Wharton who is African - American,, has been given the task of leading Memphis into the 21st century. Mayor Wharton is the polar opposite of our former Mayor Dr. W.W. Herenton , who is now a candidate for the Ninth Congressional District. Whereas Dr. Herenton, was a flamboyant lightening rod , who was elected originally as a choice from the 1991 “ People’s Convention, which was a grassroots movement originated in the African- American community, Mayor Wharton was elected by a cross section of Memphians which ranged from wealthy European - Americans to Middle Income African- Americans. Dr. Herenton served as Mayor for close to 20 years , yet his re- election campaigns usually invoked controversial racial overtones, which polarized the Memphis community. Mayor Wharton ran on the theme of “ ONE MEMPHIS” and encouraged racial harmony. Dr. Herenton , often would be seen at a Memphis Grizzlies game or popular Downtown Memphis restaurants , enjoying conversation with people and occasional glass of white wine , versus Mayor Wharton who is much more private man that is rarely out publicly without his successful Attorney wife Ruby Wharton. Former Mayor Herenton sometimes had a contentious relationships with the Memphis media , often chastising media members that did not agree with his policies. Mayor Wharton is enjoying a more of a “ honeymoon” with Memphis media, which very rarely criticizes his policies or his political positions. Finally, former Mayor Herenton, did not always look for support from City Council members or other elected officials. Dr. Herenton many times would introduce or suggest policy and demanded that other elected officials follow is lead or “fall in line”, which at times caused massive tensions between him and officials who did not agree with his methods. Mayor Wharton , is far more a consensus builder, many times deferring to the “ team process” of governing .

Mayor Wharton is a smooth talking gentleman , who is the poster of a dignified Southern dignitary. A lawyer by trade, his method of governance is built on a methodical yet cerebral strategy of identifying issues critical to Greater Memphis. Mayor Wharton works hard to stay away from controversy. His entire career has almost been totally free from negative press. When he was Chief Public Defender for Shelby County, many of the cases that his office handled went virtually free from controversy and many of the Public Defenders that worked for him went on to serve as local judges. During his time as Shelby County Mayor, Mr. Wharton handled the controversial issue of consolidation, like a virtuoso, never allowing his County Mayor administration to ever be mixed up in the volatile racial argument of Shelby County and Memphis consolidation,. Instead , he always addressed the issue of consolidating services from a policy perspective. Mayor Wharton and Former Mayor W.W. Herenton are totally different, yet in defense of Former Mayor W.W. Herenton, his aggressive management style did produce results early in his administration. When Memphis decided to go after tourist dollars, it was the aggressive management style of Dr. Herenton, that led the re-development of Beale Street and overall development of Downtown. It was Dr. Herenton that led the charge for Auto Zone to build there worldwide Headquarters in Downtown Memphis. It was under the leadership of Dr. Herenton that opened the door for the Mike Tyson/ Lennox Lewis mega fight to take place in Memphis, which opened the door for the then Vancouver Grizzlies to move to Memphis, which triggered the development of the FEDEX FOURUM. Dr. Herenton also worked with developers like Henry Turley , that led to the creation of residential communities like Harbor Town South Bluffs, and other apartment and town homes in the Downtown Memphis community .

The biggest criticism of Mayor Wharton is that he may not be aggressive enough. With dollars tight, the competition for corporations to move Memphis is absolutely critical to the future of this city. The Obama Administration has outlined an opportunity for cities to obtain federal funds that explore light rail for large metropolitan areas. The Light Rail project has the potential to bring jobs and opportunity for Memphians. Green Jobs appear to new wave of opportunities for under skilled or unemployed workers who are looking for new opportunities to work. Bio- Tech has appeared to be an industry that will provide jobs and opportunities for Memphians. Memphis Bio Works , a non profit organization designed to promote the biotech industry, is building a bio tech hub where formally Baptist Hospital Downtown was located. Still with all of these ventures that can potentially yield opportunities for Memphians, is our current Mayor aggressive enough to make these ventures happen.

In a recent Commercial Appeal article, the current A.C. Wharton administration has already spent close to $ 30,000.00 in travel expenses, where Mayor Wharton has gone to sell the city. Just recently Mayor Wharton was in New York City meeting with the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and executives from Sharp Manufacturing Company, who already have a plant in Memphis, because other cities were trying to entice Sharp Manufacturing to move their Solar Panels operation to anew city. Mayor Wharton was there to show support and commitment from Memphis to Sharp. Mayor Wharton has even gone as far as Tunisia to promote Memphis.

Yet in a time where Mayors like Corey Booker of Newark, New Jersey are receiving national attention for revitalizing the economy and creating jobs in a city that was considered dead by many Political Analysts. Or Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, a former NBA star , turned successful businessman is on NBC News promoting the revitalization of Detroit and promising jobs for Detroit residents , the question becomes is our Mayor doing enough.? Is his southern charm and deliberate speaking tone enough to attract business.?

In many ways the Wharton legacy may be defined by his ability to attract Google to relocate its Fiber optic plant here in Memphis. Without question, landing the Google Fiber Optic Plant will be the biggest corporate venture outside of Federal Express. To Mayor Wharton’s credit , he did initiate talks with internet juggernaut., yet it seems like talks have stalled and there has been not much said from the Wharton camp on the Google project. Even though Mayor Wharton facilitated the BASS PRO DEAL, which ensures that the Pyramid will have the Camping and Outdoors retail giant a tenant, the question becomes how many jobs will BASS PRO provide for Memphians and will the nature of the business alienate African- Americans or other groups that do not have the resources or the desire to invest BASS PRO retail.

Mayor Wharton has the skills to be a very effective Mayor. His temperament, would suggest that he will be treat Mayors office with dignity and respect. It is safe to also say that he will not be engaged in personal scandal or controversy as the Mayor of Memphis. Yet in this battle to attract corporations and jobs to Memphis, will the aggressive and brash style of a Dr. W.W. Herenton be missed? Will our current Mayor A.C. Wharton step up to the plate and out duel other cities that are equally trying to attract industry to their cities? Memphis has a lot to offer! We have a low cost of living, the Mississippi River, home of Federal Express and ST. Jude Childrens Research Hospital ,Beale Street, and a host of other attractions. Yet, do we have a Mayor who is ready to fight for Memphis and ensure that Memphis reaches its potential? Or do we have a Mayor who is a Southern Gentleman? I know one thing, its time for Memphis to maximize its potential and the wake from its sleep. We no longer need sleepy leadership, we need a fighter!