I've decided the above phrase reflects my philosophy for the 2009 Mayor's race in Memphis. I noted earlier that my vote is up for grabs, and ANYONE has the chance to get it, save anyone who has ever occupied it for 16 years or longer.
However, even though there are a ton of people who have pulled petitions (30 + at last count), there's no sense in speculating until after the withdrawal deadline at noon on September 10. Should former Mayor Herenton actually file, (and I do NOT think that will happen, although one can never rule out any possibility with him), I suspect that, no matter how many people filed and stayed in, it instantly becomes a two-person race with Herenton and AC Wharton, as people who were shopping around for something different will go immediately to Wharton to stop the former Mayor.
Should Herenton NOT file, then the race becomes more interesting. Then people will pay more attention to candidates like Reverend Kenneth Whalum, Jr. or Mayor Pro Temp Myron Lowery, who seems to have moved past a shaky early start to work well with the Council and the directors.
Like I said, my vote is available (and some have sought it, I can say) but you have to work for it, and here's how to get it:
1) I KNOW what the problems are, tell me what your SOLUTIONS are, and I would like detail, please.
2) Are you for or against consolidation of government AND schools, and if so, in what form? If not, why not?
3) What is your plan to reduce crime other than just putting people in jail, because the jails are bursting and you can't lock up EVERYBODY, can you?
4) Without trashing any opponents, tell me what YOU'VE done in the community and FOR the community, and I mean the ENTIRE community, both downtown and the C, as well as the Poplar Corridor.
5) Given we live in one of the most poverty-stricken cities in the country, how can you as Mayor work to overcome that?
6) Lastly, if elected, would you run for a full term in 2011?
OK, no one has to answer these prior to September 10, when we know the field. After that, you've got until Early Voting starts on September 25 to be ready, so think about it.
If you like, I'll even print your response! OK, you've gotten your assignment, candidates, think about it and BE READY!
4 comments:
I noticed Kenneth Whalum did not not know what the C was when I asked him on twitter. I'm surprised that anyone in elected office in Memphis wouldn't know what that is.
Isn't "the C" a bit of a term of art among bloggers? I thought Polar Donkey coined that phrase.
Maybe you need to ask these candidates how, if they are serious about reducing poverty, they might do something about communities that portray reading a book as almost akin to original sin? Maybe you also might want to ask, if these people are serious about poverty, how they can invite Memphians to see one another as human beings rather than as members of groups separated by arbitrary political decisions? Maybe you might also ask these candidates, if they are serious about reducing poverty, what they might do for people who work hard, obey the law and simply ask not be blamed for someone else's problems?
Crime and poverty, it seems to me, are related issues. Somehow as well, I think they are linked to an inadequate education. Since the Great Society, we as
Americans have spent billions if not trillions on efforts to improve the quality of educational opportunities for our historically-poorest citizens. Our results have been almost abysmal. Know-Nothingism still slithers through our culture or, as liberals might insist, "cultures." We have come to develop notions that somehow learning the basics of English is a sign of "oppression" and "insensitivity" rather than a necessity for making a decent life in America. Yet the response of liberals is more government intervention, more government regulation, more government taxation--or borrowing--and more cultural separation into seething camps that openly admit they share nothing except an ongoing fight over federal, state and local tax money. Maybe you need to ask these candidates how they intend to invite Memphis and the United States toward a "more perfect union" rather than still more cliche-ridden recitations about "inclusion" bromides that actually exclude and reflect nothing short of electioneering nihilism.
Who do the mayoral candidates support in the 2010 9th District U.S. Congressional race? The answer to that question would tell us a lot about their vision for the community.
Memphis faces two vital elections in the next 14 months. Several top mayoral candidates would do well by the city. They know all they need to know about Congressman Steve Cohen and former Mayor Willie Herenton so an answer should be easy. How many of them would play politics with the question?
This is Mayor Wharton's chance to dispel rumors of him and Mayor Herenton making a deal at LaChardonnay in 2007.
Myron Lowery has expressed his support of Steve Cohen. He passes my litmus test but my vote too is up for grabs.
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