NOW, do you believe?

Every now and then something will happen out of the blue to restore your faith in humanity, and I had that happen this morning.

Jackson Baker is reporting that not one, but TWO independently commissioned polls show that Carol Chumney has a significant lead in the 2007 Mayor's race over all challengers. it also shows that she is doing far better than expected among African-Americans, who appear to be just as eager as anyone else to remove Mayor Herenton from office.

Here's a clip:

Businessman Karl Schledwitz, who commissioned one of the polls (from veteran pollster/strategist John Bakke), acknowledged that Chumney seems to be in first place as of now and - to answer something that political junkies have wondered about incessantly - is doing well among the city's black voters as well as among disenchanted whites. Herman Morris, still working on his name recognition among voters at large, lags behind, and Willingham is further back still.

Another poll, reportedly taken by lawyer Richard Fields, is said to contain similar findings.

I am telling you that Carol CAN win, WILL win because the City wants her and needs her. The city is rancid, and she is the only electable candidate willing to put on a yellow suit and clean up the mess that has been left, especially in the last eight years.

This is great news for the City of Memphis.

it's deja vu all over again!

I think back five years ago when Carol Chumney decided to run for County Mayor. At the time, her primary opponents were State Senator Jim Kyle and former State Rep Harold Byrd.

Kyle got out first, and then after polling below 20%, Byrd got out. When the local developers saw that their only choice for County Mayor would be someone who they could NOT control, they went to the bullpen and summoned Shelby County's most popular public figure, AC Wharton. You know the rest.

So, here we are five years later with an unpopular City Mayor in Willie Herenton, the downtown business crowd wants him out (with AMPLE reason), they put up Herman Morris, a thoroughly nice and decent fellow who excites no one, and now they are figuring out that, once again, a person they cannot control (Chumney) is the leading candidate to unseat Herenton, which petrifies them for some reason.

So, here we go again. Mike Matthews is reporting over at Channel 3 (check the video list) that these business leaders are approaching the County Mayor, Mr. Wharton, to PLEASE, PLEASE save us from that idiot on the 7th floor and that scary woman on the council who won't do what we tell her! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's so damn sad that the answer to their problems, Chumney, is staring them in the face, but they don't have the cojones to work with her. They are SCARED of her because she refuses to put up with bullshit and stays focused on problems like a rabid badger, and she is NOT a good ole boy.

Mayor Wharton, I voted for you twice; however, may I remind you that you ALREADY HAVE A JOB! You have contracted with the citizens of the County to remain as Mayor until September 1, 2010, and I expect you to live up to that.

Put an end to this and tell us where your priorities really are, so that we can move on and get rid of the current mayor.

OK, Herman's in; can he handle the heat?

Herman Morris announced today that he, too, is running for Mayor of Memphis, joining Carol Chumney and John Willingham in the race to oust Hizzoner, Willie W. Herenton, this October.

One has to notice that, while we knew this was coming, the news of the list that he authorized to prevent people either close to him or well-known in this city from having their utilities cut off was well-timed, eh?

Well, while Morris authorized the list, only his successor, Joseph Lee, USED the list to prevent the cutoff of Councilor Edmund Ford on a repeated basis. "Joseph does not want him cut off", said Alonzo Weaver, according to the CA.

Joseph Lee is a nice man, I served with him on the ExecCom and he is a quiet sort, from my experience. However, it is sadly obvious that this is not his forte, and I am forced to agree with the daily fishwrap that his resignation as MLGW chief is clearly called for at this time.

The Mayor may think that by leaking the news that Morris was responsible for creating the list will shift attention from the fact that it was Morris' SUCCESSOR who actually used it. NO.

Morris showed poor judgment in creating the list, and Lee showed worse judgment by using it for Ford. It is also painfully obvious by now that Mayor Herenton showed the worst judgment of all by appointing a man who was overmatched for this position and unable to handle the duties of that office.

Hopefully, by this time next year, they will ALL be out of public life.