The reelection of Memphis Mayor Willie W. Herenton moves with an inevitability these days that belies the need that exists for a serious discussion about the future of our city.
If nothing shakes up the campaign for mayor, he will take the oath of office in January for the fifth time as chief elected leader for a city whose dominant characteristic is the chasm that splits it down the middle – with one side considering him the embodiment of all that is wrong with Memphis and with the other treating him as a heroic figure fighting for them.
As a result, the question asked frequently these days is whether his divisive rhetoric is the stuff of campaign strategy or whether it is a persona that will carry over into his fourth term. It appears more and more to be the latter.
Redneck Politics
His campaign strategy is reminiscent of the days when former Memphis Mayor Wyeth Chandler described his success this way: “You give me the rednecks and you take every one else, and I’ll beat you every day of the week.”
To his base,
Underlying his political organization was the largely unspoken – except in code words – covenant with his base that sent the message that he would stand up to the calls by African-Americans for more power and a greater voice in city decisions.
But, to many who know him best, Mayor Herenton is doing more than channeling his constituents’ emotions; he is clearly venting his own. In the process, he seems to be doing nothing as much as removing the veneer of politspeak that garnered the support of the white business community over the years, speaking these days with an emotional conviction that is at times frightening in its ferocity but revealing in its sincerity.
Along the way, it’s been an opportunity to come face-to-face with the way that many African-Americans see their places in their city.
Circling Power
The widespread distance that the business community has put between itself and Mayor Herenton gives special emphasis to his comments. While the business community – always pragmatic about the vagaries of the political environment – says it’s concerned about the perceived erratic nature of Mayor Herenton’s behavior, most remain quiet, fearful of being the object of the mayor’s scorn.
On the other hand, Mayor Herenton has embraced a “you need me more than I need you” attitude, defiant in his criticisms of some one-time allies (whose friendships with him were once the source of charges that he was “too close” to the white business community). Despite his service on some prominent local corporate boards and his broad business support in the past, the mayor can’t shake the feeling that he’s always had to play a role to get ahead in these circles.
The Ford Difference
It’s this seminal difference in perspective that will make healing so difficult after the coming election. In recent months, emotions have been laid bare and rubbed raw, and it’s unlikely that in its wake, the honesty will become the foundation for more racial understanding.
Of course, it wasn’t always this way, because most of the business elite opposed the former school superintendent in his first race 16 years ago against then-Mayor Dick Hackett.
Coming
That’s why Mayor Herenton often feels these days that things have come full circle. Once again, the white business establishment disdains his candidacy, and once again, he is chiefly motivated to run for election to simply prove that he can do it and on his own terms.
With Mr. Ford in self-imposed exile in an upscale
Changing Times
From his side, with Mr. Ford out of the way and with demographic trends moving to his benefit, Mayor Herenton was less inclined to “kiss the ring of the white community,” as a close aide put it. He became a frequent no-show at prominent events that he had previously attended, preferring to spend his time in the neighborhoods of his political base.
“The white community thinks that just because they don’t see him, he’s not out in the community,” said the adviser. “Whites thought he dropped out of sight, but the folks in Whitehaven were seeing him all the time, and so were black people in other parts of
There’s no argument that
Falling Short
Of course, this ability to suck all the political oxygen out of the room is magnified by the inability of his major opponents to elbow their way into the conversation about political controversies of recent months. Offered chance after chance to differentiate themselves from Mayor Herenton, both Herman Morris and Council Member Carol Chumney have fallen short.
The latest example is Mayor Herenton’s charges about voting machine irregularities. In the midst of the controversy, Councilwoman Chumney declined comment and Mr. Morris came up with a weak football metaphor about a “misdirection play.”
With two weeks left in the campaign, it seems axiomatic that they would let no opportunity pass to deliver the message that Mayor Herenton is out of touch and can’t separate his personal and political interests. In other words, neither candidate seems able to turn events in ways that reinforce their primary campaign messages. At a time when the coin of the realm is hammering your campaign message until voters are almost sick of hearing it, both Mr. Morris and Ms. Chumney almost seem off-balance when these opportunities arise.
The Obvious
* The mayor complained that the ballot is confusing, and yet, his campaign was invited to training (and apparently did not attend) on the voting machines so its campaign workers could advise supporters.
Tenth Round
In the end, the fact that neither candidate could lay a glove on the mayor may be ultimate metaphor for this entire campaign and testament to the larger-than-life political stature that Mayor Herenton still exerts in his city.