A. C. Wharton
A.C. Wharton is the former mayor of Memphis, Tennessee. He was first elected in 2009 in a special election to replace former mayor Willie Wilbert Herenton, who vacated the office in order to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Wharton won election to a full term in 2011. He lost his re-election bid in 2015 to Jim Strickland.
Before becoming Mayor of Memphis, he was the Mayor of Shelby County, Tennessee from 2003-2009.[1]
Biography
Wharton was born in Lebanon, Tennessee on August 17, 1944.[2] He holds a B.S. in political science from Tennessee State University and a J.D. from the University of Mississippi Law School. His professional experience includes working as the executive director of Memphis Area Legal Services and as the Shelby County chief public defender. In 1974, Wharton became the first African American professor of law at the University of Mississippi.[1]
Career
Below is an abbreviated outline of Wharton's political career:[1]
- 2009-2016: Mayor of Memphis
- 2002-2006: Mayor of Shelby County
Campaign themes
2015
Wharton's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[3]
Safety
- Excerpt: "Mayor Wharton is emphasizing the three prongs of crime reduction: fighting crime through smart police protection, preventing crime through programs that reduce risks for criminal behavior, and intervening in the lives of young people so they do not embark on lives of crime."
- Excerpt: "Creation of city wide Land Bank that can convert tax delinquent properties into productive uses that contribute to better neighborhoods."
Jobs
- Excerpt: "Mayor Wharton has embarked on a landmark plan of action to reduce poverty in Memphis by 10 points in 10 years – Blueprint for Prosperity. It is focused on leveraging the city’s assets, such as low cost of living, low barriers of entry for new businesses, an emerging startup culture, and low business costs to create more jobs, lower daily living expenses, provide efficient access to job centers, and greater opportunities to be financially secure."
Youth
- Excerpt: "Retaining and attracting young people has been a priority for the Wharton Administration, because like most cities its size, Memphis is fighting for the young talent that is needed to compete for jobs."
- Excerpt: "The Memphis Youth Council, which provides input on youth-related issues and legislation, will be convened with an eye toward the development of a specific agenda for youth in Memphis and ways for them to lead its implementation."
Good governance
- Excerpt: "The concept of a City of Memphis Planning Office will be evaluated to ensure that city issues, challenges, and problems are being evaluated through a city-centric lens and that plans for the future are being produced by an adequately staffed, future-oriented team of planners."
Elections
2015
The city of Memphis, Tennessee, held elections for mayor and city council on October 8, 2015. Because this race could not move to a runoff, the candidate with the most votes was declared the winner, regardless of whether he or she won a majority.[4] The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was July 17, 2015.[5] Incumbent A. C. Wharton faced Jim Strickland, Harold B. Collins, Leo Awgowhat, Anderson Fullilove, Jr., Robert Hodges, David Phillip Walker, Jr., Sharon A. Webb, M. Latroy Williams and Mike Williams in the general election on October 8, 2015.[6] Strickland won the mayoral election.
| Memphis Mayor General Election, 2015 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
 Jim Strickland |
41.3% | 42,020 | |
| A. C. Wharton Incumbent | 22.1% | 22,490 | |
| Harold B. Collins | 18.5% | 18,767 | |
| Mike Williams | 16.1% | 16,388 | |
| Sharon A. Webb | 0.6% | 610 | |
| M. Latroy Williams | 0.4% | 413 | |
| Anderson Fullilove, Jr. | 0.4% | 369 | |
| Robert Hodges | 0.2% | 240 | |
| David Phillip Walker, Jr. | 0.2% | 171 | |
| Leo Awgowhat | 0.1% | 119 | |
| Write-in votes | 0.1% | 92 | |
| Total Votes | 100,275 | ||
| Source: Shelby County Election Commission, "Memphis Election 2015 October," accessed October 8, 2015 | |||
2011
In the 2011 general election for Mayor of Memphis, Wharton won election to a full term after receiving %65 of the total votes cast.
| Mayor of Memphis, 2011 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| A.C. Wharton Incumbent |
65.5% | 48,645 | |
| Leo AwGoWhat | 0.2% | 141 | |
| James R Barbee | 0.4% | 310 | |
| Carlos F Boyland | 0.2% | 170 | |
| Edmund H. Ford Sr. | 28.2% | 20,911 | |
| James Harvey Sr. | 2.8% | 2,053 | |
| Robert Hodges | 1% | 751 | |
| DeWayne DEA Jones | 0.1% | 79 | |
| Marty Merriweather | 0.6% | 442 | |
| Kenneth B. Robinson | 1% | 774 | |
| Total Votes | 70,177 | ||
| Source: Shelby County 2011 Election Results | |||
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Wharton is married to Ruby Wharton. They have six children.[1]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "A.C. + Wharton + Memphis"
- All stories may not be relevant due to the nature of the search engine.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 City of Memphis, "Mayor," accessed September 17, 2014
- ↑ The History Makers, "AC Wharton," accessed September 17, 2014
- ↑ AC Wharton campaign website, "Priorities," accessed August 6, 2015
- ↑ Memphis Flyer, "Majority Rules," March 15, 2007
- ↑ Shelby County Election Commission, "Election Calendar 2015," accessed December 18, 2014
- ↑ Shelby County Election Commission, "Official candidate list," accessed July 27, 2015
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Willie Wilbert Herenton |
Mayor of Memphis 2009–2016 |
Succeeded by Jim Strickland |
 |
State of Tennessee Nashville (capital) |
|---|---|
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