The People of Memphis May Get Their Wish After All

As announced Thursday by the mayor of our fair city, Herenton told the press that he is seeking the vacant Superintendant of Memphis City Schools post. He pledged that he would resign as mayor of the city of Memphis on July 31, 2008. I have mixed feelings about this situation. Herenton did a great job as the Superintendant of Memphis City Schools when he originally held the post during 1979 to 1991. He has just made for a lousy mayor. So, after years of public unrest and disapproval at his job by the people of this city, despite the fact that he keeps getting elected, it is no wonder that Herenton has considered returning to his educational roots. That seems to be when he was the happiest.
When the mayor made this statement on Thursday, some were disappointed but many were very happy. Three and a half days later and the story is similar, but with a twist. The school board plans to fill the vacant job by July and that cooresponds with Herenton's planned July 31st resignation. Of course, as a political safety net, should the school board not vote Herenton in as the Superintendant of Memphis City Schools, "King Willie" has proclaimed that he will stay on as mayor if he doesn't get the job.

In discussing this with my Media Writing instructor, who works for The Commercial Appeal, he told the class that politicians do this sort of thing ALL THE TIME. They may be unsatisfied with the post they have been elected to and may want to do something outside of politics or something else in politics but in a different area. Since a politician can not hold two offices at one time, they would have to resign from one to work in the other. So they make an announcement that they will resign their current post and either run for another office or seek another job outside politics. Media hounds call this "fishing." The politician casts out their "bait" (resigning from office) and hope to get some nibbles from other companies or organizations, or to seek support for the new office they want to run for.

I, for one, wish "Slick Willie" Herenton all the best in his bid for the Superintendant job. I am for anything, short of assassination or an illegally-created scandal (even that didn't get him out of office), that removes Herenton from office as the Mayor of Memphis. So that I don't get arrested or charged, let me reiterate that I DO NOT WANT THE MAYOR TO BE ASSASSINATED. I just want him to be gone from the highest position of political power in the city.