2009 Memphis mayoral special election

2009 Memphis mayoral special election

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Nominee A C Wharton Myron Lowery Carol Chumney Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 65,529 19,644 10,863 Percentage 59.89% 17.95% 9.93%

Mayor before election Myron Lowery (pro tem) Nonpartisan Elected Mayor A C Wharton Nonpartisan

The 2009 Memphis mayoral special election took place on October 15, 2009. Mayor Willie Herenton resigned on July 30, 2009, in anticipation of his 2010 campaign against Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen. ^[1] Following Herenton's resignation, City Council Chairman Myron Lowery, a former WMC-TV news reporter, was elevated as Mayor Pro Tem, and served until the special election. ^[2] Though Herenton suggested that he might run in the ensuing special election because of Lowery's "reckless style of leadership," ^[3] Herenton ultimately opted not to. ^[4]

Twenty-five candidates ran in the special election, including Lowery, County Mayor A C Wharton, former City Councilmember Carol Chumney, attorney Charles Carpenter, and professional wrester Jerry Lawler. Wharton ended up winning the election in a landslide, receiving 60 percent of the vote. ^[5]

General election

Candidates

• A C Wharton, Mayor of Shelby County ^[6]
• Myron Lowery, incumbent Mayor Pro Tem ^[7]
• Carol Chumney, Memphis City Councilmember, 2007 candidate for Mayor ^[6]
• Charles Carpenter, attorney, Herenton campaign manager ^[8]
• Jerry Lawler, former professional wrestler ^[8]
• Kenneth Whalum, Jr., Memphis City School Board member ^[9]
• John Willingham, former County Commissioner, 2003 and 2007 candidate for Mayor of Memphis, 2006 Republican nominee for Mayor of Shelby County ^[10]
• Wanda Halbert, City Councilmember ^[11]
• Detric W. Stigall, city park services administrator ^[12]
• Robert Hodges, perennial candidate ^[13]
• Sharon A. Webb, Memphis City Schools Board member, 2007 candidate for Mayor ^[14]
• E. C. Jones, former City Councilmember ^[15]
• Leo AwGoWhat
• Silky Sullivan, Beale Street restaurateur ^[16]
• Mary Wright
• Dewey Clark, bail bondsman ^[17]
• Menelik Fombi
• Johnny Hatcher, Jr.
• Randy L. Cagle, businessman, 2007 candidate for Mayor
• James M. Clingan
• David W. Vinciarelli
• Constance Houston
• Ernest A. Lunati
• De Wayne Jones
• Vuong Vaughn Vo

Declined

• Jack Sammons, former City Councilmember ^[18]
• Jim Strickland, City Councilmember ^[19]
• Willie Herenton, former Mayor ^[4]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	A C Wharton	Carol Chumney	Myron Lowery	Charles Carpenter	Kenneth Whalum Jr.	Jerry Lawler	Leo AwGoWhat	Wanda Halbert	Robert Hodges	Undecided
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy [20]	September 14–16, 2009	400 (LV)	± 5.0%	45%	11%	10%	5%	3%	2%	1%	1%	1%	21%
WREG Channel 3 News [21]	October 9–11, 2009	400 (LV)	± 5.0%	53%	9%	16%	3%	5%	4%	–	–	–	7%

Results

2009 Memphis mayoral special election results ^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	A C Wharton	65,529	59.89%
	Nonpartisan	Myron Lowery (inc.)	19,644	17.95%
	Nonpartisan	Carol Chumney	10,863	9.93%
	Nonpartisan	Charles Carpenter	5,187	4.74%
	Nonpartisan	Jerry Lawler	4,049	3.70%
	Nonpartisan	Kenneth Whalum, Jr.	2,099	1.92%
	Nonpartisan	John Willingham	438	0.40%
	Nonpartisan	Wanda Halbert	372	0.34%
	Nonpartisan	Detric W. Stigall	280	0.26%
	Nonpartisan	Robert Hodges	267	0.24%
	Nonpartisan	Sharon A. Webb	124	0.11%
	Nonpartisan	E. C. Jones	85	0.08%
	Nonpartisan	Leo AwGoWhat	54	0.05%
	Nonpartisan	Silky Sullivan	51	0.05%
	Nonpartisan	Mary Wright	42	0.04%
	Nonpartisan	Dewey Clark	40	0.04%
	Nonpartisan	Menelik Fombi	36	0.03%
	Nonpartisan	Johnny Hatcher, Jr.	33	0.03%
	Nonpartisan	Randy L. Cagle	29	0.03%
	Nonpartisan	James M. Clingan	27	0.02%
	Nonpartisan	David W. Vinciarelli	27	0.02%
	Nonpartisan	Constance Houston	25	0.02%
	Nonpartisan	Ernest A. Lunati	22	0.02%
	Nonpartisan	De Wayne Jones	21	0.02%
	Nonpartisan	Vuong Vaughn Vo	20	0.02%
	Write-in		55	0.05%
Total votes			109,408	100.00%

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

References

1. Baker, Jackson (July 30, 2009). "Herenton has left the building". Action 5 News . Memphis, Tennessee . Retrieved July 21, 2025.
2. McMillin, Zack (June 26, 2009). "Lowery takes long path to top job". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A4. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
3. Doniach, Alex (August 14, 2009). "Mayoral madness: Herenton may attempt to replace himself as mayor, citing 'reckless' Lowery". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
4. Maki, Amos (August 25, 2009). "Herenton: I won't run for mayor". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
5. Doniach, Alex (October 16, 2009). "Hot for AC: Wharton wins with 60 percent of vote; turnout less than 25 percent". Memphis Flyer . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
6. McMillin, Zack (June 26, 2009). "Several potential candidates". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
7. Doniach, Alex (August 2, 2009). "Crowded race has observers guessing". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
8. McMillin, Zack (July 9, 2009). "Herenton political chief, wrestler to enter race". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. DSA3. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
9. McMillin, Zack (June 30, 2009). "Whalum will run for mayor in special election". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. B1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
10. McMillin, Zack (August 19, 2009). "Mayor's race crowded - 31 pull petitions". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. B6. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
11. McMillin, Zack (August 4, 2009). "Halbert running for mayor". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. B1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
12. "Meet the Candidates: Detric Stigall". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. September 18, 2009. p. B5. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
13. "Prince Mongo joins Memphis mayor's race". Action 5 News . Memphis, Tennessee. July 24, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
14. Baker, Jackson (September 3, 2009). "Who's on First? 28 People, Maybe 29 File for Mayor". Memphis Flyer . Memphis, Tennessee . Retrieved July 21, 2025.
15. Doniach, Alex (August 15, 2009). "After sentencing, dad turns candidate". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
16. Doniach, Alex (September 4, 2009). "36 put hats in mayoral circus ring". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
17. "Meet the Candidates: Dewey Clark". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. September 20, 2009. p. B6. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
18. McMillin, Zack (July 1, 2009). "Lowery begins transition to mayor". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
19. Doniach, Alex (July 25, 2009). "One less to run in mayoral election". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. B1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
20. McMillin, Zack (September 18, 2009). "Survey puts Wharton in lead". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1, A7. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
21. McMillin, Zack (October 13, 2009). "Wharton widens lead in new poll". The Commercial Appeal . Memphis, Tennessee. p. A1, A3. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
22. "Election Summary Report - Special State Primaries and Municipal Elections - Shelby County, TN" (PDF). Shelby County Election Commission. October 23, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 17, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2025.