Posted on 07/14/2002 7:10:48 AM PDT by GailA
Editorial 7/14: A C Wharton for Shelby County mayor
July 14, 2002
The Commercial Appeal editorial board today begins its recommendations in contested races on the Aug. 1 general election ballot in Shelby County.
NEXT MONTH'S election for Shelby County mayor is effectively a contest between two candidates who have never held elective office. But that is where the similarity ends, for while Democrat A C WHARTON appears well qualified to lead the government of Tennessee's largest county, Republican George Flinn seems essentially unprepared for the job.
Eight-year GOP incumbent Mayor Jim Rout, who will retire at the end of next month, is leaving the county in generally sound shape. The most worrisome immediate issues of county government appear to be the county's $1.4 billion debt - incurred mostly to build schools in fast-growing suburbs - and continued problems at the downtown jail, which seem largely a product of chronic mismanagement in the Sheriff's Department.
Other major county issues - fairly assessing the public costs of economic development, striking a proper balance between development and environmental protection, defining a reasonable approach to city-county consolidation, reforming the way city and suburban public schools are funded, seeking revenue options to the county property tax - also will demand the attention of the next mayor. In terms of his experience, record of public service and ideology, Wharton is better equipped to address all of these areas than his chief opponent.
As the county's public defender for 22 years, Wharton has acquired both a useful background in government administration and a thorough knowledge of the local criminal justice system. As chairman of the Methodist Healthcare board, he has direct experience with the challenges of health care management in an urban community.
As a member of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Wharton understands matters of school funding and quality. As an attorney in private practice, Wharton has a record of participation on civic and corporate boards and in political campaigns that displays his ability to reach across party lines and work effectively with a wide range of local leaders.
Unlike his main rival, Wharton properly has kept an open mind toward proposals for consolidation of city and county governments. His positions on such matters as county indebtedness, school funding, growth management and regional initiatives are more specific and comprehensive than his leading opponent's. Flinn pledges to apply the lessons of his business success as a radiologist and broadcast executive to the job of county mayor. Yet during the primary campaign, he displayed an alarming lack of knowledge of the most basic matters of county government.
Throughout the general election campaign, Flinn's advisers have sought to limit his exposure to situations in which he might be confronted by a question he could not answer with a pre-programmed slogan or sound bite. His refusal to participate in a proposed televised debate sponsored by the Shelby County League of Women Voters is the most recent example of this stealth strategy. Flinn offers voters a simplistic "message": low taxes, better schools, less crime, more jobs. It would be hard to find anyone who opposes those goals. But Flinn has not said much about what he would do as mayor on the inevitable occasions when anti-tax sentiments and demands for essential county services conflict.
The GOP nominee appears ready to let an expensive broadcast advertising blitz, which he is largely paying for, do his talking for him. Although the tactic succeeded in the Republican primary against an under-funded opponent, it is likely to be less successful against Wharton, whose campaign is also well financed.
Flinn will benefit from the fact that Republicans generally have more competitive races than do Democrats in the Tennessee primary, which coincides with the county general election. That is likely to bring more GOP voters to the polls. Again, though, Wharton's appeal transcends - or should transcend - party labels.
The names of three independent candidates also will appear on the mayoral ballot. Although he has ended his campaign to support Wharton, Sir Isaac Ford is likely to attract some votes merely on the strength of his familiar surname. The ballot also includes Bruce Young, a commercial real estate broker and self-described libertarian, and Johnny Kelly.
Shelby County voters have a clear choice in this year's mayoral election. A C WHARTON is the best choice.
They scream about white flight out of Memphis and Shelby Co, if wharton gets in you will see that flight increase 10 fold.
wharton is king willie's puppet.
MY OPINION and I'm sticking to it!
wharton's chief job has been being a public defender and high profile lawyer for criminals.
Dr Flin has run his highly successful eye business and 30 radio and tv stations.
The county is not in "generally sound shape" it is more in debt that the State is. Debt is $1.4BILLION.
Dr Flinn ran on a NO NEW TAXES platform and beat out State Rep Larry Scroggs, who has a record of being a increaser of many small taxes over his years in office.
hmm with his fingers on the healthcare board that raises the question of how far his fingers are in the TennCare till
Education? 64 Memphis city schools are under threat of State take over for failure to educate the kids.
wharton is no more qualified to be mayor than I am.
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