“He called me out.” - Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery	“He must be stopped.” - Former Mayor Willie W. Herenton

Sixteen people have picked up petitions at the Shelby County Election Commission for the Oct. 15 special election to replace former Mayor Willie W. Herenton, who retired July 30.

The latest person to join the crowded field of mayoral hopefuls is Herenton himself. He pulled a petition Thursday (Aug. 13) to reclaim the seat he’d vacated.

In a written statement, Herenton said, “It is clear to many citizens that my retirement from office created opportunities for Mayor Pro Tem (Myron) Lowery and a puzzling list of mayoral candidates to turn our city backward. I am disappointed in Myron’s reckless style of leadership. He must be stopped.”

Lowery, who is serving until voters decide whether he or one of the other candidates will fill the remainder of Herenton’s term, said, “Herenton is free to run, but citizens of Memphis will make up their minds as to who will lead this city in the next two years.”

Noting that Herenton “called me out,” Lowery said he would not be deterred from running in the special election. “I’m not the front-runner in this race; I’m the underdog.”

As mayor pro tem, Lowery said he is trying to move Memphis forward and that some people are afraid of change.

“I said this before, Dr. Herenton has a creditability problem,” said Lowery. “He says one thing and does another. He is the Bret Farve of Memphis politics.”

Shelby County Commissioner Sidney Chism, a longtime Herenton friend and confidante, said Herenton called him prior to pulling a petition.

“He called me, but I couldn’t talk to him at the time,” said Chism. “I didn’t know what he had done until today (Aug. 13).”

Chism said Herenton is “highly pissed with Myron (Lowery) and concerned about the number of people in the mayor’s race….Myron is signing off on deals and he’s concerned about it.”

Still, “it’s just a petition,” he said.

The news of Herenton’s possible reentry into the mayor’s race doesn’t surprise School Board Commissioner Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum Jr., who pulled a petition on Aug. 11 to run for mayor.

“I laughed out loud when I heard it – not that I’m casting dispersion on Dr. Herenton,” said Whalum. “I’m not surprised. But if he was concerned about Myron, he should have stayed in the seat.”

Whalum said Herenton was a good mayor, but added, “It’s so unfortunate that Dr. Herenton would jerk the citizens of Memphis around.”

Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton Jr. chose not to respond directly about the move by Herenton. He did say, however, that he entered the race as a candidate who is about “policies that will bring us together for a common goal, and not about personalities.”

Attorney Charles Carpenter, who managed three of Herenton’s five campaigns, said, “As a private citizen he (Herenton) has a right to pull a petition to enter the race.”

Carpenter said it was surprising to hear that Herenton had secured a petition.

“I don’t know what’s going on with his thinking, but the Carpenter candidacy and campaign will move on with plans to continue to be an alternative candidate for the voters in this special election,” he said.

“Herenton’s potential entry in the race does not change our strategy.”

City Councilwoman Wanda Halbert, who announced her candidacy last week, expressed similar sentiments.

“It’s not a problem with me,” she said. “I’m focused solely on my campaign and candidacy. I don’t have anything to do with that.”

Former Council member and candidate Carol Chumney had not returned a call for comment by press time.