The Tri-State Defender endorses Mayor Wharton for re-election:

Memphis Mayor
A C Wharton Jr.

After having interviewed the three primary candidates in the race, reviewed their campaign materials, websites, social media pages and reviewed their responses to our candidate questionnaire, incumbent Mayor A C Wharton Jr. is the clear choice. Although all the candidates voiced valid visions for the city, Wharton had the clearest and most concrete plans to deal with the primary issues of economic development/job and business creation, African-American business and wealth creation, education, crime reduction and improved government efficiencies.  Each candidate demonstrated a solid background of public service, but Wharton stands most poised to utilize his experience and relationships to advance an aggressive and clearly articulated agenda for growth in the city over the next four years. He has some work to do to truly impact the poverty rates and low education attainment rates particularly among the 70 percent African-American population, but demonstrated an understanding of the challenges and the aptitude, attitude, and resolve to do it.