Political Theatre

Twelve Memphis mayoral candidates took their seats on the Michael D. Rose Theatre stage to tell their vision for the city of Memphis Tuesday night.

Candace Carter and Robert Spencer, co-chairs of the political action and juvenile justice committee for The University of Memphis chapter of the NAACP, welcomed everyone to the Memphis Mayoral Forum.

Joseph Kyles, moderator of the event and political commentator for Fox 13 news, began the night by explaining the rules for the evening: Candidates had three minutes to introduce themselves and tell the audience what their vision was for the city. Afterward, candidates would answer questions from the audience with a one-minute time limit for each answer.

Students, many of whom said they also have a vision for the city, came with questions already prepared.

Although candidates took different stances on the issues, sometimes their views overlapped.

Randy Cagle, business owner, and Wanda Halbert, city councilwoman, said Memphis has reached a low point and needs strong leadership to make a comeback.

"We have lost everything that we have ever had," Cagle said. "We've lost the pride in our city. We're going to have to reunite the people. We have to get the people involved in our everyday politics."

Halbert said her solution would be to inspire the city

"Memphis needs a vision - a new vision of hope, optimism and honesty and transparency for its citizens," she said.

Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery said that as a former News Channel 5 reporter, he covered the city council and did not like what he saw.

"I didn't like the inequities that I saw in members of the city council as they placed their votes for dollars in one part of the city and not the other part," he said.

Others, like Carol Chumney, an attorney and former councilwoman, had other criticisms of Memphis.

Chumney said the city had "giants" facing it such as crime and poverty.

"I think we can conquer those giants, and this is the time in Memphis for us to do that," she said.

Attorney Charles Carpenter focused on what he called the poor job market in the city. He said Memphis is the 18th largest city in the United States, and students should not have to go elsewhere to find jobs or start a career and that his was a vision of leadership.

Detric Stigall, a local businessman and administrator of park services, said in Memphis politics "we don't know how to reach back and help our youth" and that he is "the new voice of Memphis."

Johnny Hatcher Jr. and Ernest Lunati took more proactive stances.

Hatcher, an accountant and business owner, said "I have a vision of fairness and equality and reduced crime, with educational opportunities and employment opportunities for all."

Lunati, a businessman, focused on protecting taxpayer's money and said he wanted to close the car inspection station, lower sales taxes to less than four percent, lower property taxes by seventy five percent and close the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Unlike many of the other candidates, Kenneth Twig Whalum Jr. said he is "encouraged and hopeful for the future of Memphis."

"My vision for Memphis is to create wealth and to leave wealth for our children's children," he said.

John Willingham, county commissioner, was the last candidate to speak and did not share a vision or any goals but ended his speech saying he has been in business for 54 years, been married to the same woman for 53 years, has three daughters, six grand children and businesses in several locations.

"That's enough," he said.

Other candidates were somewhat volatile during the forum.

Leo Agowhat, the first to speak, said "I look, and I see the most ridiculous political farce that could go on in the United States is going on right here in Memphis," he said. "King Willie quits. He appoints AC (Wharton) the job. AC is going to get the job. Whoever is next in line for AC is going to take his place and it's going to go on business as usual."

Agowhat decided not to finish his introduction as Kyles reminded candidates to "refrain from personal addresses."

Robert Hodges, known as Prince Mongo, also attended and said, "I came down from another planet, Zambodia, and I came here to save y'all and the city."

He said he did not have any "stale rhetoric" to share and was willing to give the time to correct the problems Memphis has, specifically a poor educational system.

While answering student questions in the next part of the forum, almost all of the candidates focused on three main points in their answers: bringing jobs to Memphis, retaining college students after they graduate and finding things for youth to do in Memphis.

The election for the mayor of Memphis is Oct. 15.