A C Wharton’s Resounding Win
Commercial Appeal, Amos Maki, 10/6/11 – Memphis Mayor A C Wharton swept aside nine challengers and overcame fierce union opposition to snare a decisive election to his first full term in office.
After months of campaigning, the outcome of the mayoral race was never really in doubt. The only questions remaining as voters went to the polls Thursday were about turnout and how big Wharton’s margin of victory would be.
With all 178 precincts reporting, Wharton overcame voter apathy and low turnout to win with 65 percent of the vote. Wharton’s closest competitor was former City Council member Edmund Ford Sr., who gained the support of unions representing city workers and garnered 28 percent of the vote.
