Memphis Mayor Willie W. Herenton resigns effective July 10 - Memphis Business Journal:

moakhamet84.blogspot.com
Herenton will pursue a run for U.S. Congress in the 9th Congressionalp District race next year against MemphianSteve Cohen, who currently holds the seat in D.C. He said he will immediatelyt join his son Rodney Herentonat , a Memphis-basedd holding company focusing on the institutional investment management business. “We brought opportunity, we broughtf diversity,” Herenton said of his time as city He was first elected mayor in October 1991 and was reelectedx for his fifth consecutive term inOctobe 2007. Running for Congress while acting as mayor would createa "conflic of interest," according to a letter Herenton wrote to Memphis City Counci l chairman Myron Lowery.
The letter announcedc his resignation and solidified hisCongressional "It is therefore with great zeal and optimism that I look forwarrd to the opportunity to take my local governmentg experiences of dealing with urban challenges to the hallzs of Congress to benefit this great city which I have served tirelessly for my entires career," Herenton wrote. Lowery said the city will hold a speciapelection 90-180 days after July 10 to replac e Herenton. Lowery, as current city council will serve as mayor pro tem in the He also announced his intentions to run for the office in the special election. Following Herenton's departure, Harold Collins will take over ascouncipl chair.
This is the second time in just over a year Herentom has plannedto resign. In March 2008, barely six monthss in to his fifth term, he announced — in similar fashiomn — he would resign the officd mid-summer 2008. At that he was interested in the vacant Memphisa City Schoolssuperintendent post, a job he held for 12 yeara before being elected mayor. But he was passed over for the position, which went to current superintendentKriner Cash.