Council Contention in Executive Session

Memphis, Tn - Awaiting Myron Lowery's nomination for city attorney on his behalf, Mayor-Elect AC Wharton watched 2 city council members go a couple of rounds over a difference of opinion on a separate nominee for the new Metro Charter Commission.

"I'm a real man," said Joe Brown. "A real black man."
"What's the difference?" said Shea Flinn.
"So, I hope you're a real white man," Brown said.
"What's the difference," Flinn said.

"I never named one of your nominees," said Brown.

"You said blogger. His name is Steve Ross on the record and I nominated him," Flinn said before being interrupted by the Council Chairman's gavel.

"I mean this is mild. Keep in mind you're looking at a trial lawyer here. I've been in many a knock down, drag out," said Wharton when asked what he thought about the exchange after the meeting.

Brown didn't like Flinn's pick or how the charter nomination process is being run. Flinn didn't like the nominee name calling.

"I think it got to a point in comments that weren't productive and I wish that hadn't happened. But we mix it up and then we go down and it works itself out," Flinn said later

"They moved the process forward before a lot of other council members had a chance or opportunity to put a name on the list," Brown said when asked why he was so upset.

With Wharton calling it an urgency to replace City Attorney Elbert Jefferson who turned in a resignation letter Friday, the meeting did move on. Council members reached Herman Morris by phone and officially offered him the job.

"The next question for me sir, is on you. Are you on your way home tonight? Yes, thank you because you can be sworn in tomorrow," said Chairman Harold Collins.

Wharton, who won't be sworn in until next week, says he picked Morris, a former MLG&W President and mayoral candidate, because of his diverse background. Wharton says he's looking to Morris' strong points to overhaul the City Attorney's Office.

"He was general counsel at MLG&W before he was president so, he's evaluated attorneys. He's sent work out, so he knows what to look for. He knows how to audit, to see if lawyers are doing what they're supposed to do," said Wharton.