Memphis Mayor Herenton Resigns

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Veteran Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton says he's resigning to concentrate on a run for Tennessee's 9th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Memphis Mayor Herenton started his resignation speech by quoting the Bible, saying there's a season and time for everything, and it was time to announce that effective July 10th, 2009, he will resign his tenure as the Mayor of the City of Memphis.

Mayor Herenton went on to say his service has been one of the highlights of his life and he has enjoyed serving the city of Memphis.

He added that during his tenure as the Mayor, the City of Memphis has grown and prospered, and he has left the residents a stronger city government than what he inherited.

Herenton's retirement from city government doesn't mean retiring from private matters. He is currently making plans for the next chapter of his life. Willie Herenton will join his son Rodney at Herenton Capital Management.

On the public side, Herenton previously announced he will seek the 9th District Congressional seat and this remains his intention. His resignation will allow him to devote time and energy into listening and meeting the needs of the 9th district.

Herenton is convinced that serving as mayor while pursuing a seat in Congress is not a good idea and would create a distraction. He thinks it's important for his campaign plans to not run into his duties as Mayor. He says he feels he would best serve the City of Memphis in Congress.

"In recent challenging times, it has become increasingly clear to me that the success of critically important government issues is more dependent on government leadership," says Herenton.

Herenton said that he looks forward to taking local government experience to the halls of Congress to benefit Memphis.

Herenton added that he is deeply humbled and grateful to all of the citizens of Memphis for providing him with the opportunity to serve his hometown. He thanked the city, state, and the U.S. for allowing him this opportunity.

The Mayor thanked several individuals who served in the Herenton administration.

"When I leave home of mayors, I look at all the portraits…beginning in 1826 when city was founded, the virtue in residents of Memphis, and 1991 broke a barrier."

Herenton held up a picture of him in an alley close to where he lived when he was young. He wanted to show the struggle he had growing up, born out of wedlock, attending a segregated school, riding in the back of the bus, and drinking from seregated water fountains. He said he kept the faith and fought the struggle and ended up becoming superintendent of the school system at age 39. He said the picture is a reminder to kids in the public school system that no matter the circumstances, keep the faith and "shake off the haters."

He hopes his legacy will be that of progress made and defying the odds.

The 69-year-old Herenton has been mayor 18 years and was Memphis' first elected black mayor.