Memphis Mayoral Race Heats Up

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - One day after Mayor Herenton announces he is stepping down; the race to win the mayoral special election is heating up.

Jack Sammons told Fox13 over the phone that it looks like he is going to run for mayor, and sources say he is definitely in.

Political analyst Jackson Baker says Sammons would be AC Wharton's biggest competition.

"Jack Sammons has a reputation that goes back many years, he served twice, with distinction both terms," says Baker.

Sammons has won office as both a Democrat and Republican. Baker says his appeal crosses those boundaries.

"If he is talking about running that is going to do some serious damage to the hopes of Jim Strickland and Kemp Conrad."

But Strickland and Conrad both say they're not ready to bow out just yet.

"People are looking for a change in government…black, white, Republican, Democrat, male, female," says Strickland.

"I hope as a community we can get away from those discussions and have a debate on what is best for Memphis as a whole," says Conrad.

A source tells Fox13 there is a coalition of political movers and shakers of both parties trying to back a single white candidate. The source says they are backing Sammons.

"If you get too many blacks over here or too many white over here, then people will want to merge and get down to a single candidate," says Baker.

Former mayoral candidate Carol Chumney says she is still definitely in the race.

And with only 90 days, it may come down to who can raise the most money. Historically, Sammons has had the financial backing of the Smith family, as in Fedex founder Fred Smith. He is expected to have those dollars in place again for this race.

"That's also a pretty good way of saying, look out here I come," says Baker.

Those in the political world are saying the real race begins at the deadline for candidates to drop out, because then we will see who has the financial backing to survive the race.

The drop out deadline is expected to be in late July.