Herenton Insider Speaks about Meeting

It became the site of the most infamous meeting in Memphis politics.

But, two years after a clandestine "pow-wow" between Willie Herenton and A.C.Wharton, at the former site of Midtown's La Chardonay restaurant, the full extent of the political repercussions may still be unfolding. Yet, some of the mystery of how that event took place is known to one man....former Herenton top aide and long-time campaign advisor, Reginald French.

French said, "I don't know if this word would be appropriate for Mayor Herenton or Mayor Wharton to look at me after I say this...but, they were confused."

A "confusion" that, at the time, threatened to destroy a long friendship between two men under tremendous pressures. The defiant Herenton is looking to secure a record 5th term as City Mayor. A reluctant Wharton being pushed into a fray he wanted to avoid at all costs, yet tempted and flattered by an insistent movement to persuade him to enter the race.

Speculation heightened when in May 2007 when Herenton sent Wharton a letter asking him to publically support him for Mayor. French says tensions between the two had grown even more discordant...due to added miscommunications.

French explained, "They needed somebody that they really entrusted that could tell them. Maybe this guy didn't say this or maybe this guy don't feel this way about you?"

French alleges, after receiving "feelers" from both men, he sought to quietly intervene by getting both to meet face-to-face.

French continued, "But, things had gotten so unique. That somebody had to kinda sit down and talk to each one and say...at the end of the day, it's two men. You all really need to sit down and try to work this thing out."

French asserted he is not at liberty to discuss the specifics of what was "worked out" then between Herenton and Wharton.

However, as another possible confrontation between the two now looms as a possibility, French, who was instrumental in Herenton's past campaign successes, finds himself in yet another camp using his political savvy on behalf of special election candidate Charles Carpenter. French said the October 15th election date offers unique challenges for all potential contenders.

French extolled, "A campaign is gonna have to go from 0 to 60 in a very short period of time. So, essentially there's very few rooms for error. Very few room for mistakes. You're really gonna have to know and understand how to put a campaign together.

French continued, "You're never a front-runner. If any candidate ever really believes they're a front-runner, they're probably setting themselves up for failure."

As for Herenton's announced intentions to challenge for the 9th Congressional District seat against incumbent, Steve Cohen, French, who said he hasn't yet been asked to take an active role in that campaign, still thinks his friend and former boss will be a formidable opponent.

French concluded, "I would concur with the fact he would be extremely hard to beat in the race. I'm not saying it's impossible. But, he's gonna be an extremely tough candidate to beat."