A C Wharton
Encyclopedia
A C Wharton, Jr. is a Tennessee
Democratic
politician
who is the mayor
of Memphis
, Tennessee
. Previously, he served as mayor
of Shelby County
, the first African-American to serve in that office.
. A C Wharton shares his name with his grandfather, father, and eldest son. Despite some misconception, Wharton has stated that his first name is simply the letters A and C and does not stand for anything in particular.
In 1980, then-Shelby County Mayor Bill Morris
appointed him as Chief Shelby County Public Defender, where his concern for the mentally ill in the criminal justice system gave birth to a national model program, known today as the Jericho Initiative. He chaired the county’s Jail Overcrowding Committee, which developed new ways to ease overcrowding without sacrificing public safety.
, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets."
Wharton initiated Operation Safe Community and developed a program to connect prisoners with the skills to succeed in life and to support their families. He increased funding for the drug court. He is credited with working to toughen gun laws and seeking passage of laws that make criminals pay into a special program to help victims.
Wharton improved the management and accountability of the County's Head Start program. His reforms attracted the attention of the United States Congress
, where he was called to testify before the House Committee on Education, with many of his subsequent recommendations being translated into changes to public policy. In the way of early childhood development, he also was a strong advocate "Books from Birth," a unique early-childhood education program which provides books for over 28,000 children in Memphis and Shelby County every year.
Between 2008 and 2009, Wharton convened and led the community wide effort which led to the drafting of Sustainable Shelby, an environmentally sustainable agenda for the county.
, who vacated the office in the middle of his fifth term. The special election was held October 15, 2009. Based on unofficial returns, Wharton won election with 60 percent of the vote in a field of 25 candidates.
Wharton was sworn into office on October 26, 2009. He is the fourth African-American to serve as Mayor of Memphis (previous African-American mayors were J. O. Patterson, Jr., W. W. Herenton
, and Myron Lowery
) and the second to be elected to that office (of the previous African-American mayors, only Herenton was elected mayor).
and for cutting services for young people and the elderly, while offering incentive packages to corporate interests. He disagrees with the Forbes
rating of Memphis as Most Miserable City in America.
and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
filed a joint federal lawsuit against the administration for violating the Clean Water Act
and the state Water Quality Control Act. In 2011, city employees filed a class action suit against the administration of Mayor A C Wharton for violating the First Amendment
and the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
.
neighborhood of Memphis with his wife, Ruby, an attorney. The couple has three sons and raised three other boys.
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who is the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. Previously, he served as mayor
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
of Shelby County
Shelby County, Tennessee
Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the state's largest both in terms of population and geographic area, with a population of 927,644 at the 2010 census...
, the first African-American to serve in that office.
Early life, education, and early career
Wharton was born and raised in Lebanon, TennesseeLebanon, Tennessee
Lebanon is a city in Wilson County, Tennessee, in the United States. The population was 20,235 at the 2000 census. It serves as the county seat of Wilson County. Lebanon is located in middle Tennessee, approximately 25 miles east of downtown Nashville. Local residents have also called it...
. A C Wharton shares his name with his grandfather, father, and eldest son. Despite some misconception, Wharton has stated that his first name is simply the letters A and C and does not stand for anything in particular.
In 1980, then-Shelby County Mayor Bill Morris
William N. Morris
William N. "Bill" Morris is a Tennessee politician who served as mayor of Shelby County, which includes Memphis, Tennessee. He also served as Sheriff of Shelby County. He was the president of the Tennessee County Services Association, an organization of county officials.Morris served as the...
appointed him as Chief Shelby County Public Defender, where his concern for the mentally ill in the criminal justice system gave birth to a national model program, known today as the Jericho Initiative. He chaired the county’s Jail Overcrowding Committee, which developed new ways to ease overcrowding without sacrificing public safety.
Shelby County Mayor
Wharton is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns CoalitionMayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a coalition of over 600 mayors who support a number of gun control initiatives that the group calls "commonsense reforms" to fight illegal gun trafficking and gun violence in the United States...
, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets."
Wharton initiated Operation Safe Community and developed a program to connect prisoners with the skills to succeed in life and to support their families. He increased funding for the drug court. He is credited with working to toughen gun laws and seeking passage of laws that make criminals pay into a special program to help victims.
Wharton improved the management and accountability of the County's Head Start program. His reforms attracted the attention of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, where he was called to testify before the House Committee on Education, with many of his subsequent recommendations being translated into changes to public policy. In the way of early childhood development, he also was a strong advocate "Books from Birth," a unique early-childhood education program which provides books for over 28,000 children in Memphis and Shelby County every year.
Between 2008 and 2009, Wharton convened and led the community wide effort which led to the drafting of Sustainable Shelby, an environmentally sustainable agenda for the county.
Election
In June 2009, Wharton announced his intentions to run for mayor of Memphis in a special election to replace Mayor W. W. HerentonW. W. Herenton
Willie Wilbert Herenton is an American politician who was formerly mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, and was candidate for election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010, until his defeat in the Democratic primary against incumbent Steve Cohen. He was the first African American to be elected...
, who vacated the office in the middle of his fifth term. The special election was held October 15, 2009. Based on unofficial returns, Wharton won election with 60 percent of the vote in a field of 25 candidates.
Wharton was sworn into office on October 26, 2009. He is the fourth African-American to serve as Mayor of Memphis (previous African-American mayors were J. O. Patterson, Jr., W. W. Herenton
W. W. Herenton
Willie Wilbert Herenton is an American politician who was formerly mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, and was candidate for election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010, until his defeat in the Democratic primary against incumbent Steve Cohen. He was the first African American to be elected...
, and Myron Lowery
Myron Lowery
Myron Lowery was the Mayor Pro Tem of Memphis, Tennessee, from July 31, 2009 to October 26, 2009. He is a former television news anchor for WMC-TV 5 in Memphis. Mayor Pro Tem Lowery has served on the Memphis City Council since 1991. He became interim mayor on July 31, 2009, following the...
) and the second to be elected to that office (of the previous African-American mayors, only Herenton was elected mayor).
Criticism
Wharton has been criticized for underfunding Memphis City SchoolsMemphis City Schools
Memphis City Schools is the school district operating public schools in the city of Memphis, Tennessee. Its headquarters are in the Francis E. Coe Administration Building...
and for cutting services for young people and the elderly, while offering incentive packages to corporate interests. He disagrees with the Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
rating of Memphis as Most Miserable City in America.
Lawsuits
In 2010, the United States Environmental Protection AgencyUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is a Cabinet-level agency within the government of the U.S. state of Tennessee, headed by the Tennessee Commissioner of Environment and Conservation....
filed a joint federal lawsuit against the administration for violating the Clean Water Act
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Commonly abbreviated as the CWA, the act established the goals of eliminating releases of high amounts of toxic substances into water, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that...
and the state Water Quality Control Act. In 2011, city employees filed a class action suit against the administration of Mayor A C Wharton for violating the First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
and the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted on July 9, 1868, as one of the Reconstruction Amendments.Its Citizenship Clause provides a broad definition of citizenship that overruled the Dred Scott v...
.
Personal life
Wharton currently lives in the GlenviewGlenview Historic District (Memphis, Tennessee)
Glenview Historic District is a neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district in 1999. The neighborhood is between South Memphis and Midtown and bounded by the Illinois Central Railroad on the west, Lamar Ave on the east,...
neighborhood of Memphis with his wife, Ruby, an attorney. The couple has three sons and raised three other boys.