Herenton: Can We Live Without Him?

I was sitting in the Hall of Mayors recently when "King" Willie Herenton was saying good-bye.
It was, as usual, all about him. Some things we can credit with this odd, hard-to-read, self-serving public figure that is tryly the most controversial fellows we ever seen. Or will see.
He's bombastic, he's sold on his self, and one of his comments was how Memphis has benefitted from his almost 18 years of service.
Is that true?
I don't think so.
As a matter of fact, I don't think he has tackled any of the major problems from taking office to the present. Unfair? Again, I don't think so. He's personally responsible for driving a lot of people -- and businesses -- out of Memphis and they almost certainly will not return, even with a more moderate, less bombastic leader.
We can go on and on and we need to say he's the first black superintendent of Memphis City Schools and the first black Mayor of the City of Memphis. But here's where you -- and historians -- come into play. There will be mixed reports of good and bad. My report card will be heavier on the negative side. What could have been isn't. And never will be.
I can't help but believe that Herenton will primarily be judged in the matter of this racially-torn city during his tenure. You cannot deny Herenton's report card will be mixed at best in this area because he pulled on race to get him where he's ended up, at least until his congressional race against Steve Cohen is over. Even here, Herenton has used the red-hot race issue. It will be come again because it's the core of his support.
Other factors in the endless analysis of "King" Willie Herenton will go on and on and on. The "Toy Towns" issue, one of 10 areas Memphis annexed in Herenton's tenure. It prevented he ennexed area from incorporating and leaving Memphis; the battle for control of the political landscape in Memphis and the fact that Herenton single-handidly beat the Ford Machine. As we've said, there is plenty to digest.
The burning question that Herenton embraced was he was ordained by God to serve Memphis. Do you believe that? I don't.
Now let the analysis begin.