Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Willie Herenton

The political life and times of Myron Lowery

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 19:04:23 -0500

Former Memphis City Council member Myron Lowery, who died Sunday, was also interim Memphis mayor and City Court Clerk during 40 years in the rough and tumble of local politics.

Loved and hated, Thaddeus Matthews left an impact

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 18:52:49 -0600

Controversial talk-radio host and blogger Thaddeus Matthews died at 67 after a heart-related illness.

From Herenton to Cash to Ray: How MSCS has selected superintendents

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 08:53:01 -0600

The saga of Willie Herenton’s 1979 selection by the school system has influenced the pick of every superintendent since.

'It's a sad day': Mayors, Liars and other Memphians remember Houston's

jchandler@dailymemphian.com (Jennifer Chandler) — Thu, 5 Dec 2024 21:24:15 -0600

After more than 40 years of operation, Houston’s closed its only Memphis restaurant on Thursday. Some people trace it back to the day the restaurant took chicken tenders off the menu.

Sara Lewis, fierce advocate for children and education, dies

jroberts@dailymemphian.com (Jane Roberts) — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 11:52:19 -0600

“She was very disappointed in Memphis about how the so-called Black children were allowed to falter because it allowed different subsets of schools,” said Aaron L. Lewis Jr., Lewis’s son.

Mayoral candidates react to defeat

jroberts@dailymemphian.com (Jane Roberts) — Fri, 6 Oct 2023 19:24:11 -0500

The Daily Memphian caught up with the major candidates who found themselves behind Paul Young when all the votes were counted. Floyd Bonner Jr. and Willie Herenton, who finished second and third, respectively, weigh in on whether they’ll make another run at elected office.

Calkins: A new mayor and a new dog, too? Things are looking up!

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Fri, 6 Oct 2023 15:41:45 -0500

Paul Young will be the new mayor of Memphis. And you should feel optimistic about that. Yes, optimistic. It may have gone out of fashion. But Young just might bring it back.

The runoff what-if and other takeaways from election night

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Fri, 6 Oct 2023 14:29:10 -0500

With no runoff to face, Paul Young will become the next Memphis mayor with just over 27% of the vote. And that doesn’t even factor in the low turnout for Thursday’s election.

Bonner concedes Memphis mayor's race

editors@dailymemphian.com ( The Daily Memphian Staff) — Thu, 5 Oct 2023 21:39:55 -0500

“We thank you, thank you, thank you,” Floyd Bonner Jr. said. “All of us want the best for Memphis.”

Attack ads blanket the airwaves in the home stretch of Memphis mayor's race

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Wed, 4 Oct 2023 04:00:09 -0500

Two polls made public – one in August and one in early September – showed essentially a four-way race for mayor among Floyd Bonner, Willie Herenton, Van Turner and Paul Young.

Herenton says city lacks 'transformational' mayor

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 08:14:53 -0500

Former Mayor Willie Herenton talks on “Behind The Headlines” about his bid to return as mayor, a recent discussion he had with millennials and his leadership of MPD.

Memphis Mayor's Race 2023: Willie Herenton

editors@dailymemphian.com ( The Daily Memphian Staff) — Tue, 5 Sep 2023 16:18:51 -0500

Herenton lost the mayor’s office to Jim Strickland by almost 40 percentage points. Despite that defeat, Herenton’s confidence, never in short supply, still shines through.

Walking with Willie Herenton as he makes another bid for mayor

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 09:02:47 -0500

Memphis mayoral candidate Willie Herenton remains certain voters will propel him back into the office he held for five terms between 1992 and 2009 and that his hold on the electorate is still near complete.

Calkins: It's the most important election in years, Memphis. Time to study up!

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 19:56:21 -0500

Here’s what we learned about those who showed up Tuesday for the Memphis mayoral debate.

Sanford: With Herenton on the mayoral ballot, voters must ask, 'Would we? Should we?'

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 20:36:37 -0500

“I consider the former mayor, who was elected five times, the most pivotal player in this year’s election for a couple of reasons.”

Political Roundup: Herenton opens HQ, Turner takes on Bonner and more

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 08:26:38 -0500

Also, Councilwoman Cheyenne Johnson calls off her campaign for a second term in favor of Janika White, a contender in last year’s Democratic primary for Shelby County District Attorney General.

Memphis mayoral candidates differ on sentencing laws

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 15:57:31 -0500

The Daily Memphian sent the Memphis results of its countywide crime poll to eight mayoral candidates and a list of questions. Here are their answers.

Where the mayoral candidates stand on proposed tax hike

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 17:38:24 -0500

As the Memphis City Council considers whether to raise property taxes, Memphis mayoral candidates were split on whether they want to do so.

New poll shows Herenton leading 'wide open' Memphis mayoral race

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Thu, 1 Jun 2023 16:38:24 -0500

A new Memphis mayoral poll showed former Mayor Willie Herenton leading the crowded field but with almost half of the voters undecided four months ahead of Election Day.

Political Roundup: Young opens HQ in Poplar Plaza, Wharton on name recognition

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 31 May 2023 15:25:15 -0500

Mayoral contender and Downtown Memphis Commission president Paul Young drew a crowd of around 150 Saturday, May 27, to his campaign headquarters at Poplar Plaza — the first among the contenders.