A C Wharton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
A C Wharton Jr.
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Wharton in 2002
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| 63rd Mayor of Memphis | |
| In office October 26, 2009 – December 31, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Willie Herenton Myron Lowery (pro tem) |
| Succeeded by | Jim Strickland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 17, 1944 Lebanon, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Ruby Wharton |
| Alma mater | Tennessee State University (BA) University of Mississippi (JD) |
A C Wharton Jr. (born August 17, 1944) is an American politician, lawyer, and teacher. He served as the 63rd mayor of Memphis, Tennessee. Before that, he was the mayor of Shelby County, where he was the first African American to hold that position.
Contents
Early Life and Education
A C Wharton was born in Lebanon, Tennessee. His first name is just the letters "A" and "C," which is the same name as his father and grandfather.
He went to Tennessee State University and studied political science. Later, he earned a law degree (a J.D.) from the University of Mississippi. For 25 years, he also worked as a professor, teaching law to students.
Starting His Career
In 1980, Wharton was chosen to be the Chief Public Defender for Shelby County. A public defender is a lawyer who helps people who cannot afford to hire their own. He was very concerned about people with mental illness in the justice system. This led him to create a program called the Jericho Initiative, which became a model for other cities across the country.
He also led a committee to solve problems with jail overcrowding. He found new ways to manage the jail population safely without having to build more jails.
Mayor of Shelby County
In 2002, Wharton was elected as the first African-American mayor of Shelby County. As mayor, he worked on several important projects.
Public Safety
Wharton joined a group called the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition. This group's goal was to make communities safer. He started a program called Operation Safe Community. He also supported programs to help prisoners learn new skills so they could find jobs and support their families after being released.
Education and Community Programs
Wharton made big improvements to the county's Head Start program, which helps young children prepare for school. His changes were so successful that he was asked to speak to the United States Congress about them.
He was also a big supporter of "Books from Birth." This program gives free books to thousands of children in Memphis and Shelby County every year to encourage early reading.
Protecting the Environment
Between 2008 and 2009, Wharton led a project called Sustainable Shelby. This was a plan to make the county more environmentally friendly and protect its natural resources for the future.
Mayor of Memphis
In 2009, Wharton decided to run for mayor of Memphis after the previous mayor, Willie Herenton, left the job.
Winning the Election
The special election for mayor was held in 2009. Wharton won easily, getting 60% of the vote even though there were 24 other candidates. He was sworn in as mayor on October 26, 2009.
He was the fourth African American to be the mayor of Memphis. In 2011, he was re-elected for a second term with 65% of the vote.
Time as Mayor
As mayor of Memphis, Wharton focused on improving the city and creating jobs.
City Improvements
In 2010, Wharton promised to make Memphis a better city for bike riders. At the time, the city was known for being unfriendly to cyclists. Under his leadership, the city built over 50 miles of bike lanes, including the popular Memphis Greenline. He also hired the city's first Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator to focus on making the city safer for walking and biking.
Job Growth
To help people find jobs, Wharton created the city's Office of Talent and Capital in 2010. In 2013, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation praised Memphis for its focus on creating jobs and making the city's economy stronger.
Challenges and Criticisms
During his time as mayor, Wharton faced some challenges. Some people criticized him for cutting health benefits for city workers and retirees to balance the city's budget. In 2014, the Memphis City Council passed his budget, which required city workers and many retirees to pay more for their health insurance.
Wharton also had to deal with lawsuits. In 2010, the city was sued for not following the Clean Water Act, a law that protects the nation's water. In another case, some city employees sued, saying that changes to their pay and benefits were unfair.
In 2015, Wharton ran for re-election but lost to Jim Strickland.
Personal Life
Wharton lives in Memphis with his wife, Ruby, who is also a lawyer. They have three sons and also raised three other boys. They have seven grandchildren.
