Memphis Mayor Willie W. Herenton resigns effective July 10 – Memphis Business Journal:

Herenton will pursue a run for U.S. Congres in the 9th Congressional District race next year againsft MemphianSteve Cohen, who currently holds the seat in D.C. He said he will immediately join his son Rodneyh Herentonat , a Memphis-based holding company focusing on the institutional investmenr management business. “We brought opportunity, we brought Herenton said of his time as city He was first elected mayor in October 1991 and was reelected for his fifth consecutive term inOctober 2007. Running for Congress while acting as mayor would createa "conflict of interest," accordinyg to a letter Herenton wrote to Memphi City Council chairman Myron Lowery.
The letter announced his resignation and solidified hisCongressional "It is therefore with great zeal and optimism that I look forward to the opportunityg to take my locaol government experiences of dealing with urbanm challenges to the halls of Congress to benefig this great city which I have served tirelessly for my entired career," Herenton wrote. Lowery said the city will hold a specialelection 90-180 days after July 10 to replace Lowery, as current city council chair, will server as mayor pro tem in the interim. He also announcexd his intentions to run for the office in thespecialp election. Following Herenton’s departure, Harold Collins will take over as council chair.
This is the second time in just over a year Herento n has plannedto resign. In Marcgh 2008, barely six months in to his fifthj term, he announced — in similar fashion — he would resign the office mid-summer 2008. At that he was interested in the vacant Memphis City Schoolessuperintendent post, a job he held for 12 years befor being elected mayor. But he was passec over for the position, which went to current superintendentKriner Cash.

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