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Yes, Dr. Willie W. Herenton is serious about wanting to be mayor of Memphis again

NNPA NEWSWIRE — It’s been almost a year since Willie W. Herenton, who has been elected Memphis mayor five times, declared that he wanted back in. Since then, incumbent Jim Strickland has formally launched his reelection bid. And last week, District 7 Commissioner Tami Sawyer staked her mayoral claim, one that would make her the first woman to serve, if she navigated a path to victory. Lesser-known announced candidates include Pam Moses and Lemichael Wilson.

Published

8 years ago

March 19, 2019

Oakland Post

By John Semien, Special to The New Tri-State Defender

As the incumbent talks about accelerating momentum, and a first-term Shelby County Commissioner rides an out-of-the-gate buzz about “we can’t wait,” former mayor Dr. Willie W. Herenton is putting things in place to “do it again.”

It’s been almost a year since Herenton, who has been elected Memphis mayor five times, declared that he wanted back in. Since then, incumbent Jim Strickland has formally launched his reelection bid. And last week, District 7 Commissioner Tami Sawyer staked her mayoral claim, one that would make her the first woman to serve, if she navigated a path to victory. Lesser-known announced candidates include Pam Moses and Lemichael Wilson.

The New Tri-State Defender hooked up with Herenton at his campaign headquarters on Third St. on Tuesday afternoon. The exchange lasted about an hour and came to a close with Memphis’ longest serving mayor choosing not to supply individual answers to a series of questions drawn from an informal survey of TSD readers.

“My team is developing position papers on all of these issues and others that are in the minds of Memphians,” Herenton said. “And as the campaign moves along our plans will be revealed to the public.”

The interview was in a conference room. An office administrator that has been aligned with Herenton for years was setting up her office. Others involved in the campaign were putting pictures on the walls. The first question was why he was running.

“To make a long story short, I left (public office) before completing the agenda,” Herenton said. “You are going to hear me talk in this campaign about how I left an unfinished agenda. If you notice I didn’t have a clear succession pattern…”
The first African American elected mayor, Herenton served from 1992 until 2009, resigning about a year into his fifth term. He made reference to the resignation, which came amid a federal investigation into a real estate deal involving him. The probe didn’t yield any charges against him but took its toll.

“It weighed very heavily on my family and my ability to perform my duties as a mayor in the manner that I wanted to do,” Herenton said. “If you will recall, I submitted my resignation in the second half of my fifth term as mayor.’’

He has since determined that his life’s purpose is still public service and that he has more to contribute as mayor of Memphis. He noted that his candidacy was announced on April 5, 2018, the day after the 50th commemoration of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Going back into public service as the mayor of Memphis, given this historical significance to the life and the legacy of Dr. King, I felt a sense of rededication to Dr. King’s mission and my own personal mission,” Herenton said. “I marched with him… I participated in the Black Mondays at a very young age.”

Without calling any names, Herenton said today’s “so-called activists” don’t know “a damned thing about activism.” Marching with Dr. King meant “putting my job on the line,” he said. “We were real activists. I put everything on the line when I was very young.”

“At the age of 78, I’m still here,” Herenton said. “I still have the passion and the energy…to go back and finished the unfinished agenda.”

That unfinished agenda includes economic empowerment for “people who have been left out of the economic growth of this community,” he said.

“The current administration keeps boasting about momentum, and you’ve heard the old adage about a rising tide lifts all boats. There are boats in Memphis that are not being lifted. In fact, there are some people who don’t even have a boat.”

Never mentioning Strickland by name, Herenton said the current administration talks about the billions of dollars in construction within the city limits of Memphis.

“We will focus on building strong families. That’s going to differentiate us,’’ he said. “We want to get at the root causes of poverty and crime.”

Herenton said he has seen three generations of poor people and “90 percent didn’t make it.” Success, he said, has more to do with instilling the right values in children than making sure there is a father in every household. He grew up with a strong mother and grandmother, who stressed the importance of education, hard work and going to church.

“This generational poverty, we’ve got to break (it), and I think it starts by identifying the root causes of the poverty and putting together a plan of action that gets at those root causes.”

He also wants to address what he sees as the city’s deteriorating infrastructure.

“It wasn’t like that during my tenure. Something happened,” he said. “All you have to do is drive the streets of Memphis.”

Herenton said crime is worse now than it was when he was mayor.

“When I was mayor we aggressively fought the crime problem. …We had aggressive police programs; Blue Crush did a phenomenal job. … I don’t see that aggressive crime fighting today. We’re going to aggressively fight crime while addressing the causes of crime.”

Saying his administration would invest in the youth of Memphis,” Herenton said a lot of people received their first job in summer youth programs sponsored by his office.

“…My life continues to be a purpose-driven life…and I wanted people to know I resigned with a cloud that was not of my own choosing,” Herenton said. “I know history will be somewhat kind to me but I’m still not through with the legacy and history.”

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Smooth Ride! Car Suspension & Comfort Tested #shorts

Smooth suspension meets surprisingly spacious legroom. Experience true comfort on any road!

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Car suspension test demonstrating a smooth ride, comfort features, and handling on various terrains.

Experience the difference smooth suspension makes on rough streets. Check out the surprisingly good second-row legroom – test it yourself for true comfort.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/l9Z571za5Gc

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61 years since Selma, Houston leaders say the bridge remains to be crossed

61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Houston leaders discuss the ongoing struggle for civil rights 61 years after Selma, emphasizing the need for continued action.

It has been 61 years since the Selma marches. But political leaders in Houston say that the issues protesters were marching for still plague the lives of Black Americans.

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Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.