In our tradition of being trail blazers, WTCABC was the first to host five of the candidates interested in succeeding Mayor W.W. Herenton as Mayor of Memphis. Candidates and prospective candidates included, Charles Carpenter, attorney and former Herenton campaign manager, first-term Councilman Kemp Conrad, former Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Carol Chumney, Councilman Jim Strickland and Memphis School Board Commissioner Rev. Kenneth Whalum. Mayor AC Wharton and Council Chair Myron Lowery were scheduled to attend, but cancelled the night before the event. To a room of almost 150 ABC members and numerous representatives of the media, the candidates each delivered their vision for Memphis. To the candidates' credit, each talked issues and for the most part stayed away from personal attacks and criticisms of one another.

WTCABC has been criticized somehwat for not inviting all of the candidates and prospective candidates, but has also received extensive positive media coverage. As explained in these reports, ABC is a private organization and the purpose of the event was to meet candidates that our organization might support, not to provide a venue for the general public to assess the candidates.

To see the extensive media coverage we received, click any of the links below:
Commercial Appeal
My Fox Memphis
Memphis Flyer