A C Wharton Jr. is the 63rd mayor of Memphis, Tenn. After years of teaching, private practice, and public service as the executive director of Memphis Area Legal Services and Shelby County's chief public defender, he was elected the first African-American Shelby County mayor in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. During this time, he developed the county's first financial plan and decreased its long-term debt, reduced the county payroll, increased efficiency and raised taxes only once in seven years. In 2009, he was elected mayor of Memphis with 61 percent of the vote in a field of 25 candidates. Since he has taken office, Memphis has achieved a record number of "firsts" that have reduced crime, improved city services, enhanced the quality of life and created new good-paying jobs for Memphians. Wharton was re-elected in 2011 to a full four-year term.

Panel:
The Future of Cities

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