Jerry Lawler is in the race. 3 reasons that’s a bad thing.

Jerry Lawler, semi-famous wrestling star and one-time candidate for Mayor of Memphis announced his intent to run in the upcoming special election, providing of course, there IS a special election. He announced it on the morning show on KIX-106, but for some reason they don’t have anything on their site about it. The Commercial Appeal has a brief write-up here.

Here’s what I wrote about him a few days ago:

Jerry Lawler

The former star of the wresting world (It’s still real to me….!) is playing with the idea of running. He first ran in 1999, finishing in 3rd (of 15!) to Willie and Joe Ford.

He might run, but he knows as well as anyone that he’s not going to win. He’s been making the rounds on the local radio shows and I saw him on the 9:00 news on Fox last night. He seems like a nice guy, so it’s hard to fault him for using Herentons cry for attention as a way to get some publicity for himself.

Lawler Odds of winning: 500-1

I don’t know Lawler personally, but he seems like a nice enough guy. If you can ignore the years of wrestling idiocy, he seems like a sharp guy as well. Check out some of these interviews he’s had over the years. He’s not just a meathead wrestler. He seems to really love the City of Memphis and to want what’s best for it. That’s why I’m conflicted over his candidicy.

Three reason Jerry Lawler running for Mayor of Memphis is a bad thing.

1. He’s not a “serious” candidate.

The line that jumps out of the CA story is this:

Lawler said he will not actively raise funds for the race, stressed his “common sense” and pointed to his popularity across racial lines.

If he’s not going to raise money, he has no chance of winning. You can’t buy yard signs with common sense. Popularity across racial lines doesn’t pay for direct mailings.

With the (large) exceptions of Myron Lowery and A.C. Wharton, Lawler will get the most free exposure by the media, but I don’t think that will enough to win. There are only so many people that listen to Young & Elder and Thaddeus Matthews.

2. His candidacy adds to the national embarrassment of Memphis.

Of all the things Willie Herenton has done to this city, none of them have caused the embarrassment on a nationwide scale like his “I quit. I take it back. Just kidding, I quit” game he’s been playing over the last year. Every city has officials that get indicted. Every city has officials that “like the ladies”. But his constant double-mindedness over the last year has made a mockery of you and me and every other person who lives in this city.

And now, with the eyes of the country on us, a professional wrestler joins the race to replace the cause of our shame.

I grew up in southern California and followed the recall election/Arnold Schwarzenegger running for Governor closely. They had 135 candidates for Governor, including Schwarzenegger, Gary Coleman (“Whatchu talkin’ ’bout Willis?”, a porn “star”, a radio stunt boy, a “B” movie star named “Angelyne”, and a punk rock singer. That was an embarrassment to the state and to the entire process.

Jerry seems like he’d a decent mayor. He’d certainly can’t be worse than the man he’s replacing. I just hope he, like Schwarzenegger, will take the process seriously so we can take him seriously.

3. His candidacy could have a “Price Mongo” effect on the race.

It’s a well known part of the Herenton “legacy” that he beat the Incumbent Mayor Dick Hackett by 142 votes. Sometimes forgotten in that story is the presence of Prince Mongo in the race who garnered almost 3,000 votes, allowing Herenton to win.

There are four or five “good” candidates and a bunch of bad ones for Mayor right now. If Lawlers’ presence in the race causes one of the good ones to lose, Lawler will have no one to blame but himself.