MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mayor A C Wharton’s critics and opponents didn’t waste any time weighing in on the move to replace George Little with Jack Sammons as the city’s CAO.
Even Little himself said, “He knows politics played a move in this role reversal. City leaders say this move is a perfect example of the Mayor’s leadership.”
City Council member and mayoral candidate Jim Strickland added, “Every failing the mayor has, he has to hire new people. He can’t manage government, he needs two CAO’s.”
Strickland said Tuesday’s move showed Wharton is worried about losing his job.
If you’re wondering how can a city so strapped for cash pay for another high-ranking employee, you’re not alone.
Turns out George Little currently makes $150, 000 a year, and his replacement will earn the same.
Little will keep his pay under his new title as special assistant to the mayor focused on minority-owned businesses and public safety.
“We are not going to go out and pull in more money to make these changes,” Wharton explained.
Basically, what that means is they are keeping certain open jobs vacant, and using that money to pay Sammons.
City Council still has to sign off on this move before it’s official.
Wharton also admitted he knows this move seems like a political ploy.
“It would be intellectually dishonest to say you’d go out and do something that would hurt your chances,” he said.
Sammons and the mayor needed to jump through some hoops to make this happen.
Sammons must leave the airport authority because state law says he can’t have both jobs.
Wharton also said Sammons should bring swift change to his office, and it’s needed.
“He is a good man to have around when things are changing,” he said.
Strickland thinks this is just one of several changes coming this year to the mayor’s office.
He said, “Memphians know there needs to be change. But it’s at the top level, the mayor’s level. Not the staff.”
The city council will have to agree to this move.
We reached out to every councilman to see how they plan to vote. Only about half of them got back to us, and a majority of them are undecided.
