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WWE Flashback: 10 Years Ago This Week Lawler announces his first fun for mayor of Memphis Jul 9, 2009 - 2:12:11 PM
The following news item was published in the July 10, 1999 edition of the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter. Hundreds of PWTorch Newsletters from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s are available to PWTorch.com VIP members all the time, all in text format and many in PDF format. New PWTorch back issues are posted each month from 5, 10, and 20 years ago. Read stories like this one that provides insider information and insight from past era of pro wrestling. Become a VIP member today for just $7.50 a month. CLICK HERE
Jerry Lawler took the first step to follow in similar footsteps left by Minnesota Governor, Jesse Ventura. On July 6, Lawler told reporters in Memphis he will be a candidate for Memphis Mayor. The following day, Lawler picked up a petition from the Election Commission offices in Memphis which require twenty-five signatures, nominating him for a spot on the Oct. 7 ballot. Lawler showed up with a stack of autographed pictures with a caption that read, "Crown the King Mayor of Memphis" and a reminder to vote. He traded the photos for petition signatures with supporters and fans who showed up to see him. Lawler got all twenty-five signatures without having to leave the office but didn't officially submit his petition which is due no later than noon on July 15. The first to sign the petition was Lawler's girlfriend of ten years, Stacy Carter.
Carter ended up being the center of controversy for Lawler later in the week as the National Organization for Women (NOW) complained about pictures of her on Lawler's website where she is scantily clad. Lawler addressed the issue on his website by writing, "Stacy is in show business, and the nature of show business includes sometimes outlandish costuming... I should know." Lawler added that the photos would be considered PG-13 by movie industry standards. "Now anytime you challenge the entrenched political special interests they will attack you," he said. "The nature of politics today is that they attack your families or the ones closest to you." Lawler has a controversial past, including charges of statutory rape which were later dropped, and he is still awaiting a trial on charges he ran over the foot of a airport policewoman after a verbal altercation.
Lawler's main opposition will be incumbent mayor Willie Herenton and city councilman Joe Ford. Herenton is the first-ever Black to be voted mayor of Memphis and is a popular two-term mayor. Before Lawler announced his candidacy, Herenton was expected to face tough competition from Ford, who is the brother of popular former congressmen, Harold Ford. There are also several other serious candidates who plan to enter the race. Lawler, who will get 100 percent of the celebrity and novelty votes, may benefit from the sheer number of candidates in the race.
Regarding Ventura, Lawler said, "He opened a lot of people's eyes to the fact that you don't have to be a typical politician to win an election."
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