A C Wharton Sworn In As Memphis Mayor

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- A C Wharton Jr. assumed the highest elected office in Tennessee's largest city.

Wharton, who had been mayor of Shelby County, became the mayor of Memphis at noon Monday. He resigned the county post Monday morning. Shelby County Commission Chairperson Joyce Avery was sworn in as Shelby County’s first female mayor, Monday morning by former U.S. District Attorney David Kustoff.

With the oath of office repeated, Wharton became the fifth elected mayor since Memphis adopted the City Council-Mayor governmental structure in 1968.



(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)