Opinion: Former Mayor Wharton on how violence intervention and law enforcement make a difference

By , Guest Columnist Updated: October 05, 2026 4:00 AM CT | Published: October 05, 2026 4:00 AM CT
A C Wharton
Guest Columnist

A C Wharton

AC Wharton, Jr. was Shelby County mayor from 2002 to 2009 and mayor of the City of Memphis from 2009 to 2015. He served as Chief Shelby County public defender for 22 years and is the founder of the A C Wharton Group in Memphis.

“I am not exaggerating when I tell you gunshots used to awaken me almost every night, or that patching the bullet holes in our roof used to be an annual expense. I am also not exaggerating when I say it’s gotten a lot better.”

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Guest Columns A C Wharton Jr. Memphis Allies Youth Villages

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