commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN

By A. J. Wolfe

Mayor Willie Herenton greets Battalion Chief T. A. Norris on Thursday after speaking about nominating Jerry Crawford as department director.

Mayor Willie Herenton can resubmit Jerry Crawford as a nominee for Memphis fire director all he wants but he's still not likely to be appointed, some City Council members said Thursday.

"It's kind of like beating a dead horse," Councilman Scott McCormick said.

Herenton said Thursday he's standing behind Crawford, a 26-year veteran rejected by the council earlier this month.

The mayor spoke to some 300 firefighters who showed up for his press conference at the Chester Anderson Training Campus in Frayser.

Crawford "got caught up in the crossfire of a terrible working relationship between the Memphis City Council and the office of the mayor," Herenton said.

Herenton said he has changed his mind about his earlier pledge to mount a national search for a new fire director.

"My conscience was never satisfied with regard to how Jerry Crawford was treated," he said.

Some council members questioned Crawford's qualifications for the job and his residency in Fayette County, even though he said he'd move if appointed.

"You cannot erase the 23 years he has lived in Fayette County," said council member Barbara Swearengen Holt. ". . .The Bible says where your treasure is - that's where your heart is."

Council member Rickey Peete said Herenton should conduct the national search.

"Nothing has happened that would change my mind,'' Peete said. "I would suggest that he (Herenton) follow the process he said he would follow, which is to utilize a national search."

Crawford's decision to hire an attorney didn't help his case either, some said.

Bruce Kramer, Crawford's attorney, hinted in a letter to council attorney Allan Wade that his client might seek legal action against the council.

Councilman Jack Sammons, one of the few members who had supported Crawford's nomi nation at the Jan. 6 meeting, said he was "troubled" by Crawford's decision to hire an attorney.

"He should have met with council members instead of a lawyer," Sammons said. "That disappointed me."

McCormick, who voted to appoint Crawford, said he respects the veteran firefighter but thinks he has dug himself in a hole by hinting at a lawsuit.

"Any chance he had of being reconsidered, that sort of blows that," he said.

Kramer said he didn't know if his client would file a lawsuit if the council rejects him a second time.

"We're just very pleased that the mayor continues to support Chief Crawford," he said.

There is disagreement among the department's 1,500 firefighters about who should be named director.

More than 400 firefighters signed a petition to support Crawford.

The fact Crawford lacks support of some black firefighters was demonstrated by the relatively few who showed up for the mayor's press conference Thursday.

"You see all those white firefighters," said Reginald Davis, president of Progressive Black Firefighters of Memphis. "You see who supports him."

His group of about 70 firefighters supports Crawford and any other Herenton nominee, Davis said.

"We need to get past race," said Davis, a 15-year veteran. "We're looking for a healing process."

Council members said even if they wanted to they couldn't reverse their decision because they've already approved the minutes from the Jan. 6 meeting.

Council rules state an item can't be reconsidered for at least six months, they said.

Herenton said he hasn't seen any written rule that would keep them from reconsidering the nomination.

But if that is the rule, he said, he's prepared to wait six months.

The firefighters cheered, clapped and whistled as the mayor confirmed his support for Crawford.

"I am very impressed with the mayor," said Lt. Tom Houston, a 31-year firefighter.

Houston said the council's rejection of Crawford because of where he lives doesn't make sense.

"If you're going to do a national search, doesn't that include Fayette County?" he said.

"The man is well qualified."


- Sherri Drake: 529-2510

Reporter Blake Fontenay contributed to this story.

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