Strickland set to pick transition team

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - Rain falling on City Hall Friday afternoon seemed to symbolize the fresh new start for the city.

"Hopefully, we can provide a seamless transition," said CAO Jack Sammons.

Sammons said that current mayor A C Wharton made it clear to him just hours after conceding the Memphis mayoral election-- he wants Strickland to succeed

"I can assure you that Mayor Wharton, he woke me up this morning to tell me, 'Look, we want to do all we can to help Jim be the best mayor he can be."

Mayor-elect Jim Strickland will soon name a transition team to help determine who will remain inside city hall and elsewhere throughout the city.

"Some of the directors who are there may not want to work for me, so we'll just see," said Strickland. "Over the next couple of months, we'll nail all that down."

Strickland affirmed that his appointments would reflect the diversity in the city.

"Racially, gender-wise, it's going to be the fabric of the community, which is very diverse," Strickland explained.

Following his defeat, Wharton said he and his team were there to help Strickland right out of the gate.

"I don't know of any city that has the potential that our city has," said Wharton. "I want to partner up in any way I can with whoever at the helm of our city."

Sammons echoed Wharton's sentiment.

"We're all about Memphis. We live here, we want Memphis to be a better town, and we want them to be immensely successful."

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