How crazy is this?

Our current mayor just won a fifth term. This means he has been the mayor for a generation of Memphians. In that time he has shown much ego, little tact, questionable ethics, both personally and professionally. Prior to becoming the mayor, he was superintendent of the city schools (until he was involved in a sexual harassment scandal with an employee/teacher) for 6 years, I think. While mayor he had a child with an employee while unmarried, and his long-time girlfriend (Director of Public Information - basically his press secretary) got a transfer at double her pay to the city owned utility, never to be heard from again.

Last week the mayor submitted his resignation, effective July 31. Why? It confused people and rumors abounded. Perhaps a federal probe had finally implicated him. His resignation mentioned serving the city in a different way - speculation he wanted to return to superintendent of schools.

A few days later the mayor says he never resigned, and he wants the superintendent job (without a national search, as has been required). If he gets it, he will resign. If he doesn't get it, he will stay on as mayor. Many of the members of the school board owe him political favors. In fact, the last long-serving member who retired got appointed to a "newly created position" in city government at double her pay. Earlier this year the mayor appointed several of his bodyguards to "deputy director" jobs at over $100,000 a year, no experience necessary. At the same time he decided to close five library branches to save $500,000 annually. His claim was the branches were outdated and didn't serve the community, citing an independent audit. Turns out the audit DID say that, and put the blame on his administration's lack of vision and long-term goals.

We are equally screwed either way. They don't call him King Willie for nothing.