MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Downtown Memphis Commission CEO Paul Young and Memphis NAACP President Van Turner are the first public entrants to officially announce they are running for Memphis mayor.
The two chose to announce it on "901 Day" to let Memphians know they are ready to step up to the plate and lead the city.
ABC24 Commentator Otis Stanford said it wasn't a coincidence.
"They did that hoping that people would talk about it, as we are and they are doing it because it represents how much they love the city, the 901," Stanford said.
This will be the first regular city election without an incumbent since 1963. With everyone starting on even playing ground, Sanford said without the current mayor running, this, by far, will be a highly compelling race.
"There will be other candidates who will jump into this race I believe. I've been hearing names like Keith Norman, J.W. Gibson, and probably Representative Karen Campbell. I would not be surprised to see other people from the city council jump into this race."
Sanford said both Van Turner and Paul Young represent the next generation of political leadership. He explains both candidates are qualified because they are from the city, work in government, and are very well known but they will ultimately have to answer to the public over the next year.
Turner is widely known as a former county commissioner, president of the Memphis Branch of the NAACP, and an instrumental figure in bringing down confederate statues in the city.
Turner said he's running because he feels the city of Memphis is his family.
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Young, on the other hand, is currently CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission and formerly served as the head of Memphis Housing and Community Development. He said he's running because he sees the Memphis mayor's office as the next step in a career of public service.
Although elections are 13 months away, the candidates have started doing work now.