Now she wants to change jobs again:

I’m preparing to run for mayor and I will make a formal announcement later at the appropriate time.

Chumney was often described as little more than a socialist while in the Tennessee House but has made a name for herself on the City Council by repeatedly challenging current mayor Willy Herrenton, particularly on the extravagant spending spree the Mayor has been on:

Chumney, elected to the council in October 2003, has become a lightning rod on the council. She frequently challenges the mayor and often times sparks the ire of her council colleagues who complain that she grandstands.

Chumney was elected seven times to the state legislature from 1990 to 2003 when she resigned to run for the council seat. She also ran for county mayor in 2002, but lost in the Democratic primary to Mayor A C Wharton.

Chumney will definitely face some challenges. for one, several others on the Council are talking like they may run. Also, she is white, a problem for any politician in this county that is running for a position other than a specific district. Finally, Herrenton has already made it clear that he is going to run for a fifth term, and he has built a powerful political machine.

On the other hand she has good name recognition and a lot of people are finally weary of “King Willie”. Who knows? She couldn’t possibly be worse, could she?

Because she resigned with more than a year left in her term, state law calls for a special election to be held. If she had waited until after the runoff race to resign, less than a year would have remained and the Shelby County Commission would have chosen a replacement to serve until the next scheduled election in November 2004.