The ex-mayor and former pugilist, Willie Herenton, who can definitely give as good as he gets, will be the subject of what is being called “The First Inaugural Shelby County Democratic Party Roast,” a $100-a-head party fund-raising affair on the evening of Saturday, September 28 at Memphis’ Colonial Country Club..

Moderator for the event will be Judge Joe Brown, the former Criminal Court Judge and TV celebrity judge. Inasmuch as Herenton is trying to re-establish himself in the local firmament with a network of charter schools, and Brown recently floated a trial balloon about running for the Senate, the roast event could serve both purposes.

Among the roasters will be Mayor A C Wharton and what party chair Bryan Carson and vice chair Dave Cambron promise will be a whole host of other local political celebrities.

Hmmm. Maybe mark this as the preliminary bout of the 2014 political season.