Prince Mongo is making his fifth appearance in the race for mayor. He also has had three unsuccessful runs for Shelby County Mayor. He ran unsuccessfully for the Tennessee State Senate in 2005.
The candidate claims to have been born 333 years ago as the prince and ambassador of a planet called Zambodia. In actuality he was born as Robert Hodges in 1947.
Memphis Reactions to Prince Mongo’s Campaign
In this election, Hodges’ campaign is accomplishing more than expected. Memphis is historically a divided city, with racial tension still prevalent in city politics. Yet because of Prince Mongo, its citizens have found something to bring them together when times get tough — their negative feelings for the alien prince.
Hodges appeared on August 27th at a televised debate with the election’s frontrunners. The debate, which aired on NBC’s Memphis affiliate WMC-TV, easily received the highest ratings of the night. At the event, Hodges sported reflective goggles, a wig, painted legs and bare feet. He proposed that every citizen be given an Uzi or machine gun.
While the presence of Zambodian royalty at the debate undoubtedly helped ratings, it annoyed and angered some reporters and other candidates — particularly Jerry Lawler, the pro-wrestler-turned-politician who was seated next to Hodges.
Prince Mongo’s Mayoral Race Not His First Controversy
But for some Memphis voters, the frustration dates back much further. When Hodges ran for City Mayor in 1991, he received a shocking 3,000 votes, which many of his critics argue allowed Willie Herenton to defeat the incumbent Dick Hackett. Herenton retained his position as mayor for 18 years and resigned this year after allegations of corruption left City Hall in shambles.
Hodges then made national news in 2002 when he appeared in court wearing green body paint, a cape and goggles, and a rubber chicken. Neighbors charged that he deliberately collected junk in his front yard, including furniture, umbrellas, and toilets. He eventually pled guilty and spent a short time in jail.
Now, with Memphis cleaning house for the first time in 18 years, and at a time when serious issues like community development, city/county relations, tax increases and racial reconciliation are at the forefront of many people’s minds, here returns the guy in the goggles.
Whether Memphis residents express their sentiments about Hodges as embarrassment, anger, resentment or disgust, one thing is certain: at this point almost everyone — black and white, young and old, Earthling or alien, is tiring of the antics.
There is still a small group loyal to Hodges. They claim that he is entertaining, and a fun addition to the Memphis cast of characters. Most of his fans are young adults and enjoy discussing his antics on Twitter and Facebook. Some are members of his MySpace page. But their affection for his quirkiness and hippie persona mimic the affection their parents had for Prince Mongo decades ago, when his nightclubs were bustling and his politics were kept to himself. Their parents have changed their tune about the Zambodian prince. Soon the next generation might agree with them.
Prince Mongo’s Platform Realized
According to Hodges' MySpace page, he is “here on a mission, and that mission is to save a group of Earthlings.” If he can continue to unite the Earthlings in Memphis in frustration and anger toward him, he might actually succeed in saving the Bluff City after all.
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