"Certainly I think Mayor Herenton has done an excellent job and is the best mayor the city of Memphis has ever had," Carpenter said. "The person who comes in after Mayor Herenton to lead the next Memphis is going to be very crucial. I have received a lot of encouragement to seek that position."
Carpenter, a lawyer, has experience in the financial arena, but would not get into any possible strategies. He did say he was very interested in whether Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton would enter the race, and said it is his belief that the County Charter would prohibit Wharton from running for city mayor while holding the office of county mayor.
"I think the issue is that in the county charter, the mayor has to devote his full time and attention to the office," Carpenter said.
If Carpenter is correct, that could create a scenario whereby Wharton resigns as county mayor, meaning the interim mayor would be current County Commission chair Deidre Malone. The County Commission would then need to select someone to finish out the full term as mayor
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