Candidates already on the trail

Candidates vying for the Memphis mayor's seat are lined up now in a ballroom at the University of Memphis' Holiday Inn for an early mayoral forum.

Mayor Willie Herenton has not yet stepped down, but some candidates are clearly campaigning as if they are already on the trail. Sitting on the stage are Herenton ally Charles Carpenter, who just announced his candidacy, former council woman Carol Chumney, school board commissioner Kenneth Whalum and prospective candidates and councilmen Kemp Conrad and Jim Strickland.

The forum is sponsored by Associated Builders and Contractors, which is headed by County Commissioner Mike Carpenter. Most of the speeches so far have been basic stump speeches - what the candidates see as problems with the City and what they will accomplish once in office, etc.

Some highlights so far:

Chumney underscored her years of legislative service (she served as both a state and local lawmaker) and repeated her motto - she's the "clear choice for change." She made a few promises, including a pledge to fight crime ("get it down") and also keep taxes at bay. Chumney kept her comments short sweet -- and loud. Her volume increased the longer she spoke.

Carpenter took the podium next, speaking about three times as long as Chumney. His main task appeared to distinguish himself from Herenton, whose campaign he managed five times.

He said "we have missed cooperative, inclusive team work with a common goal and common direction." He directly addressed the Herenton connection, saying he was only an "advisor" to Herenton. "I thought he was the best candidate at the time and I supported him, but he was the CEO and he made the decisions."

Carpenter added that "it would be different with a Carpenter administration because I will be making the decisions."