Carpenter means business in mayoral race

Standing in front of historic Church Park and across from the historic Beale Street building where he practices law, Memphis attorney Charles Carpenter today opened his campaign for the City of Memphis' special mayoral election by trying to distinguish himself from retiring Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton.

For Carpenter (pictured here at today's forum), who managed all five of Herenton's mayoral campaigns, the task over the next three months will be finding a way to persuade voters that his slogan, "A New Beginning," is not just empty rhetoric. With links to Herenton that also extend to a grand jury investigating whether the mayor mixed public and private business that violated the law, Carpenter sought to make the case that his legal and business skills -- mixed with a compelling Memphis success story -- are exactly what the city needs.

"I've been involved in the campaigns of Mayor Willie Herenton -- one thing that shows us is that I'm a winner," Carpenter said. "Another thing it shows us is that I've managed the campaigns while he's managed the city. The campaign will allow us to come out to the community to show who I am."

He added that he would make economic growth and business development a central campaign theme: "Being a businessperson, we see the world differently from educators, from bureaucrats, from other people who work in different areas."

Carpenter made it clear that he believes Herenton will retire by the end of the month and a special election will be held (likely sometime in the final week of October).

Carpenter grew up just a few blocks east, between Lauderdale and Beale, went to South Side High School and earned degrees from Howard University and Notre Dame Law School. His legal practice has helped complete financial deals -- mostly with municipalities -- that add up to billions of dollars.

But what mainstream name recognition he owns is largely because of his association with Herenton. That, he said, will begin changing very soon. The plans he announced include two campaign headquarters, a network of staff and volunteers generating support in the community and a robust online and social networking strategy.

Carpenter sounded very confident about his ability to raise as much money as any of declared or undeclared candidate, and when asked about Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton -- who is also running -- he criticized him for seeking another job with time remaining in his current office.

He did not specifically criticize Herenton, though he was clear he did not "except" the mayor from more general criticisms of politicians for "how they operate and the poor results" they have obtained.

Asked about his April appearance before a grand jury investigating a land deal involving Herenton and one of his clients, Carpenter said: "My testimony before the grand jury was as a witness. I've testified and that's the end of it as far as I know."

Asked about the criticisms that Herenton was a divisive mayor and ran polarizing campaigns, Carpenter said: "I have never had a campaign, so now my ideas are going to come forward, my energy is going to come forward, my intelligence will come forward, my experience will come forward. Fair-minded citizens will then be able to look at me and judge me by the facts, not on innuendo, not on presumption, not on something that they think. But based on my character, my abilities, my vision and my commitment to move this city forward."