This Carpenter is out to change things
http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/3921/1/This-Carpenter-is-out-to-change-things/Page1.html
By Dr. Karanja A. Ajanaku
Published on 07/9/2009
Charles Carpenter glanced over his shoulder toward the grounds of historic Church Park and talked about how he used to play there as a kid. “It’s changed a lot since then,” he said.
This Carpenter is out to change things
Charles Carpenter glanced over his shoulder toward the grounds of historic Church Park and talked about how he used to play there as a kid. “It’s changed a lot since then,” he said.
Carpenter now is out to change things. Across from his law office, surrounded by about 50 supporters and with the sun shining brightly, Carpenter officially announced that he is running for office of mayor.
“Today, we start ‘a new beginning,’ said Carpenter, reading from a prepared statement.
The 15-paragraph document made no mention of Mayor Willie W. Herenton, whose mayoral campaigns (most of them) Carpenter engineered. He had barely finished his statement when the questions flowed about his connection to Herenton.
Asked to put in perspective his work as campaign manager for Herenton’s historic 1991 campaign and subsequent campaigns, Carpenter said it showed that, “I am a winner.”
Then he added a reference that he likely will get many opportunities to use during the election to fill Herenton’s unexpired term. “I managed the campaign, while he managed the city,” said Carpenter.
Herenton’s declaration to step down on July 10 and his latest move to rescind his letters of resignation and delay his exist until July 30 has managed to generate a cloud of confusion and uncertainty at City Hall. On Tuesday, the City Council voted 7 to 6 in favor of a resolution requesting the Shelby County Election Commission hold a special election for the office of mayor.
Carpenter said the community clearly is in need of and looking for new leadership. Pressed on whether he was including Herenton in the mix of current leaders not making the grade, Carpenter said he was not excluding anyone.
“We are not looking back,” Carpenter said of his campaign. “We can’t look in our rearview mirror and drive ourselves home.”
The list of candidates – real and rumored – includes County Mayor A C Wharton, former City Council member Carol Chumney, Shelby County Commissioner James M. Harvey, Council Chairman Myron Lowery, School Board Commissioner Kenneth T. Whalum Jr., Council members Jim Strickland, Kemp Conrad and Wanda Halbert, and wrestler Jerry Lawler.
Everyone has a right to run, said Carpenter, later adding that he doesn’t hear any of the other candidates “talking about growth. Our campaign is about growth.”
After his announcement, Carpenter was asked about Wharton, who is considered the frontrunner by many.
“I’m disappointed with A C. For him to walk away from the problems (in the County) without resolution is disappointing. I would encourage him to remain as county mayor.”
Carpenter is the head man at the law firm that bears his name. The firm’s Web site describes him as a professional with “extensive experience in corporate and transactional matters and (who) serves as general counsel for several public and private corporations and partnerships. He also has a primary practice focus in the area of public finance, wherein he has served as sole bond counsel, co-bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel and issuer’s counsel on various tax-exempt financing structures, including airports, utilities, general obligation, multifamily housing and 501(c)(3) financings.”
His background, experience, character and ideas constitute the truth that he will take to the voters of Memphis, Carpenter said.
“I am someone who came up from the bottom,” said Carpenter, who stressed that young people need to know that such a move can be made, was made by him and can be replicated by them.
Carpenter said he shared his plans about running with Herenton, who “told me not to do it.” Carpenter said he told the mayor that he loves Memphis and that money is not everything – a reference to taking time and attention away from his law practice.
Asked if he expects Herenton to support him, Carpenter said, “Herenton will be a private citizen and I will seek his support as I will others.”
In his prepared statement, Carpenter stressed these points:
• Our campaign and new administration will provide the opportunity for all citizens of Memphis – black, brown, white and other to join in a common vision for the future growth of our great city.
• High crime and spiraling unemployment is a fatal combination of realities for our city. Our vision is to confront this challenge by attacking crime at the root causes, to invite more involvement of our residents with law enforcement, and to revise the manner of deployment of the police division personnel.
• Memphis needs new jobs and new economic development opportunities. . . Our new administration will travel the world to find and bring new jobs and business opportunities for citizens and local companies.
• Our administration will provide leadership to allow our neighbors throughout Shelby County and our regional partners to mutually discuss and agree on common goals to achieve equity and success for the entire region.
• Bishop William H. Graves will serve as honorary campaign chairperson and Stan Sawyer has been appointed treasurer.
• Social networking sites will be an integral part of daily campaign communications and a campaign Web site will be launched next week.
• Stay tuned for announcements about two campaign headquarters
 |
| Attorney Charles Carpenter, the man who engineered Dr. Herenton’s historic first campaign in 1991, is stepping forward as candidate for mayor. He announced his candidacy Thursday in Church Park. (Photo by Tyrone Easley) |
“Today, we start ‘a new beginning,’ said Carpenter, reading from a prepared statement.
The 15-paragraph document made no mention of Mayor Willie W. Herenton, whose mayoral campaigns (most of them) Carpenter engineered. He had barely finished his statement when the questions flowed about his connection to Herenton.
Asked to put in perspective his work as campaign manager for Herenton’s historic 1991 campaign and subsequent campaigns, Carpenter said it showed that, “I am a winner.”
Then he added a reference that he likely will get many opportunities to use during the election to fill Herenton’s unexpired term. “I managed the campaign, while he managed the city,” said Carpenter.
Herenton’s declaration to step down on July 10 and his latest move to rescind his letters of resignation and delay his exist until July 30 has managed to generate a cloud of confusion and uncertainty at City Hall. On Tuesday, the City Council voted 7 to 6 in favor of a resolution requesting the Shelby County Election Commission hold a special election for the office of mayor.
Carpenter said the community clearly is in need of and looking for new leadership. Pressed on whether he was including Herenton in the mix of current leaders not making the grade, Carpenter said he was not excluding anyone.
“We are not looking back,” Carpenter said of his campaign. “We can’t look in our rearview mirror and drive ourselves home.”
The list of candidates – real and rumored – includes County Mayor A C Wharton, former City Council member Carol Chumney, Shelby County Commissioner James M. Harvey, Council Chairman Myron Lowery, School Board Commissioner Kenneth T. Whalum Jr., Council members Jim Strickland, Kemp Conrad and Wanda Halbert, and wrestler Jerry Lawler.
Everyone has a right to run, said Carpenter, later adding that he doesn’t hear any of the other candidates “talking about growth. Our campaign is about growth.”
After his announcement, Carpenter was asked about Wharton, who is considered the frontrunner by many.
“I’m disappointed with A C. For him to walk away from the problems (in the County) without resolution is disappointing. I would encourage him to remain as county mayor.”
Carpenter is the head man at the law firm that bears his name. The firm’s Web site describes him as a professional with “extensive experience in corporate and transactional matters and (who) serves as general counsel for several public and private corporations and partnerships. He also has a primary practice focus in the area of public finance, wherein he has served as sole bond counsel, co-bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel and issuer’s counsel on various tax-exempt financing structures, including airports, utilities, general obligation, multifamily housing and 501(c)(3) financings.”
His background, experience, character and ideas constitute the truth that he will take to the voters of Memphis, Carpenter said.
“I am someone who came up from the bottom,” said Carpenter, who stressed that young people need to know that such a move can be made, was made by him and can be replicated by them.
Carpenter said he shared his plans about running with Herenton, who “told me not to do it.” Carpenter said he told the mayor that he loves Memphis and that money is not everything – a reference to taking time and attention away from his law practice.
Asked if he expects Herenton to support him, Carpenter said, “Herenton will be a private citizen and I will seek his support as I will others.”
In his prepared statement, Carpenter stressed these points:
• Our campaign and new administration will provide the opportunity for all citizens of Memphis – black, brown, white and other to join in a common vision for the future growth of our great city.
• High crime and spiraling unemployment is a fatal combination of realities for our city. Our vision is to confront this challenge by attacking crime at the root causes, to invite more involvement of our residents with law enforcement, and to revise the manner of deployment of the police division personnel.
• Memphis needs new jobs and new economic development opportunities. . . Our new administration will travel the world to find and bring new jobs and business opportunities for citizens and local companies.
• Our administration will provide leadership to allow our neighbors throughout Shelby County and our regional partners to mutually discuss and agree on common goals to achieve equity and success for the entire region.
• Bishop William H. Graves will serve as honorary campaign chairperson and Stan Sawyer has been appointed treasurer.
• Social networking sites will be an integral part of daily campaign communications and a campaign Web site will be launched next week.
• Stay tuned for announcements about two campaign headquarters