As the sound of music reverberated inside the campaign headquarters of attorney Charles Carpenter in the Whitehaven Plaza, less than a 100 supporters sat relatively quiet watching the television for the latest figures in the special mayoral election.

The figures were not quite what Carpenter had envisioned. At that point, A C Wharton Jr., the now outgoing Shelby County mayor, was too far ahead with more than 60 percent of the vote.
 
Summoning for the music to be turned down, Carpenter thanked his supporters and conceded the election to Wharton and pledged to support him. In various spots around the city Thursday, the other candidates who sought to fill the unexpired term of Willie W. Herenton bowed to the results and also conceded the race to Wharton.

Myron Lowery, who served as mayor pro tem as he campaigned, said the results indicated that his decision to focus on running the city rather than campaigning hurt him, noting that Wharton had been running for the position for two years. Lowery said he plans to continue on as a City Council member.

The turnout for the special election was light with about 28 percent of the 393,346 registered voters casting ballots.

With 100 percent of the vote in, the unofficial vote tally from the Shelby County Election Commission reflected this top-six finish:

• Wharton, 65,491 – 59.90 percent.
• Lowery, 19,625 – 17.95 percent.
• Carol Chumney, 10,857 – 9.93 percent.
• Carpenter, 5,181 – 4.74 percent.
• Jerry Lawler, 4,044 – 3.70 percent
• Kenneth T. Whalum Jr., 2094 – 1.92 percent.

At his post-election gathering and surrounded by his campaign team, Carpenter said he had expected to give a different speech.

“We ran a campaign with class. Just as we would have been gracious with a win, we are gracious in defeat.”

The issues are still the same, said Carpenter, adding that he’s still the visionary leader.
 
In the crowd was radio talk show host Thaddeus Matthews, who supported Carpenter.
“You can’t get around the popularity factor,” said Matthews. “He (Wharton) has the most name recognition. The only thing Charles Carpenter suffered from is name recognition. We look for him in two more years.”

In Midtown, attorney and former City Council member and state legislator Carol Chumney said she was proud of the campaign she ran.

While she will continue to serve city residents as a private citizen, Chumney did not close the door on another run, but said some things must change in Memphis. She made reference to certain power brokers.

“If one candidate is promoted for a whole year in advance, it is really hard to compete with that,” said Chumney.

Professional wrestler Jerry Lawler said his finish in the race was disappointing.

“I guess we got lulled into that false sense of reality. We thought we were going to do a lot better than this…. It is a bitter pill to swallow.”

Lawler said all the candidates want a better Memphis and that he is sure Wharton will work hard toward that goal. It is unlikely, said Lawler, that Memphis will see him running again for mayor.

City Schools Commissioner Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum Jr. drew a crowd to his election watch party at The Shack at 3518 Riverdale Rd. He conceded that “the miracle” of people waking up to him as Mayor of Memphis would not happen.

Whalum congratulated Wharton and said he would continue to hold him accountable.

As for making a run in 2011, Whalum said he definitely would consider the possibility.

(This story includes Tri-State Defender staff reports.)