Although he would later soften his stance, attorney and declared Memphis mayoral candidate Charles Carpenter said in his Wednesday radio appearance with Thaddeus Matthews that it was "a shame" so many people are insisting on running if and when a special election occurs.
"It really is a shame that we have all of these candidates that are running for mayor because many of them are not serious about it," Carpenter said. "And maybe by the time that the filing deadline and the withdrawal deadline is there, some or many of them will step aside."
It was the very first point made in the appearance on KWAM-AM 990 by Carpenter, who was the campaign manager for retiring Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton's five mayoral campaigns and whose law practice has benefitted greatly as counsel for the city on many big financial deals. By Thursday afternoon, Carpenter changed the focus when asked about the crowded field, saying that "my entry into this race is to win."
"I don't know how as a candidate we can control that," Carpenter said. "Whatever the motivation for a candidate to enter this race, the citizens of Memphis will have to see through that and make a determination who is going to be the best candidate to be the next mayor.
"I'm not going to waste my time trying to figure out who is getting into the race and who doesn't."
Click the jump to see a list and analysis of declared candidates and those considering a run.
For those not keeping score at home, this is what is known publicly, with the caveat that chatter continues privately over other names still possibly emerging. If Herenton does indeed retire on July 30, the election would be the final week of October (likely Tuesday Oct. 27 or Thursday Oct. 29), with the filing deadline for candidates in mid-September. Early voting would begin in early October.
DECLARED CANDIDATES (8)
Charles Carpenter: Longtime campaign manager for Willie Herenton has organized a campaign launch suggesting he knew to start preparing for a run some time ago. A very successful attorney with a compelling life story, Carpenter knows he must demonstrate his independence from Herenton. Has stressed his financial, legal and business experience.
Carol Chumney: Former state legislator and City Councilwoman lost badly to A C Wharton in the 2002 Shelby County Democratic primary for mayor but rebounded with impressive 2003 City Council victory and finished second in 2007 Memphis mayoral race.
James Harvey: County Commissioner claims his base will play a role, but he only got 4,724 votes, well less than 50 percent of the vote, in his 2006 election to the Commission.
Jerry Lawler: Professional wrestler and national wrestling commentator ran for mayor in 1999, hoping to ride momentum for independent candidates created by wrestler Jesse Ventura's Minnesota gubernatorial victory in 1998. He got less than 12 percent of the vote.
Myron Lowery: City Council chairman will become mayor pro tem when (or if?) Mayor Herenton retires on July 30, making him the incumbent. Lost Council elections in 1983 and 1987 before breaking through in 1991 and has been formidable candidate in his super-district races since.
Sharon Webb: Memphis City Schools board member won stunning underdog race to get seat, but finished a distant fifth in 2007 mayoral election, getting less than 1 percent of the vote.
Rev. Kenneth Whalum Jr.: Memphis City Schools board member loves to remind people of the 83,000-plus votes he got in 2006 election, but usually does not mention that was 54 percent of the vote and came after losing a city-wide school board race in 2004. Seems to relish challenging Wharton and Lowery.
A C Wharton: Shelby County Mayor has remarkable record as a candidate, getting 80 percent of the vote in 2002 Shelby County Democratic primary for mayor and 75 percent of the vote in his 2006 re-election bid. But people are lining up to say he can be beaten. Is it that Wharton's political muscle is weakening? Or wishful thinking on the part of many with uneven records of electoral success?
CONSIDERING (5)
KEMP CONRAD: Still in his first year on City Council, the former Shelby County Republican Party chairman sees potential in firing up his campaign organization for a third consecutive year. Conrad lost a super-district City Council race in 2007 but defeated labor leader Paul Shaffer in a super-district election last year.
EDMUND FORD SR.: Exonerated former City Council member admits he is strongly considering a run, but said he will wait until the mayor's office is officially vacant before announcing. The Ford name, his past success in elections and status as a victim of an unsuccessful prosecution would certainly would guarantee a base of voters, but how large?
THOMAS LONG: The City Court Clerk admits he has long harbored a dream of "running for mayor," but said he will not make a decision until the mayor has retired. Always hard to gauge whether support migrates from one elected office to a completely different position.
HERMAN MORRIS: The former president of Memphis, Light, Gas & Water Division raised more than $400,000 in his 2007 bid for mayor, but finished a distant third, with 20 percent of the vote.
JIM STRICKLAND: First-term City Council member has attracted lots of fans for his work in 18 months of public service, with a "Draft Jim" Facebook page of more than 1,000 followers. Strickland is a proven fundraiser, although he lost to Chumney in a 2003 race for Council.
UNKNOWN
WANDA HALBERT: The City Councilwoman certainly has built a base in winning elections for Council and the Memphis City Schools board, but she is keeping close counsel on whether she is even considering making a run. She has consistently no commented all queries about whether she is interested.
So let's assume we end up with 10 candidates. That means 15% of the vote could very well be a landslide victory.
Candidates (from the "old political thinking") need to quit worrying about the size of the field and convince people that they can change Memphis.
I wonder what A.C. promised him ??
when people get into the race they shouldn't make race what the race is all about. they should just race like a fox from the hen house, like a jabroni from a melon patch, like Edmond Frod from jail.
Long live King Willie "Mugabe" Herenton!
:-)
It's called the DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. It's one of the only times that the "old money" crowd is on equal footing with the "no money" crowd, because no matter how much money we have or don't have we have ONE vote. What makes the "old money" crowd nervous, of course, is that they're VASTLY outnumbered by the "no money" crowd. But...I'm sure you knew that already. BTW, name recognition is the only real currency in electoral politics. Thank you. DR. KENNETH TWIGG WHALUM, JR.
Rev. Whalum, "name recognition" cuts both ways. For every vote it gets you, it can cost you one as well. I believe you told many people in Memphis all they needed to know about you when you said very open and proudly that the city schools super HAD to be a black man...NOT the best available candidate...just a black man. You represent the same old tired race dividing that Herenton represents, and while that may win you some votes from the people who voted for him, forward-thinking Memphians who are ready to move beyond race-based politics will be looking elsewhere.
Carpenter is being just like his buddy Willie, mouthing off that he's running because he doesn't think much of the other candidates. Willie pull that same crap when we were looking for a new school superintendent and then changing his mind about retiring as Mayor.
He's too directly connected to Willie and I don't think he'll be any different than the last 18 years of herenten and we certainly don't need any more of that nonsense.