Memphis mayoral candidate Charles Carpenter held a live forum on social networking site Facebook.com today, blasting a current proposal for city-county government consolidation, arguing in favor of solar energy and tentatively promising transparency at City Hall should he be elected mayor.
Carpenter, Willie Herenton's longtime campaign manager, used his Facebook page to answer direct questions from seven Facebook users, ranging from his opinion on consolidation to his thoughts on the media.
In a departure from opponents Mayor A C Wharton and Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery, Carpenter wrote that while a consolidated government has benefits, he's against the current proposal, which is being pushed by Wharton, Lowery and County Commission Chairwoman Deidre Malone.
"The proposal that is currently being presented smacks of a backroom political deal," Carpenter wrote. "Willie Herenton has promoted consolidated government for the past 10 years and nothing happened. Less than 30 days since he has left office there is not only a new plan, but the back room politicians are trying to put it up for vote in less than one year. As mayor, I will ensure that the interest of the citizens of Memphis are protected. Under the current plan, no one is looking out for the interest of the citizens of Memphis."
Carpenter went on to say as a lawyer " I know that the devil is in the details and there is no reason to cram down the proposal on the expedited time table."
When asked about his plans to work with the media - "will it be the behind closed doors approach that Mayor Herenton or the open door policy that Mayor Pro-Tem Lowery seems to have?" asked Facebook user Steven Russell - Carpenter said government should be transparent.
But, he added, certain business opportunities "may be confident in nature and must be handled outside the media until the opportunity is right for public discussion."
Carpenter also spoke in favor of going green - "Creating solar energy and other solar products could allow Memphis to become a leader in this region for green technology." And he promised to help revitalize Whitehaven by facilitating business growth in the area to compliment the grown of tourism promoted by Graceland, "the #1 Tourist attraction in the state of Tennessee."
Carpenter plans to host another web chat on Facebook.com Tuesday, Sept. 8 from 2 to 3 p.m.
whartons been answering questions via facebook and twitter all day everyday for weeks. carpenter does it once for one hour and it makes the news? give me a break.
Wharton does not get on facebook or twitter, he has a fan page and someone else responds for him. He probably does not know how to use either site.