Mike Carpenter ran for the County Commission simply because he believed he could make a difference. And he has.

As Commissioner, Mike has strengthened ethics laws and brought greater transparency to County and City government. He has increased the number of prosecutors to put violent criminals away and worked with Sheriff Mark Luttrell to provide the resources law enforcement needs. Mike Carpenter has stood up for seniors, for children, for victims of domestic abuse and everyday working people.

Mike Carpenter has been a leader in the effort to make government more efficient and responsive to our citizens. He has cut wasteful spending by millions and through discipline has helped to lower the county debt by nearly $100 million just as he promised. Mike Carpenter has served with honor and integrity always avoiding even the appearance of impropriety.

Mike Carpenter has made a good start over the last four years, but he knows there is still more to do. That is why he is asking for one final term on the county commission.

Public Safety

• Resolution to create Domestic Violence (DV) Court ★
• Successfully lobbied Legislature for DV Court ★
• Appointment of Lee Wilson as judge for DV docket
• Budget amendment to add 7 new prosecutors to reduce DA caseload ★
• Budget amendments to fund Family Safety Center ★
• Budget amendments to fund Exchange Club Family Center DV services ★
• Move of MSARC from City to County ★
• Budget amendment to increase funding for Drug Court ★
• Drafted charter amendment requiring government continuity plan and detailing line of succession post disaster ★
• Expansion of Ambulance contract to reduce response times
• Public Safety Commission to seek opportunities for cooperation and functional consolidation between Sheriff’s Office and MPD ★
• Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee recommendations for keeping jail population below capacity
• Team leader for Operation: Safe Community

• Chair, Conservation Committee ★
• Conservation Easement for Shelby Farms ★
• Governance Structure for Shelby Farms ★
• Master Plan for Shelby Farms ★
• CSX Greenline
• Wolf River Restoration Funding
• Houston-Levee Smart Growth Improvements
• Against Walmart at Houston-Levee 

• Led community conversation on school funding reform ★
• Plan to change school funding model ★
• Member, Ad Hoc Committee on Education Funding Solutions

• National model, web-based Child Impact Statements ★
• Office of Early Childhood and Youth ★
• Is it Good for the Children Campaign ★
• Infant Mortality Initiative
• Books from Birth
• Chair, Ad Hoc Committee on Juvenile Court
• Budget amendment for Court Appointed Special Advocates ★
• Budget amendment for MIFA ★
• Budget amendment for Food Bank ★
• Family Court Taskforce ★
• Unified Family Court Pilot program ★
• Restrictions on Pay Day and Title Loan Lenders ★
• Restrictions on Sexually-Oriented Businesses 

• Senior Citizen Tax Freeze ★
• Ethics Ordinance
• Alternate no-tax budget proposals cutting millions and shrinking the size of County government ★
• Charter amendment to keep county-wide officials elected
• Charter amendment for term limits ★
• Civil Service Merit System reforms ★
• Paid Time Off reforms for county employees ★
• Hiring Freeze, elimination of vacant positions and employee pay raises ★
• Study of all county positions to determine which can be eliminated ★
• Member, Shelby County Retirement Board 

• PILOT Reform
• Memphis ED funding
• Film Commission funding
• Music Commission funding ★
• Bass Pro Development Agreement
• Locally-owned Small Business Ordinance