Charlotte City Council At-Large

The Charlotte City Council has 11 members, plus the mayor (who presides over council meetings). Members of the council serve two-year terms, and all of the roles are up for election this year. Charlotte voters will select four at-large council members – candidates who run citywide – from the six candidates on the ballot. The four at-large Democratic incumbents were the winners in the primary and face two Republican challengers. Charlotte’s registered voter mix is 39% Democrat and 19% Republican, and 40% are unaffiliated.

 

Key issues for the council now include public safety, following the August murder of a Ukrainian woman on a light rail train; affordable housing; and land use decisions related to the city’s growth. The city also runs departments including the airport, police and fire, transportation, garbage/recycling, water, planning, neighborhood services and others. 

 

The city oversees the Charlotte Area Transit System. If the sales tax referendum for transportation passes, a new regional transit authority will be in charge of the transit system, and the City Council’s role will be limited to appointing people to a portion of the new authority.