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Renee Perkins Johnson
Party:
Democratic
Incumbent:
Yes
Previous experience in elected office:
Charlotte City Council for District 4 Representative (2019–present)
Age:
~58
Occupation:
Founder and Executive Director of Triumph Services, a nonprofit serving survivors of brain injury
Description:
Perkins Johnson focuses on affordable housing, reentry support, Medicaid administration, and responsible development. She serves on the Transportation, Planning & Development, Housing, and Safety & Community committees. She has also advocated for accessibility at City Council meetings, including the addition of ASL interpreters. In response to public concerns over the city’s settlement with CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings, she acknowledged that the process lacked transparency and said she supports stronger accountability and internal reforms. She often votes in a bloc of council members who question city initiatives and processes, and on rezoning questions, she is known to side more with neighborhoods rather than developers, compared with her colleagues. In 2023, Mayor Vi Lyles made the rare move of endorsing Perkins Johnson’s opponent in the Democratic primary, but Johnson won anyway.
Other personal:
Perkins Johnson is married with two adult children and three grandchildren. She started her nonprofit to support survivors of brain injury when her son had emergency brain surgery during his freshman year in college. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Franklin University and a master’s degree in human services–nonprofit management from Capella University.
The Election Hub Questionnaire
Please provide demographic information about yourself to help voters (age, education, current occupation, where you live).
I am 58 years old and live in Charlotte, North Carolina, where since 2019, I’ve had the honor of serving as the District 4 representative on Charlotte City Council. I hold a B.S in Business Administration and an M.S in Human Services, with a focus on Nonprofit Management. I am a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS).
Why are you running for this role and why should voters pick you? Please share any experience in an elected role that would be relevant to voters.
Since 2019, I’ve served District 4 with integrity, independence, and courage. I’m running to continue the work of building a Charlotte where growth is inclusive, housing is truly affordable, and residents have a voice in the decisions that affect them. I have a proven record of leading with transparency, standing up against displacement, and making sure city government is accountable to the people, not just developers or special interests.
As a City Council member, I have helped to advance the $100 million Housing Trust Fund to include homeownership, I championed the City’s first-ever public infrastructure meeting that helped shape the Strategic Mobility Plan, and fought for source-of-income protections. I also created the District 4 Community Coalition to ensure residents are at the table in shaping neighborhood priorities, and I successfully led the work to secure ASL interpretation for all Council meetings to make government accessible to 132,000 hard-of-hearing Charlotteans.
What is one thing you would like to accomplish in the first six months if elected?
In my first six months of the new term, I will aim to expand housing solutions that prioritize truly affordable housing and strengthen neighborhood stability, while ensuring that residents are included in setting the vision for Charlotte's growth. Additionally, if the Transit tax passes, I'll advocate for transparency and equity in the Authority members' selection process.
What is your position on the proposed transit tax and why? Will you vote in favor of it or against it in November?
Charlotte’s growth demands strong infrastructure and transit solutions. That’s why I championed the City’s first infrastructure meeting in 2022, which laid the foundation for the Strategic Mobility Plan. I recognize the urgent need for investment, but I also believe we must first ensure transparency, accountability, and equitable community input. I remain undecided on the proposed sales tax until I am confident it won’t unfairly burden working families.
What endorsements from any notable NC organizations or individuals have you received?
I am honored to be endorsed by the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and the Metrolina Labor Council, both of whom trust my record of standing for equity, accountability, and workers’ rights.
Tell us something unexpected about you that voters may be interested to know.
Outside of politics, I’m the founder of Triumph Services, a nonprofit organization supporting individuals in recovery from substance use, behavioral health challenges, and brain injuries and through peer support.