Sharif R. Hannan

The Election Hub Questionnaire

Please share demographic information to help voters (your age, education, and where you live in NC now).

I am 41 years old. I hold a JD and an LLM in Taxation from the University of Miami and have worked as a major frauds prosecutor and white-collar investigations attorney. I am currently a resident of NoDA in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Why are you running for this role, and why should voters pick you over your competitors? Please tell us about any previous experience in elected office that you have.

I am running because residents feel priced out and shut out, and county government must refocus on affordability, openness, and investments that tangibly improve people’s lives.

Voters should choose me because I bring independence, real-world regulatory and investigations experience, and a willingness to challenge business-as-usual—even when it’s uncomfortable. I am not running as a stepping stone to higher office, and I am not beholden to corporate or development interests. My focus is on protecting public resources and ensuring that public investments serve residents first.

I have not previously held elected office. I see that as a strength: I come without entrenched relationships, political debt, or incentives to preserve the status quo.

Tell us about 1–2 professional accomplishments that give voters a sense of your leadership style or skills.

As a former major frauds and tax prosecutor, I led complex investigations involving financial misconduct and the misuse of public resources. That work required independence, attention to detail, and the ability to make difficult decisions based on evidence and law rather than pressure or politics.

In parallel, my work as a grassroots organizer in the multifaith space has involved building coalitions across ideological, racial, and religious lines to focus on shared priorities. That experience reflects a leadership style that is collaborative, principled, and grounded in learning before acting.

What endorsements from any notable NC organizations or individuals have you received?

At this stage of the campaign, my strongest support comes from grassroots community members across Mecklenburg County who are looking for independent leadership and a break from insider politics. I am proud to have been endorsed by Meck4Change and the Charlotte Muslim Caucus.

How long have you lived in the region you are looking to represent in office?

I have lived in the Charlotte area for three years, and I hit the ground running across Mecklenburg County through community organizing and civic advocacy—particularly within the multifaith space.

Please tell us something unexpected about you that voters may be interested in knowing.

I spend a significant amount of time convening people who don’t usually agree—across faiths, backgrounds, and ideologies—to find practical areas of common ground. That perspective shapes how I approach leadership: I’m less interested in partisan performance and more interested in solutions that actually work for people’s day-to-day lives. I love nothing more than finding common ground with people who wouldn’t expect to find any at all—the work can be fun if we do it together.