Susan Rodriguez-McDowell

The Election Hub Questionnaire

Please provide demographic information about yourself to help voters (age, education, current occupation, where you live).

62 years old, My degrees are: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Counseling. I am the 4 term incumbent Mecklenburg County Commissioner for District 6. I live in South Charlotte near McKee Road.

Why are you running for this role and why should voters pick you? Please share your previous experience in elected office that would be relevant to voters.

Serving in this, my first public office, for the past 8 years has been an honor and a privilege that I have never taken for granted. I have been part of an effective team. We have focused our efforts on funding education; access to mental health resources; enhancing environmental protections; additional affordable housing units and wraparound services; small business supports and development; getting all county employees to a livable wage; and much more - all while keeping property taxes among the lowest in our state. I have stood alone when I’ve needed to, and I have fought against the status quo. I have stood up for the people of my district while simultaneously serving the entire county. My integrity and work ethic have been front and center all along and I believe that my track record is my greatest asset. I am a known entity who delivers fair, professional representation. There are challenging times ahead and much more work to do, and I am grateful to be running unopposed so that my focus can remain on the tasks at hand.

Tell us 1-2 professional accomplishments you have achieved in your work experience (not limited to public service) that give voters a sense of your leadership style or skills.

It is very important to me that Mecklenburg County is robustly represented at the state and national levels as well as at the local level. Our challenges are not in isolation so I am proud to represent our county in leadership positions on various platforms at the state and national level. I am known for going the extra mile. I am the newly elected District Director for our region with the NC Association of County Commissioners (NCACC). Longtime Chair of Meck BOCC Economic Development Committee and member of Environmental Stewardship and Intergovernmental Committees and many other ad-hoc committees. I serve as Chair of Arts & Culture Innovation Council at the National Association of Counties. I will also continue to serve as our county delegate at the NCACC’s Legislative Conference.

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

So far in this cycle, I have been endorsed by the Metrolina Labor Council; NC State AFL-CIO; EqualityNC; and Public School Strong. It’s still early for some of the other endorsements but in past cycles I have been proud to be endorsed by The Charlotte Observer; the Fraternal Order of Police; Charlotte Mecklenburg Association of Educators (CMAE); and the Black Political Caucus among many notable individuals.

How long have you lived in the region/district where you are running for office?

In total, more than 40 years.

Tell us something unexpected about yourself that voters may be interested to know.

I am an artist who loves photography, drawing and painting, although I have to admit I don’t make much time for those things currently. And, all three of our adult children are big influences on me and therefore I have become a huge Bad Bunny fan!

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an area of concern for many voters (e.g. government-run chatbots; AI-generated videos, text and images; data centers; license-plate readers; AI to hire and evaluate employees or teach students). How should elected officials in your role or others regulate AI, if you believe they should? How should elected officials in your role use AI?

AI is a growing concern for many, including me. I am definitely not an expert in AI, but I have been doing my homework. I do believe that elected officials need to play a central role in regulating AI. Government cannot sleepwalk through massive changes that can affect our entire economy, and our very way of life. If left only to those with profit motivations to regulate themselves, we will end up in a disastrous place. So much of our way of life is already unsustainable and out of control, an additional runaway train of AI can exponentially make things worse. Having said that, I don’t believe AI is all bad. It must be harnessed in smart ways. One thing I am not hearing enough about is the effect of AI on the environment. In my view, government needs to call balls and strikes. Elected officials must engage the tough questions, listen to experts, and also listen to the public. It isn’t easy, but there must be someone in the driver’s seat, evaluating the pros and cons, and making informed, balanced decisions based on our shared values.