

5 Things to Know: NCGA Passes Hemp Law in Last-Minute Vote
NCGA Passes Hemp Law in Last-Minute Vote In a last-minute reprieve for hemp farmers and distributors across the state on Wednesday night, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a law
It’s been a long time, but it appears we’re finally going to be able to vote in municipal elections this year. Thanks to a delay in receiving 2020 Census data followed by a court challenge to new North Carolina congressional maps, we’ve seen election deadlines and voting dates pushed back multiple times.
Now that candidacy filing has closed and new dates are set, we’re looking at one of the most jam-packed local election years in recent memory, with city elections starting in spring followed by county, state and national elections in the fall (pending any further court appeals to the Feb. 23 court decision approving congressional maps).
That’s a lot to take in, so we’ve put together a guide to help make it all make sense. Below you can find all the resources you need to know regarding where and when to vote, deadlines and dates for both the spring and fall elections, and a listing of all candidates who have filed to run in our coverage area this year.
ABSENTEE VOTING BEGINS
MONDAY, MARCH 28
VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE
FRIDAY, APRIL 22
IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING BEGINS
THURSDAY, APRIL 28
DEADLINE TO REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOT
TUESDAY, MAY 10
IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING ENDS
SATURDAY, MAY 14
STATEWIDE PRIMARY ELECTION DAY AND ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINE
TUESDAY, MAY 17
FEDERAL SECOND PRIMARY ELECTION & MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION
TUESDAY, JULY 26
ABSENTEE VOTING BEGINS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14
IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING BEGINS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20
DEADLINE TO REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOT
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1
IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING ENDS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5
STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION DAY AND ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINE
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8
CERTIFICATION OF ELECTION
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18
**The following list is a working document and only includes candidates running for Charlotte City Council, Mecklenburg County Commissioner, and District Attorney. Check back here for a continuation of comprehensive listings including all candidates running to represent the Charlotte area on this page. **
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: Charlotte Mayor, 2017-present; Charlotte City Council at-large rep, 2013-2017; assistant city manager
Related experience: Consulting director, Lee Institute and Flynn Health Holt Leadership; Charlotte Housing Authority Moving Forward initiative; Committee of 21 transportation initiative; Charlotte-Mecklenburg African American Agenda; Achieve Together community-based advocacy education initiative
Platform: Affordable housing, economic development, community safety
Democrat
Political experience: None
Related experience: Founder, Take Back Our Hoods
Platform: Community safety, police reform, gun violence
Democrat
Political experience: None
Related experience: Creator, EVOLVE Media
Platform: Affordable housing, governmental transparency, environmental sustainability
Democrat
Political experience: None
Related experience: Founder, Tae’s Beauty; accessibility advocate
Platform: Unavailable
Republican
Political experience: None
Related experience: Background in media and finance, married to CMPD officer
Platform: Public safety
Republican
Political Experience: None
Related Experience: Owner, Universal Cab; sued the city in 2015 over alleged corruption in “pay-to-play” deal for taxis at the airport
Platform: Unavailable
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: Charlotte City Council at-large rep, 2017-present; chair, Environment, Engagement and Equity Committee; vice-chair, Budget and Governance; former Charlotte Housing Authority board member
Related experience: Certified Public Accountant, TIAA and Deloitte; Leadership Fellowship with the Institute of Political Leadership
Platform: Affordable housing, public safety, sustainability, infrastructure
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: Charlotte City Council at-large rep, 2017-present; co-chair, Intergovernmental Relations Committee
Related experience: Stagehand, member of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) union; board member with: My Brother’s Keeper Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the Board of Trustees of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Smart Start of Mecklenburg County, Habitat for Humanity’s Charlotte Neighborhood Revitalization Committee
Platform: Equity, access, interconnection
Democrat
Political experience: Charlotte City Council District 1 rep, 2017-present; chair, Safe Communities Committee; former president, Young Democrats of Mecklenburg County; former board member, Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association
Related experience: Volunteer firefighter, Long Creek Volunteer Fire Department; former vice-chair, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission; former chair, Charlotte International Cabinet
Platform: Housing, transportation, preservation
Democrat
Political experience: Charlotte City Council District 3 rep, 2011-2019; former member, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee; former president, Centralina Economic Development Committee
Related experience: Member, International Minority Coalition; board member, LGBT Democrats of Mecklenburg County; former member, Immigrant Solidarity Committee; former member, Charlotte Community Justice Coalition; former executive board member, Human Rights Campaign; former board member, Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund
Platform: Property values, economic growth, community safety
Democrat
Political experience: Charlotte Mayor, 2013-14 (deposed after arrest on fraud charges); Charlotte City Council District 3 rep, 1993-2001; Charlotte City Council at-large rep, 2001-2013
Related experience: Founder, E-Z Parking
Platform: Inclusivity, intentionality, involvement
Democrat
Political experience: Charlotte City Council at-large rep, 1999-2021
Related experience: President and co-owner, RJ Leeper Construction, January 2021-July 2021
Platform: Unavailable
Republican
Political Experience: None
Related Experience: National sales director, Inhabit; Eagle Scout and assistant scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America.
Platform: Public safety, lower taxes
Republican
Political experience: Treasurer, Mecklenburg County Young Republicans; President, Log Cabin Republicans of North Carolina
Related experience: Corporate finance attorney, U.S. Bank and McGuireWoods; Vice Chair, The Plus Collective (formerly the Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund)
Platform: Property tax freeze, transportation, small business
Republican
Political experience: Unavailable
Related experience: Unavailable
Platform: Public safety
Republican
Political experience: None
Related experience: Founder & CEO, BrewPublik
Platform: Public safety, small business
Republican
Political experience: None
Related experience: Founder, Access 21 TV ministry Lord God Ricetown XV
Platform: Unavailable
Democrat
Political experience: None
Related experience: Business executive, Cisco and Wal-Mart; Management consulting, Anderson Consulting; Board of directors, Walton Arts Center; Advisory board member, Center for Women’s Business Research; International Committee member, American Heart Association
Platform: Livable wage, affordable housing, community safety
Democrat
Political experience: City council District 1 rep, July 2013-December 2013; board member: Visit Charlotte and Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
Related experience: Director, Alexander Youth Network; Board member, Time Out Youth; president, NC State Alumni Association
Platform: Affordable housing, transportation, public safety
Democrat
Political experience: Member, Community Relations Committee 2021-present; member, Park & Recreation Commission and Advisory Board
Related experience: Vice president, Safeguard Atone Validate Educate
Platform: Affordable housing, infrastructure, public safety
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: Charlotte City Council District 4 rep, 1999-2005; Charlotte City Council District 2 rep, 2019-present; chair, great neighborhood and economic development committees; N.C. State Senate, 2005-2015
Related experience: Executive director, Beds for Kids; former special assistant to the president for government and community affairs, Johnson C. Smith University; formerly Bank of America and Time Warner Cable
Platform: Police reform, community-first development, racial justice
Democrat
Political experience: Presidential fellow, Democratic National Committee
Related experience: Youth engagement fellow, United Nations Association of the USA; community organizer, QC Family Tree
Platform: Housing, reducing juvenile delinquency, cultural economy
Democrat
Political experience: President, Seversville Neighborhood Association
Related experience: Unavailable
Platform: Unavailable
Republican
Political experience: None
Related experience: Unavailable
Platform: Unavailable
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: City council District 3 rep, 2019-present; former vice chair, Civil Service Board; former member, Business Advisory Committee
Related experience: Engineering, initiative management and operations management in the consumer product goods industry; Land Use Committee chair, West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition; United Way Central Carolinas Young Leaders Council
Platform: Workforce development, strong neighborhoods, strategic mobility network
Democrat
Political experience: None
Related experience: Founder, Beauty After the Bars; board member, National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls; board member, Concerned Citizens for Communities in Action; director, Center for Employment Opportunities Charlotte
Platform: Unavailable
Republican
Political experience: None
Related experience: Unavailable
Platform: Unavailable
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: City council District 4 rep, 2019-present
Related experience: Executive director, Triumph Services; former board chair, Montessori Renaissance Community School; former board member: Rahab’s Hideaway, United Faith of America, Make It Happen foundations
Platform: Affordable housing, homelessness, job creation
Democrat
Political experience: None
Related experience: Chair, SHARE Charlotte and Envision Charlotte; former executive director, University City Partners; former vice president of neighborhood development and sustainability, Charlotte Center City Partners
Platform: Affordable housing, public safety, sustainability
Democrat
Political experience: None
Related experience: President, Safeguard Atone Validate Educate; Executive director, NAACP Prison Branch 5135
Platform: Supporting police officers, affordable housing, lower taxes
Democrat
Political Experience: Former secretary, NC 12th Congressional District Democrats; former treasurer and 3rd vice chair, Mecklenburg Senior Democrats; former treasurer and secretary, Progressive Democrats of Mecklenburg County; co-chair, Oakhurst Community Neighborhood Association
Related experience: Realtor and broker; board member, The Gold District and CharlotteEAST’s economic development committee
Platform: Affordable housing, transportation, small business
Democrat
Political experience: None
Related experience: Owner, Mama’s Caribbean Grill & Bar; Charlotte International Committee International Entrepreneur Award honoree; general contractor
Platform: Unavailable
Democrat
Political experience: None
Related experience: Community activist; owner, World Class Property Maintenance
Platform: Transportation, affordable housing, increasing minimum wage
Democrat
Political experience: None
Related experience: Electrical and IT support technician
Platform: Unionizing city employees, minimum wage increase, affordable housing
Democrat
Political experience: Member, Charlotte Equitable Development Commission; community organizer, Hillary for America
Related experience: Former board member, YMCA of Greater Charlotte Diversity, Inclusion, and Global Committee; former member, Mecklenburg County Women’s Advisory Board; former Charlotte Sister Cities Scholar
Platform: Transportation, housing, infrastructure
Republican incumbent candidate
Political experience: City council District 6 rep, 2017-present; co-chair, Intergovernmental Relations Committee
Related experience: Co-founder and executive director, Carolina Fintech Hub; formerly GE Capital, Wells Fargo and Wachovia
Platform: Economic development, transportation, public safety
Democrat
Political experience: Planning commission,1994-1999 and 2014-2020; former vice chair, Zoning Committee; former chair, Transportation and Planning Committee; former member, Mecklenburg Solid Waste management board
Related experience: Commercial real estate broker; adjunct professor: UNC Charlotte, Johnson C. Smith, Queens, Winthrop, and Wingate universities; Mecklenburg County Order of the Hornet in 2020 honoree
Platform: Crime, pedestrian safety, housing
Democrat
Political experience: None
Related experience: Deacon, Western North Carolina Conference United Methodist Church; former community outreach manager, Charlotte Family Housing; former executive operations manager, Marriott International
Platform: Infrastructure, economic development, community safety
Democrat
Political experience: Represented North Carolina as a President Obama delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention; area coordinator, Obama for America in 2008
Related experience: Finance executive in investment banking; former commissioner, Centralina Economic Development Commission; former board member, Community Culinary School of Charlotte; formerly on the planning committees for Charlotte’s Taste of the Nation and Charlotte Literary Festival.
Platform: Growth, transportation and public safety
Republican incumbent candidate
Political experience: City council District 7 rep, 2013-present; vice chair, Economic Development and Budget committees
Related experience: Financial advisor; former board member, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, Communities in Schools, and Blumenthal Performing Arts
Platform: Small government, job creation, transparency
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: Mecklenburg County commissioner at-large, 2020-present; chair of BOCC Performance Review Committee, 2020-present; Mecklenburg County Democratic Party Precinct 9 chair, 2017-2020
Related experience: Attorney, 1997-2014
Platform: Public health, parks and greenways, reducing gun violence
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: Mecklenburg County commissioner at-large, 2014-present; Democratic National Convention superdelegate, 2016
Related experience: Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, trustee
Platform: Employment, schools, housing & homelessness
Democrat
Political experience: CMS Board of Education at-large member, 1988-2003; chair of CMS Board of Education, 1997-2002; chair of Charlotte Black Political Caucus, 2017-2019
Related experience: McGraw Hill, 2004-2015
Platform: Affordable housing, parks and greenways, economic equity
Democrat
Political experience: CMS Board of Education at-large member 2019-present
Related experience: International House Director of Education, 2019; CPCC instructor, 2001-2012
Platform: Education, economic development, environmental stewardship/parks
Democrat
Political experience: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee, 2019-present
Related experience: Concierge Business, Political and Education Consulting founder, 2020-present
Platform: Food insecurity, minority and women-owned small businesses
Democrat
Political experience: None
Related experience: Women in Power Inc. founder, 2014-present; Palisades Park Elementary PTSA vice president
Platform: Affordable housing, housing & homelessness, economic development
Republican
Political experience: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee member, 2021-present
Related experience: Executive assistant at The Museum of Russian Art, 2017-2018; instructor at Virtuoso School of Music & Art, 2018-present
Platform: Unavailable
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: District 1 Mecklenburg County commissioner, 2019-present; Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners vice chair, 2019-present; Environmental Stewardship Committee chair, 2019-present; Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Commission chair, 2010-2018; Natural Resources Stewardship Advisory Council chair, 2010-2018; Mecklenburg County Waste Management Advisory Board member, 2001-2009
Related experience: Multiple roles at CMS, 1989-2014
Platform: Public education, economic growth, sustainability
Republican
Political experience: Unavailable
Related experience: Unavailable
Platform: Unavailable
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: District 2 Mecklenburg County Commissioner, 2008-present; CMS Board of Education member, 1997-2008; CMS Policy Committee vice chair, dates unavailable; Small Business Consortium Group founder, 2011
Related experience: Former teacher, North Carolina Association of Educators, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Association of Educators
Platform: Small business
Democrat
Political experience: Reid Park Academy P.T.O. president; Charlotte Area Fund board member, 2018
Related experience: System of Care mental health trainer
Platform: Unavailable
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: District 3 Mecklenburg County Commissioner, 2008-present; Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Chair, 2018-present; District 3 CMS Board of Education representative, 1986-2008
Related experience: CMPD officer, 1978-1995; CMPD Drug Abuse Resistance Educator, 1993-2005
Platform: Affordable housing, economic development, community safety
Republican
Political experience: Mecklenburg County Republican Party Voter Registration Co-Chair, 2021-present; Mecklenburg Black Republican Club
Related experience: Unavailable
Platform: Unavailable
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: District 4 Mecklenburg County Commissioner, 2020-present; Economic Development Committee co-chair; Black Political Caucus Executive Committee member
Related experience: Speechworks Therapy Services Operations Manager; North Carolina Army National Guard
Platform: Elder care, improving education, small business
Republican
Political experience: Unavailable
Related experience: Environmental Compliance Manager, Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated
Platform: Unavailable
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: District 5 Mecklenburg County Commissioner, 2020-present; Charlotte Women’s Movement co-president, 2018-2020
Related experience: Social studies instructor with CMS drop-out prevention program
Platform: Early childhood education, parks and green spaces, mental-health services
Republican
Political experience: District 5 Mecklenburg County Commissioner, 2012-2018; Economic Development Committee chair; Steele Creek Preparatory Academy Board of Directors chair
Related experience: Cybersecurity consultant, 2018-present; U.S. Marine Corps, 2001-2012
Platform: Parks and greenways, schools, public safety
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: District 6 Mecklenburg County Commissioner, 2018-present; Economic Development Committee chair, 2021-present
Related experience: Colorado Christian University Director of Counseling Services, 1995-1996; photographer, 2008-2015
Platform: Income equality, racial equality, environment
Republican
Political experience: North Carolina 9th District Secretary, 2021-present; North Carolina Federation of Republican Women Foothills Region Vice President
Related experience: Customer service manager, 1997-2011
Platform: Supporting CMPD, lowering taxes, economic development
Republican
Political experience: Unavailable
Related experience: Corporate analyst, 2008-2019; U.S. Air Force Weapons Specialist, 1994-1998
Platform: Unavailable
Democrat
Political experience: Mecklenburg County assistant public defender, 2003-2006
Related experience: Criminal defense attorney, founderm The Emry Law Firm, 2012-present; Senior associate attorney at Powers McCartan, 2006-2012
Platform: Ending the death penalty, police accountability, reducing mass incarceration
Democratic incumbent candidate
Political experience: Mecklenburg County District Attorney, 2017-present; Mecklenburg County assistant district attorney, 2006-present
Related experience:
Platform: Sex crimes, drug trafficking, reducing recidivism
**The preceding list is a working document and only includes candidates running for Charlotte City Council, Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners, and District Attorney. Check back here for a continuation of comprehensive listings including all candidates running to represent the Charlotte area on this page. The listing will continue below **
NCGA Passes Hemp Law in Last-Minute Vote In a last-minute reprieve for hemp farmers and distributors across the state on Wednesday night, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a law
On episode 61 of the Nooze Hounds podcast, we spoke to Calla Hales, co-owner and executive director at A Preferred Women’s Health Center, a network of abortion clinics that includes
I’ll start with an apology. I know that Train was the headliner at PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte on Thursday night, June 30, but after opening sets from Blues Traveler
An embrace. A kiss. A “yes” that put those gathered around them in a visible state of excitement, all smiles and phones out, recording a beautiful moment where two people
“God it’s hot,” I thought to myself as I plopped down in a vacant bathroom stall. Weary and worn down from standing in a 45-minute line at Bazal, I slowly
When rapper and producer Lavonte “FLLS” Hines leads a class on music and video production for local after-school organization Kr8tive U this summer, he’ll be teaching kids about more than
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