June 11, 2024 “Open Forum” has come to mean something special. Anyone wishing to speak is invited to present an issue of public policy that they thinks merits more discussion – or action. The Forum's rules of decorum (no debate; no speaking out of turn; etc.) are relaxed a bit to encourage ... Continue Reading →
Preparing people for community leadership
March 26, 2024 Trust. A shared zeal for community service, for servant leadership. Outlooks that "clicked." A willingness to teach and support each other. To work their tails off for each other. James Mitchell has been an elected official off and on in Charlotte for decades. He had an easily ... Continue Reading →
Election 2023
195 of 195 precincts reporting; Nov. 7, 2023 Release of Mecklenburg vote totals will occur in real time at the NC Board of Elections website here after polls close at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. This page will not report write-ins. It is used chiefly to add election results to the Forum’s archive on ... Continue Reading →
Sept. 12 Charlotte Primary Results
Sept. 12, 2023 Vote tabulations as published Election Night by the State Board of Elections, with 100% of precincts reporting, but provisional ballots still to be added. Turnout was just under 5%. State maps show two precincts in a tie. The tie was zero votes in Precinct 200 (along Catawba ... Continue Reading →
Candidates seek to hold staff – and themselves – accountable
Aug. 15, 2023 Charlotte’s estimated population topped 917,000 last March, and some of the 11 members of City Council appear to be struggling to stay in touch with so many constituents, with the heaviest burden falling on at-large council members. That theme of isolation of the elected from the ... Continue Reading →
Index to 2023 Mecklenburg elections
Page initiated July 21, 2022 Listed below are three lists of 2023 candidates for Charlotte and CMS elective office: the Nov. 7 City ballot for mayor and City Council; the Nov. 7 CMS Board of Education ballot; and the candidates who ran in Charlotte's Sept.12 primary but were unsuccessful. The CMS ... Continue Reading →
History doesn’t make people; People make history
Feb. 1, 2023 “Black history is a lifetime. It is not a month. Stop letting other people control the narrative.” – Forum participant Gary Marion Jan. 24, 2023 Perhaps there is no middle way between the stout defenders of Black History Month and Gary Marion's ... Continue Reading →
Congratulations to the winners
July 26, 2022, 9:49 p.m.; 168 of 168 precincts reporting Charlotte Mayor Vi Liles (D) 68.42% Stephanie De Sarachaga-Bilbao (R) 31.32% Charlotte City Council At-large Dimple Ajmera (D) 16.55% Braxton Winston (D) 16.30% LaWana Slack-Mayfield (D) 15.08% James Mitchell (D) 15.06% Kyle Luebke ... Continue Reading →
6 Democrats seek 4 Council at-large seats
April 19, 2022 There was talk about cooperation among the three local elected bodies – school board, city council, county commissioners. There was also talk about dissension among top staff at the county and city that gets in the way of that intergovernmental cooperation. There was no talk about ... Continue Reading →
Caucus endorsements announced in contested primaries
April 14, 2022 The Black Political Caucus on Wednesday announced its endorsements in the contested primaries on the May 17 ballot. Steve Harrison’s report for WFAE is here. The Axios Charlotte report is here. The Observer’s report, posted five days later, is here. ... Continue Reading →