Politics

Charlotte's chief of police has assigned three officers - including Deputy Chief Harold Medlock - to focus all of their time on preparation for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. 

A ban on same-sex marriage will be on the North Carolina ballot in May. The wording on the ballot only includes half of the bill. Some worry this could make the amendment more difficult for courts to interpret. 

Twenty-eight candidates are running for Charlotte City Council this year. The race for district two which covers the northwest part of the city could get particularly interesting. James Mitchell has represented that district for twelve years. But his ex-wife Vivian Mitchell is running against him. She says she's not running out of spite. "Why would I want to take revenge on my husband? That doesn't make any sense to me," says Mitchell. The Mitchells divorced last November. Vivian Mitchell ran for school board in 2009. She says she wants to focus on job creation.

North Carolina Republican Party Chariman Tom Fetzer is crying foul on touchscreen voting machines in 36 counties, including Mecklenburg. He says votes intended for Republicans are being counted for Democrats. He says the party has received complaints from early voters in 12 counties, but assumes that similar machines in other counties have the same problems. Mecklenburg Board of Elections spokeswoman Kristin Mavromatis says her office has only received five complaints out of more than 36,000 early voting ballots that have been cast.