The next mayor of Charlotte will get an annual salary of $23,000, an expense account worth up to $14,800 and an office atop the Government Center with truly spectacular views of the city. Obviously these are nice perks, but hardly the reason eight candidates are running to be mayor of the city.So, ahead of the elections this fall, we invited all declared candidates to sit down for a one-on-one interview about why they want to be mayor and what they would do if elected.
THE FINAL TWO
After winning their party's nomination to be mayor of Charlotte, we invited Democrat Jennifer Roberts and Republican Edwin Peacock to sit down for one-on-one interviews on policy, priorities and song (you'll hear that at the end).
Edwin Peacock - Republican
The last Republican elected to a citywide post, Edwin Peacock served as an at-large member of the Charlotte City Council from 2007-2011. He was the Republican candidate for mayor in 2013, losing that race to Patrick Cannon. Peacock is vice president of a financial services firm. He easily won the Republican nomination by defeating Scott Stone in the September primary.
Campaign site: http://www.edwinpeacock.com/
Jennifer Roberts
Jennifer Roberts was the Democratic candidate in 2012 for the congressional seat vacated by Representative Sue Myrick. She chaired Mecklenburg County’s Board of Commissioners for five years prior and served on the board for eight years. She won the Democratic nomination for Charlotte mayor by defeating incumbent Dan Clodfelter in the October runoff. Roberts received the most votes in the September primary. Currently, Roberts is board president of International House.
Campaign site: http://www.jenniferrobertsformayor.com/
Editor's Note: Jennifer Roberts was invited for her own one-on-one interview, and she did take part in one during the primary (you can hear it below). She declined our request for a second interview, citing scheduling conflicts. You can hear more about that in the audio file at the top of this page.
THE RUNOFF CANDIDATES
Dan Clodfelter
The current mayor, appointed by city council after the arrest and resignation of Mayor Patrick Cannon, Dan Clodfelter spent 15 years as a state senator representing Mecklenburg County. He served on the Charlotte City Council from 1987 to 1993 and is an attorney at the law firm Parker Poe.
Campaign site: http://www.danclodfelter.com/
Jennifer Roberts
Jennifer Roberts was the Democratic candidate in 2012 for the Congressional seat vacated by Representative Sue Myrick. She chaired Mecklenburg County’s Board of Commissioners for five years prior and served on the board for eight years. Currently, Roberts is board president of International House.
Campaign site: http://www.jenniferrobertsformayor.com/
The Primary Challengers
The Republican
Scott Stone
Having never held public office, Scott Stone is running as a successful business leader and political outsider. He was the Republican candidate for mayor in 2011, losing that race to Anthony Foxx. Stone is president of a large civil engineering firm headquartered in Charlotte.
Campaign site: http://electscottstone.com/
THE DEMOCRATS
Michael Barnes
The longest-serving city councilman in the mayoral race, as well as the mayor pro tem, Michael Barnes chairs the city’s economic development committee. He also works as an auto accident attorney at a law firm he founded, Barnes Law Office, in the University area of Charlotte.
Campaign site: http://www.barnesforcharlotte.com/
David Howard
A three-term city councilman at-large and former Charlotte-Mecklenburg planning official, David Howard chairs the city’s Governance and Accountability committee. He is a development officer at the non-profit Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, which provides affordable housing.
Campaign site: http://votedavidhoward.com/
Two other Democratic candidates, Roderick Davis and DeJawon Joseph, did not respond to interview requests from WFAE.
Davis election website: http://www.roderickdavis.com/
Joseph election website: https://www.facebook.com/people/DeJawon-Joseph-Mayor/100009353812285
