Former City Council member and state Senator Malcolm Graham said Thursday that he will run for the council's District 2 seat this fall.
Last week, District 2 council member Justin Harlow said he would not run again. Harlow said he has an opportunity to expand his dental practice and doesn't have time to serve.
Graham was a council member from 1999 to 2005, and he served in the legislature from 2005 until 2015.
"My arm has been twisted by people who want me to run," Graham said.
He said he’s concerned about the city’s increased number of homicides, as well as gentrification. District 2 covers part of uptown and northwest Charlotte, including neighborhoods near the center city where home values have increased dramatically this decade.
The party primaries are in September. The general election for council and mayor is in November.