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McCrory: Lawmakers Redistricted Greensboro To Benefit Republicans; Toll Critics Too Late

Courtesy of the governor's Office

The toll lanes scheduled to be built along Interstate 77 have drawn the ire of public officials in Mooresville, Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville. Those towns and the Mecklenburg County Commission have passed resolutions asking the Governor McCrory to delay or stop the project.

But McCrory isn’t impressed with their pleas.

“It’s ironic when I hear state senators and other local mayors and county commissioners, all of a sudden, 'Woe and behold, we’re reading if for the first time?' " McCrory said to Charlotte Talks host Mike Collins.

Asked if he supported the toll lanes, McCrory said, "I would not have been if they opposed it two years ago. I would have stopped it."

He says toll lanes have had the support of the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization since 2007, but local officials who serve on that board didn’t raise strong objections until recently.

During his hour-long appearance on Charlotte Talks, McCrory was also critical of the General Assembly, particularly the state Senate, for getting involved in local matters. For example: Legislation passed last month that redistricts the Greensboro City Council. The governor has called the bill “shameful.” He elaborated in this excerpt from the program in which Collins asked, "Is part of the redistricting a way to fill that council with more Republicans than with Democrats?"

"Absolutely," McCrory responded. "It was a political decision made in Raleigh for Greensboro, which is wrong."

You can listen to the entire interview here.

WFAE's Charlotte Talks is hosted by veteran Charlotte broadcaster Mike Collins, who has been a fixture in local radio and television since 1985. His knowledge of North and South Carolina combined with his 30 years experience in broadcasting has helped to make Charlotte Talks one of this area's favorite programs.