http://66.225.205.104/JR20091104.mp3
In running for mayor, Foxx and Lassiter left two open seats on the Charlotte City Council. Both slots went to Democrats last night giving them 8 seats to just three for the Republicans. WFAE's Julie Rose reports: Democrats have long controlled Charlotte's City Council, but for 22 years, Republicans had an ace in the hole: A Republican mayor with power to veto council decisions. Last night, Republicans lost that power, along with another council seat. "Candidly, I've never been in a scenario like this before and without having a mayor that's a Republican, it's little bit unusual because you do have a veto proof situation," says Edwin Peacock, the only Republican to win an at-large council seat. "This is not what we expected tonight." The other three at-large seats went to Democrats Patrick Cannon, David Howard and incumbent Susan Burgess who downplays the significance of the shift. "What the public may not realize is probably 99 percent of our votes are unanimous, because they're on the consent agenda and they're things we can agree on," says Burgess. "So we really have not had big partisan fights like some other bodies. And I expect that to continue." Burgess does expect to see fewer vetoes with a Democrat in the mayor's office. Republicans on the council say they can still balance the debate, but will have to work even harder at winning support for their priorities.