Latest news with #CharlotteElections
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Candidate filing opens for 2025. Who's running for Charlotte, CMS, Mecklenburg seats
Incumbents and newcomers alike gathered alongside family, friends and advisors Monday at the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections as candidate filing opened for the 2025 local election. The filing window officially opened at 8 a.m. Monday for candidates looking to run for municipal office in Charlotte and Mecklenburg towns or for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education later this year. The filing period runs for about two weeks. Some, including Montravias King, were at the Board of Elections first thing to make their candidacy official. King is running as a Democrat in west Charlotte's City Council District 3. Although he's expected to face indicted incumbent Tiawana Brown, King told reporters he doesn't intend to focus his campaign on the allegations against her. Candidates in other closely watched races filed Monday, too, including Kimberly Owens. A real estate attorney, Owens is running as a Democrat in south Charlotte's City Council District 6. Longtime Republican representative Tariq Bokhari, who won his last two elections by less than 500 votes, stepped down earlier this year for a job in the Trump administration. 'I want to bring a practical skill set to Charlotte,' Owens told reporters after taking pictures with local leaders including Huntersville Mayor Christy Clark, former state House candidate Nicole Sidman and LGBTQ rights advocate Cameron Pruette. Incumbent Matthews Mayor John Higdon filed for reelection alongside multiple candidates for the town's Board of Commissioners. Despite his outspoken opposition to Charlotte's transportation plan, Higdon said he doesn't plan to focus on a related referendum in his campaign. 'I've been the fire brand for a year complaining about it and trying to get it killed in Raleigh. And, you know, my side lost. So it's time to move on, let the people decide,' he said, adding he expects many in Matthews to vote against the referendum but expects it to pass countywide. By 2 p.m. Monday, 15 candidates filed, according to the Board of Elections' tracker. In past years, as many as 25 to 30 candidates have filed in the first hours of the filing window, board spokeswoman Kristin Mavromatis said. But she expects to see a steady stream of candidates coming in throughout the filing period before a final surge in the hours before the deadline to enter a race. Candidate filing closes at noon July 18. Primary elections are scheduled for Sept. 9, and the general election is Nov. 4. Here's an updating list of who has filed: Charlotte mayor Tigress Sydney Acute McDaniel (Democrat) Charlotte City Council District 3 Montravias King (Democrat) Charlotte City Council District 6 Kimberly Owens (Democrat) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education District 1 Bill Fountain Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education District 2 Shamaiye Haynes Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education District 6 Anna London Cornelius mayor Denis P. Bilodeau Davidson mayor Rusty Knox (Incumbent) Davidson Board of Commissioners Connie Wessner Matthews mayor John Higdon (Incumbent) Matthews Board of Commissioners Susan Chambers Brian Hacker John Tonello John Urban (Incumbent) Mint Hill Board of Commissioners Twanna Henderson (Incumbent)
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Filing opens for candidates in North Carolina as voters eye council races, transit bill
More than a dozen candidates in Mecklenburg County have already thrown their names into the hat for the November election after filing opened on Monday. Election season is underway for 2025, and while odd-year elections have the reputation for being sleepy, this year's contests have the potential to be competitive and controversial. Monday marked the first day of candidate filing, bringing out dozens of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed candidates and supporters! 'I really believe in making sure our students are prepared after graduation,' said Anna London, CMS Board District 6 Candidate. 'I know that Matthews does need some representation for everybody,' said Brian Hacker, Matthews Commission Candidate. The smiles will turn to stress soon enough. Charlotte City Council candidates will first have to get through the September primary. All eyes are on Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. She has not yet said whether she will run. Indicted Councilmember Tiawana Brown says she will seek another term in District 3. She will face at least two primary challengers, Montravious King and Joi Mayo. Right now, it is unclear if Democratic District 6 candidate Kimberly Owens will face a primary challenge. This is one of two seats Charlotte Republicans have always held and it has long been coveted by Democrats 'I think it will benefit from practical representation,' Owens said. SPECIAL SECTION >> Ch. 9's The Political Beat The biggest thing on the ballot come November is the sales tax increase for transit. After Matthews Mayor John Higdon filed for re-election, he reiterated his opposition to the measure. But he says he won't campaign against it. 'I have been the firebrand for a year complaining about it and trying to get it killed in Raleigh and my side lost, so it is time to move on,' Higdon said. Huntersville Mayor Christy Clark is in favor of the transit plan. Leaders are eyeing the Red Line through her town as the first major rail project if the tax passes. 'We can't pave our way out of the traffic pattern in north Mecklenburg but what we can do is provide alternate sources to get around like the CATS micro, the Red Line and greenways,' Clark said. The ballot measure for transit has not been officially placed on the ballot just yet. That's expected to happen at the Mecklenburg County commission meeting in August Candidate filing ends July 18 at noon. Nearly every county in our area is holding elections in November, except Stanly and Alexander counties. New mayors will be chosen in several towns. You can see a list of all of the upcoming elections in North Carolina at this link. (VIDEO: Matthews commissioner plans to challenge Rep. Cotham, citing transit bill as motivation)
