Latest news with #TariqBokhari
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
CMPD Chief Jennings faces both praise and criticism after details of his $305K settlement released
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Charlotte's top cop will retire at the end of the year. CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings announced his decision Sunday and released the details of his $300,000 settlement he reached with the city council earlier this month. It was a settlement the council would not comment on because it was agreed to in a closed session. Interim City Attorney Anthony Fox explained the council's position during a press conference after reports of the settlement began circulating in local media. Jennings had reportedly threatened to sue over threatening texts sent by former city council member Tariq Bokhari. The two were arguing over whether officers should wear outer protective vests. 'We're not going to confirm or deny, the law provides for certain confidentiality of closed sessions as well as personnel privacy matters and we're going to respect the law,' said Fox. Jennings released the settlement in full this week and said there were too many assumptions about what had been agreed to. In total, the city agreed to pay Jennings $305,000. That amount includes a pay increase of $14,016,70, a retention bonus worth $45,698.56, 40 additional days of vacation valued at $45,284.70, $175,000 in severance, and $25,000 for legal fees. Jennings had faced both praise and criticism in the weeks following the initial reporting of the settlement and Charlotte's Fraternal Order of Police is still moving forward with a vote of no confidence. But former CMPD leaders, like Assistant Chief of Police Vicki Foster, a 28-year veteran of the department, told Queen City News his successor will have big shoes to fill. 'They have to be able to not only just engage but be a part of what is going on and understanding,' said Foster. The state auditor's office, which opened an investigation after the city refused to release details on the settlement, praised the move by Jennings but has yet to conclude their investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Charlotte City Council member to be sworn into office Tuesday after Bokhari resignation
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The newest member of Charlotte City Council is slated to take his oath of office Tuesday. Council members selected Edwin Peacock III to fill the District 6 seat left open by last month's resignation of Tariq Bokhari. Peacock, a Republican, previously served two terms on the council and twice ran for mayor. He will take his oath at the council's 5 p.m. business meeting. It also will be the first meeting since two major legal matters have come about with council members. Police Chief Johnny Jennings' settlement details were revealed Sunday night when he announced his retirement, and Councilwoman Tiawana Brown pled not guilty Friday to COVID fund fraud charges. Peacock's abbreviated term will end in December, and he says he will not run for reelection in the fall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Meet Charlotte City Council's newest member
District 6, meet your new representative. Or rather, allow us to reintroduce Edwin Peacock III. Why it matters: Peacock, a former at-large council member, will be sworn in on Tuesday, May 20, to represent District 6 for the next six months, until a new member is elected and takes office in December. Catch up quick: Peacock is filling the seat vacated by Tariq Bokhari, who resigned in April to take the No. 2 role at the Federal Transit Administration under President Trump. On Monday, Mayor Vi Lyles broke a tie to appoint Peacock to the vacancy over Krista Bokhari, Tariq Bokhari's wife. The nominee had to be a registered Republican residing in District 6, the south Charlotte area. Krista Bokhari had the backing of the Mecklenburg County GOP and received the vote of Ed Driggs, the only other Republican on the council. The big picture: During Peacock's brief tenure, transportation will be the pressing issue for the council as it attempts to get a 1-cent sales tax referendum for transportation on the ballot and passed by voters. Peacock says he supports the mass transit plan to reduce congestion and promote economic development. What he's saying: "We've got election fatigue from last year, so we have to have a council that can communicate," Peacock said at a May 15 candidate forum. "We can't assume that individuals are going to support this. In fact, you want to almost operate as if they've never heard of this." Between the lines: Peacock has already said he will not seek reelection. As a former council member, he has experience with the ins and outs of how the body operates and should be able to jump into the work quickly. Flashback: Peacock was first elected to city council in 2007 and served four years. He lost campaigns for Charlotte mayor in 2013 and 2015 and for Congress in 2012.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Char-Meck FOP to move forward with no confidence vote against CMPD Chief Jennings
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — After holding a preliminary vote amongst its over 2000 members, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) has decided to move forward with a formal vote of no confidence against CMPD Police Chief Johnny Jennings. On May 8, an email was sent to FOP members, notifying them of a motion passed to hold a vote of no confidence against Jennings after a fallout ensued between Jennings and former Charlotte council member Tariq Bokhari. Reports say the city paid Jennings a six-figure settlement months after Bokhari allegedly threatened to 'ruin his career.' The FOP responded to the deal, calling it a misuse of public funds, and announced plans to hold a vote of no confidence against Jennings. Members were able to vote on if they wanted to move forward with the vote. That voting period ended Wednesday, May 14. The survey yielded over 800 responses with more than 70 percent of the respondents voting in favor of a formal vote against Chief Jennings. The group is working on finalizing the best way to hold the vote, to ensure that each of the members will get a chance to cast their vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As candidates jockey for vacant Charlotte council seat, one is racking up endorsements
Charlotte's transit plan and candidates' political ambitions took the spotlight Thursday as applicants for the Charlotte City Council's empty seat tried to win over current council members. Former Council member Tariq Bokhari vacated the seat last month representing south Charlotte's District 6 when he stepped down for a position in the Trump administration. He was one of just two Republicans on the 11-person council. A pair of former elected officials pitched themselves Thursday at a candidate forum as stop-gap solutions who could be valuable to the city on a sales tax referendum for transportation needs that could be on the November ballot. Others announced plans to run in the Republican primary later this year for a full term in office. Both Republicans and Democrats anticipate crowded fields running for virtually the only competitive City Council district in Charlotte. The potential front-runner who's picked up notable endorsements was among those absent from the event. The council is slated to make its pick Monday. City leaders are moving forward with 10 applications for the open seat. Applicants had to be at least 21 years old, a registered voter, live in the district and be registered as a Republican. The appointee will finish out his term — set to end in December after the November local elections. The first person to publicly announce their intention to apply for the seat was Bokhari's wife, Krista Bokhari. She made her first official foray into politics in 2024 when she ran as a Republican in south Charlotte's House District 104, losing to Democratic incumbent Rep. Brandon Lofton 55.9% to 44.1%. She also made headlines last week for alleging city officials acted unethically in reportedly granting a six-figure settlement to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings to avoid a lawsuit. The potential suit was reportedly a response to a conflict between Jennings and Tariq Bokhari over outer carrier vests for police. Krista Bokhari was quickly endorsed by her husband. The Mecklenburg County Republican Party and the only Republican members of Mecklenburg's legislative delegation, Rep. Tricia Cotham and Sen. Vickie Sawyer, announced their support for her candidacy this week. Krista Bokhari hasn't said publicly whether she'd run for a full term in office later this year. A pair of former elected officials and a conservative commentator also applied for the seat. Andy Dulin spent eight years on the Charlotte City Council from 2005 to 2013 representing District 6 and a term in the North Carolina House. Edwin Peacock III is a former at-large council member from 2007 to 2011 and mayoral and Congressional primary candidate. Andrew Dunn publishes the Longleaf Politics newsletter. Dunn is also an columnist for the Observer and Raleigh News & Observer's opinion sections and served as the communication director for Dan Forest's gubernatorial campaign in 2020. Other applicants are: Sary Chakra David Jewell Christopher McBride Douglas Paris La Reshai Poore James Rice Two applicants were deemed ineligible for not meeting the legal requirements for appointment. Bokhari, Dunn, Jewell, McBride and Paris did not attend Thursday's forum, which was optional for candidates. Both Dulin and Peacock said they don't plan to run for a full term representing District 6. Both pitched themselves as experienced leaders who could navigate a short stint as an appointee. Both also said they could effectively pitch to District 6 voters a potential referendum to increase Mecklenburg County's sales tax to pay for an overhaul of the region's transportation systems. Chakra and Poore both said they plan to run in the Republican primary later this year to represent District 6. A Charlotte native, Chakra said he's passionate about improving infrastructure in District 6 to keep up with the area's growth. He said he follows city government closely and has experience with the city through his work in stormwater and infrastructure construction. Poore pledged to focus on neighborhood-level issues in the district. She said she's also passionate about educating the public, especially young people, about dating violence as a domestic violence survivor. Rice did not specify whether he would seek a full term in office during his public comments. A resident of Charlotte since 1983 with a background in banking and the business side of health care, he said he'd be a voice for elderly residents and bring knowledge of two of the city's biggest industries. The City Council will announce their selection for the District 6 seat Monday, the city said previously. The appointee will be officially sworn in Tuesday, with a formal ceremony to follow June 2. Mayor Vi Lyles said council members will review all 10 applications, and she doesn't expect anyone's inability to attend Thursday's forum to affect their chances. Council member Marjorie Molina noted the timing of the forum, on a Thursday afternoon, may have impacted some applicants' ability to attend. 'Everyone deserves a fair shot …,' she said. 'Unfortunately, for many reasons, others couldn't join us, and now the public and us don't get the advantage of hearing their perspective in person.' Asked about the Mecklenburg GOP's endorsement of Krista Bokhari, Molina said she'll look to the council's lone remaining Republican, Council member Ed Driggs, for guidance. 'I really trust him,' she said, adding she'd also consider any input Tariq Bokhari offered.
