CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- When mayor-elect Anthony Foxx is sworn in, Democrats will control the mayor's office and the Charlotte City Council for the first time in decades.

Foxx summed it up his plans for the position Tuesday night when he said, "I'm going to work very hard -- very methodically -- to solve the challenges we face.”

He has a leg up now that his party won a whopping 8 to 3 majority on the city council.

So Eyewitness News asked one of those Democrats, Michael Barnes, what Democrats can do now that they couldn't do with a Republican mayor before.

He said the council will move on certain neighborhood initiatives, like a rental property ordinance, and strengthen Charlotte's relationship with Raleigh, which could mean more money for crime-fighting and roads.

"With some new blood and new energy, people in Raleigh will be much more receptive to hearing about the challenges we face," Barnes said.

The three Republicans who survived the election see other hot issues on the horizon, including what will happen to Eastland Mall, collective bargaining plans for emergency workers and the issue of streetcars in Charlotte

One of those Republicans, Andy Dulin, said he knows he may not win those battles, but he sees a role for himself as watchdog.

"What we can do, though, is to make sure that the initiatives that the Democratic majority push forward, that we hold them accountable for that," he said.

While Democrats have had a majority on council for years, the big difference now is having a mayor from their party.

Foxx spent the day with family and friends after months of campaigning. He asked all media to respect his privacy Wednesday, but said he will be available Thursday.

• VIDEO: Anthony Foxx's Victory Speech