CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory congratulated mayor-elect Anthony Foxx on Wednesday evening, but McCrory indicated his job's not over yet.

Foxx will become the first Democrat elected mayor of Charlotte in decades after defeating Republican John Lassiter in Tuesday's election.

McCrory said he must preside over several important votes that will come before city council before Foxx is sworn in as mayor in December.

"I've still got some breath left in this last three weeks and then I'm gonna try to support Anthony as much as I can to make it a smooth transition," McCrory said.

McCrory, a Republican, is finishing his record seventh term as mayor of Charlotte. He said the time is right for him to leave the job.

McCrory hosted a dinner Wednesday evening for small businesses in Charlotte which have survived the recession.