Local

Charlotte primary election shows citizens wants change

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte's City Council is getting a major, possibly younger makeover.

Three young candidates caused a major upset Tuesday night by unseating two longtime council members.

Claire Fallon and Patsy Kinsey, two veterans of the council, were voted out in the primary.

Some experts believe last year’s riots are behind it all.

The Keith Lamont Scott protests marked a turning point in Charlotte history when a man was shot and killed in the middle of uptown Charlotte.

"I was about 10 feet, less than 10 to 20 feet away from (where) Justin Carr was wounded, and I was right there when he died," Charlotte City Council candidate Braxton Winston said.

Winston went from that tragedy to the elation of winning his city council primary.

"What we won last night was just one small step," Winston said.

Winston represents the force of the millennial generation. He had an influential voice leading the protests and demanding change in the city.

"I don't know if I'd take a particular ideological message out of it, because one way to read his victory is that it's holding Charlotte leaders accountable," UNC-Charlotte political science professor Eric Herberlig said.

He believes the protest helped Winston and that it was the anchor that sunk Mayor Jennifer Roberts’ re-election.

"She didn't protect Charlotte's image with a clear voice," Herberlig said.