Charlotte City Council hears from public on four-year terms

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte City Council is moving forward with four-year terms, but it will be up to the voters of Charlotte to decide the proposal’s fate. The Charlotte City Council recently voted, 6-4, to approve staggered, four-year terms and the creation of an eighth district. Councilmembers Marjorie Molina and Malcolm Graham joined the council’s two Republicans, Tariq Bokhari, and Ed Driggs in voting no.

A public hearing was held on Monday night.

The Mecklenburg County Republican Party vice chair was the only person to speak and said it is a bad idea

“This appears to be the start of creating city council into long-term position,” said David Merrill, MeckGOP vice chair.

“The challenge has always been political will versus political ability,” said Councilwoman LaWana Slack-Mayfield.

Charlotte City Council will ultimately have the public decide whether the four-year staggered terms and new district seat is created. Council is targeting this fall’s general election for the ballot questions.

“This is something that is tried and true,” said Mayor Pro Tem Braxton Winston. “I would ask why Charlotte hasn’t done it to this point in time?”

Bokhari says the city should focus its attention elsewhere and the ballot measures will be a distraction.

“You have to choose what matters to you because it is my strong belief that you can only pick one thing to dominate an election cycle,” said Bokhari.

After the vote, Mayor Vi Lyles expressed disappointment in the closeness of the measure. She said a 6-4 vote is not a good mandate to take this to the public.

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