Councilman hopes community can pivot and unify moving forward with RNC

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It was one of the most contentious votes in recent Charlotte City Council history.

Larken Egleston joined three other Democratic members of council to vote "yes" to hosting the 2020 Republican National Convention.

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"You've got to make tough decisions sometimes," Egleston said. "The vote we were taking last night was, ‘Do we pull the rug out from under this one week out from the decision being made?’"

As the dust settled Tuesday, the first-term councilman hopes the community can now pivot and find unity going forward.

Charlotte leaders vote 6-5 to endorse hosting RNC in 2020

"This is going to be coming here now. Let's make sure this is the best it can be for Charlotte. Let's make sure it has a positive, lasting impact on our city," Egleston said.

Egleston told Channel 9 he heard from constituents on both sides of the debate, but ultimately didn't let party politics or his own dislike of President Donald Trump influence his decision to support the convention bid.

"If two years down the road, this one vote is the reason somebody says, ‘I can't support this guy ever again, you know, how with me were they in the first place?’"

Egleston now hopes the Democrats who voted "No" to host the RNC will take a seat at the planning table.

He also encourages constituents opposed to the council vote to meet with him to better understand his decision.

"I won't hide from anybody who wants to have a respectful discussion around what we decided," Egleston said.

Cox Media Group