The Political Beat Candidate Guide: City of Charlotte Mayor

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles is seeking a fifth term.

She is facing Republican Terrie Donovan and Libertarian Rob Yates.

Lyles did not respond to our candidate guide. We will add her answers if she submits them.

The Political Beat asked questions of each candidate in the races. Below are their unedited responses.

Rob Yates

What is your occupation? I am a writer by trade. I have worked in the finance, banking, and investment industry for most of my career.

Why are you running? I entered this race because there are structural problems in the governance of our city that will only continue to get worse. Housing costs will go up while supply dwindles, crime will grow more pervasive and difficult to control, transportation issues will cover the entire city, and the city government’s answer will be to find more ways to raise taxes.

What is the most important issue and how do you plan to address it? There is no singular issue that is most important. We have a public safety problem. While things have improved over the last couple years, the level of crime, especially violent crime, is unacceptable. Housing costs are skyrocketing on top of property tax increases that prevent generational wealth building. People can’t invest in their neighborhoods, and so those neighborhoods decline, fostering an environment where criminal activity further thrives. Addressing the root causes of policy burden that allows these problems to fester and grow will unlock the opposite - a Charlotte free to thrive and prosper.

How are you voting on the sales tax increase referendum for transit and why? No, a million times over, in any language, no. There is an organized group in favor of this referendum that has spent at least $3 million on marketing and lobbyists. This alone should make voters suspicious. They are not spending millions out of the goodness of their hearts; there are people who will benefit directly from those billions promised if the referendum passes. The plan itself is a 14% increase to sales tax, estimated to cost each person in Charlotte at least $240 extra dollars a year. This will hurt the people most who can afford it the least. In return, the referendum calls for $20 billion to go toward projects with little in the way of goals, oversight, accountability, or likelihood of being completed anywhere close to on time or budget. Beyond the financials, there is the massive issue of displacement. And all this is set against the backdrop of 30 years of consistent failure by our city to effectively manage transportation projects or keep promises. The referendum lacks a clear plan to even fund the feasibility study required to implement the tax and spend the proceeds, which does nothing to inspire confidence that the people in charge of the plan will, somehow suddenly figure it out this time. Vote no!

Do you support Charlotte City Council’s settlement with CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings? Why or why not? I don’t know enough about the settlement to make a determination, but I don’t support the deal with Jennings, or any other city business, being kept secret from the people of Charlotte, whose money funded it.

How should Charlotte City Council address working conditions and pay issues raised by the SEIU at Charlotte Douglas International Airport? This is interesting, because there are statutory restrictions that would seem to prevent city council from getting involved. However, I will say that the quagmire that we are facing with aspects of upgrading Charlotte Douglas is a predictable, and preventable, outcome of central planning and rigid government interference.

What sets you apart from your opponents? I believe in people. That sounds like a platitude, but I mean it. I want to hold the city government accountable to creating a safe, desirable environment for the people of Charlotte, and then I want to see our city free to grow to its full potential, while the people who live here all thrive and prosper.

Terrie D. Donovan

What is your occupation? Business Owner and Real Estate Broker.

Why are you running? Our beautiful city is in desperate need of change in leadership. We can no longer tolerate high crime, unaffordable housing and lack of honest leadership. Charlotte needs to be run like the world class city it is. Collaborating with the right people who have the right solutions is the way to be successful.

What is the most important issue and how do you plan to address it? Public safety, without safe communities everything else deteriorates. We need to look at the budget and see where funds can be reallocated to hire, train and retain top notch Police Officers and we need to assure they have the tools they need to properly protect all citizens. We need to work with the General Assembly to make sure there is sufficient funding to have a quick trial to put away the offenders.

How are you voting on the sales tax increase referendum for transit and why? The entire operating budget needs a closer look in order to see if funds are properly allocated. There also needs to be an assessment to see if the transit system is actually functional. The answer is not always to increase taxes. Shouldn’t we focus on making public transit safe so that the citizens actually use it?

Do you support Charlotte City Council’s settlement with CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings? Why or why not? I was not in the room; I am not privy to all of the details. Having said that, the FOP put out a call of no confidence for Chief Jennings. The vote was suspended because the city council went ahead and paid the chief. When a call goes out to all Officers for a vote of no confidence it is evident that the chief needed to be re-evaluated.

How should Charlotte City Council address working conditions and pay issues raised by the SEIU at Charlotte Douglas International Airport? State law prevents cities from setting wage of labor standards for private contractors.

What sets you apart from your opponents? A recent survey came out that shows the mayor attends fewer meetings than any other council member! I am prepared to be a full time Mayor, a public servant for all people. I want to do proactive things to make the city bigger, better and safer!

(WATCH BELOW: Charlotte City Council 2025 Primary: Mayor Vi Lyles wins; two incumbents lose seats on city council)