Photo Galleries

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory addresses the media during a press conference in his office on Thursday afternoon. McCrory announced that he would not run for re-election for the office of mayor. DAVID T. FOSTER III-dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com

The National Debt Clock at First Union Plaza serves as a backdrop as Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Pat McCrory reads a proclamation declaring Tuesday as National Debt Awareness Day. The giant scoreboard, a project of the Concord Coalition (a deficit-fighting group), tracks the rise in the debt at an average of $9,600 per second. Charlotte Observer File Photo

Charlotte City Council member Pat McCrory (right) will likely be sworn in as mayor pro tem tonight, when the council elected earlier this month takes office. Charlotte Observer File Photo

Hoyle Martin Pat McCrory debate. Charlotte Observer File Photo

Charlotte Mayor-elect Pat McCrory (left) and his opponent, Democrat Hoyle Martin, close their 1995 campaigns at the Grady Cole Center late Tuesday night. Republican McCrory beat Martin by nearly a 2-1 margin. Charlotte Observer File Photo - L MUELLER

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory admires a life-size photo mural of historic trolley car No. 85 at the Charlotte Convention Center. The mayor presided at Charlotte Trolley Inc.'s mural unveiling ceremony Wednesday. The 16- by 20-foot photo is hung on the interior wall where trolleys will enter the convention center if the line is extended to uptown from South End. Charlotte Observer File Photo

"Do The Right Thing", a joint project among the Charlotte-Mecklenberg Police, Fire and Public School departments and corporate sponsors, kicked offThursday by honoring a pair of four-year-olds, a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old for deeds that set them up as role models not only for other youth but also for adults. Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory chuckles as 4-yr-old Joshua Hinkle poses withhis newly awarded goodies. Charlotte Observer File Photo - John D. Simmons/Staff

Mayor Pat McCrory testifies about the city's success in tackling crime and other matters before a Senate committee in Washington. KRT FILE PHOTO

Mayor Pat McCrory (right) on "King of the Hill" promo.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory looks on as Brittanie Dixon 10, shows her surprise as Sesame Street's Cookie Monster reaches out for her. Dixon along with other children from Portraits of Color were among the children given tickets Saturday for "Sesame Street Live's musical stage show, "When I Grow Up." Tickets for kids is a dual effort of Ticketmaster and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory to channel family entertainment tickets as rewards to Charlotte Youth who are making "good" choices in an environment too often filled with bad influences. Charlotte Observer File Photo - JEFF SINER

Mayor Pat McCrory (rt) greets Marie Rowe after a luncheon at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Republican Women's Club Tuesday afternoon. Charlotte Observer File Photo - L MUELLER

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory with his dog Mic (cq) at his Charlotte home Wednesday afternoon. Charlotte Observer File Photo TODD SUMLIN

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, center, laughs with Rep. Cass Ballenger, R-10th, left, and Concord Mayor George Liles prior to President George W. Bush's speech at Concord Middle School Wednesday, April 11, 2001, in Concord, N.C. Charlotte Observer File Photo - JEFF SINER

Mayor Pat McCrory was the first to sign a giant Valentine's card for soldiers at Fort Bragg Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, at the Founders Hall at Bank of America Corporate Center. The card will remain on display during the week at the Founders Hall for guests to sign. The card will be sent to the soldiers at Fort Bragg after Valentine's Day. The Valentine's card is part of the week long "The Hall Is Where The Heart Is" sidewalk sale in Founders Hall. Charlotte Observer File Photo - WENDY YANG

Mayor Pat McCrory was the first to sign a giant Valentine's card for soldiers at Fort Bragg Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, at the Founders Hall at Bank of America Corporate Center. The card will remain on display during the week at the Founders Hall for guests to sign. The card will be sent to the soldiers at Fort Bragg after Valentine's Day. The Valentine's card is part of the week long "The Hall Is Where The Heart Is" sidewalk sale in Founders Hall. Charlotte Observer File Photo - WENDY YANG

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCorey tries to navagate through Polk Park fountian in uptown Charlotte as Charlotte firefighters Mark Jamison and Jon McGinnis assist after a announcement by the US Olympic Committee. Charlotte Observer File Photo

Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory hugs one-time Wimbledon finalist Zina Garrison of the U. S. Tennis Association Tuesday after the pair played doubles together in an exhibition match on Tryon Street. The event was promoting the upcoming USTA Women's Federation Cup Tennis matches between the U.S. and Austria. Charlotte Observer File Photo

Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory cuts up with former Hornet team member Dale Curry before a reception for new NBA owner Robert Johnson at the Charlotte Convention Center. Charlotte Observer File Photo

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory watches his shot as he plays golf with Ron Green Jr. at Cedarwood Country Club. Charlotte Observer File Photo

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, left, watches a shot as he plays golf with Ron Green Jr. at Cedarwood Country Club. Charlotte Observer File Photo

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory talks with Richie Hammond at the Emergency Winter Shelter as Hammond eats his dinner. Charlotte Observer File Photo

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory spoke with JetBlue crew members and their families as they got a chance to tour the cabin of of the Embraer 190. JetBlue's initial flight pulled up to gate D6 about 8:30am Wednesday carrying CEO David Neeleman and it's first customers to arrive in Charlotte. Charlotte crew members joined in the celebration along with Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. Charlotte Observer File Photo - John D. Simmons

Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory prepares to hit a ball served by former No. 1 ranked tennis champion Jim Courier as they kick off The Championships at the Palisades during a news conference at Wachovia Plaza on Wednesday, August 23, 2006. The Championships at the Palisades will be held Sept. 20-24. Charlotte Observer File Photo - Yalonda M. James

Mayor Pat McCrory checks out eye at the Charlotte Shout! kickoff at Wachovia Plaza. Charlotte Observer File Photo

Mayor Pat McCrory celebrates his victory at the Dunhill Hotel with family, friends and volunteers. Charlotte Observer File Photo

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (left) laughs as he looks at a photo taken by Mecklenburg County Commissioner Parks Helms (right) while riding on the Lynx Blue Line train on Monday morning in uptown Charlotte. The service officially begins on Saturday, and will become the first light rail service in North Carolina. DAVID T. FOSTER III-dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (left) smiles skyward in front of a Lynx light rail train with Ron Tober, chief executive of the Charlotte Area Transit System, at the controls during a dedication ceremony near Charlotte Bobcats Arena on Monday morning. The service officially begins on Saturday, and will become the first light rail service in North Carolina. DAVID T. FOSTER III-dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com

Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory, left, gets wired by WRAL technician Tim King before the start of a debate held between four Republican candidates for Governor held at WRAL TV studios in Raleigh Thursday night 1/17/08. The candidates at the debate were Fred Smith, Bill Graham, Robert Orr and Pat McCrory. WRAL's David Crabtree was ther moderator. N&O FILE PHOTO

Tom Flynn, Head of Economic Development, Michael Barnes , City Council member, Michael Maier, Real Estate Manager for IKEA, Mayor McCrory, Doug Wolfe, Construction Manager for IKEA and Joseph Roth, Director of Public Affairs for IKEA. dig their shovels into the soil as Ikea breaks ground. T.ORTEGA GAINES-ogaines@charlotteobserver.com

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory hugs Margaret Ann Sahrum after voting in the North Carolina primary at Myers Park Traditional School after voting on Tuesday morning. McCrory is seeking to win the Republican gubernatorial nomination for governor. DAVID T. FOSTER III-dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory smiles while exiting the polling site after voting in the North Carolina primary at Myers Park Traditional School after voting on Tuesday morning. McCrory is seeking to win the Republican gubernatorial nomination for governor. DAVID T. FOSTER III-dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com

Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory smiles as he conducts a standup interview with WBTV 3 Tuesday evening following his victory in the primary for the Republican canidate for governor of North Carolina. JEFF SINER -- jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

Charlotte mayor and NC gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory speaks with Caldwell county sheriff Alan Jones and assistant district attorney Richard Holloway (center) during a campaign stop in Lenoir on Friday. JEFF WILLHELM - jwillhelm@charlotteobserver.com

Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory laughs during a meeting of the Craven County Republican Women held at the Chelsea Wednesday afternoon, July 23, 2008. McCrory spent Wednesday stumping in New Bern, home of Democratic rival Beverly Perdue. AP Photo

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, Republican gubernatorial candidate, speaks during the North Carolina Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform ethics forum in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008. AP Photo

North Carolina gubernatorial candidates, from left, Republican candidate Pat McCrory, Libertarian candidate Michael C. Munger, and Democratic candidate Bev Perdue meet during a live televised debate in Charlotte, N.C. Wednesday, October 15, 2008. TODD SUMLIN - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. Charlotte Observer File Photo

Sarah Price takes photos of her sons, Alex, 6, and Ben, 8, in front of the Myers Park Traditional Elementary school polling station. The boys are both students at the school. The family voted and then campaigned for McCrory at the site where McCory arrived to cast his ballot Tuesday morning at 10am. L.MUELLER - lmueller@charlotteobserver.com

Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory with his wife, Ann, left, talks to the press after voting in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008. AP PHOTO

Pat McCrory concedes the governor's race at the Hilton Center City in uptown Charlotte Tuesday night. TODD SUMLIN - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com

With his wife Ann at his side, Pat McCrory talks to reporters, photographers, and supporters after conceding the governor's race at the Hilton Center City in uptown Charlotte Tuesday night. TODD SUMLIN - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com

With his wife Ann at his side, Pat McCrory concedes the governor's race at the Hilton Center City in uptown Charlotte Tuesday night. TODD SUMLIN - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory bows his head as he addresses the media during a press conference in his office. McCrory announced that he would not run for re-election for the office of mayor. DAVID T. FOSTER III-dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory talks about Governor Bev Perdue as he spoke during Friday's press conference as Perdue opened her Charlotte office Friday with an announcement about a GMAC expansion of hundreds of jobs in Charlotte at a press conference at the Government Center. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

Mayor Pat McCrory and Robin Carson, Goodwill Vice President of Business Ventures, finish watching a short video testimonial during a press conference at Goodwill Industries on Freedom Dr., launching the year-round Youth Job Connection program. L.MUELLER - lmueller@charlotteobserver.com

Mayor Pat McCrory leads Governor Bev Perdue up the hallway to show her her new office at the Government Center after a Friday press conference with an announcement about a GMAC expansion of hundreds of jobs in Charlotte. DIEDRA LAIRD - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory congratulates WBT's Stacey Simms at the 2009 Harris Teeter Celebrity Golf Tournament to benefit JDRF on June 8 at TPC Piper Glen. During the event Simms, author of "I Can't Cook, But I Know Someone Who Can," donated a check for $10,000 in profits from her book to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief, Rodney Monore and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory have a close encounter discussion during the morning session of gang violence. The North Carolina Metropolitan Mayors Coalition gathered in Salisbury, N.C.at the Historic Train Depot for a statewide public safety summit titled" Seamless Solutions to Urban Crime". T.ORTEGA GAINES-ogaines@charloteeobservr.com

Tim Newman, CEO of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, and Mayor Pat McCrory enjoy a moment of banter after a press conference at Goodwill Industries on Freedom Dr., launching the year-round Youth Job Connection program. L.MUELLER - lmueller@charlotteobserver.com