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Charlotte City Council District 6 – home of SouthPark and other affluent enclaves – has long been a solid Republican seat.
So solid, in fact, that no Democrat has run there in 12 years.
But Democrat Jane Bott Childrey is running what analysts say is a competitive campaign against Republican incumbent Andy Dulin, a two-term incumbent.
Childrey is campaigning on a pledge to bring jobs to Charlotte by recruiting businesses based on the talent pool of workers already here. She owns her own real estate firm, and said her small business experience is an asset.
“People have said you sound like a Republican,” said Childrey, 37, a first-time candidate. “But the city is based on business issues, where as the county commission is where you get your social-driven issues. People aren't accustomed to having a Democrat talking about business issues.”
Dulin is campaigning on his record of supporting projects such as the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the hiring of police Chief Rodney Monroe. He also said he focuses on more mundane things, such as lobbying for stop signs. He notes that his business card only has his cell phone, and that “you don't need to go through a secretary to reach me.”
“It's watching the little things where I have made a name for myself,” said Dulin, 50, a registered real estate broker. “I take pride in stop signs and road humps.”
In addition to his incumbency, and having raised more money, Dulin begins the race with an edge. Forty percent of registered voters in the district are Republican and 34 percent are Democrats. Slightly more than 1 in 4 voters – 26 percent – are unaffiliated.
Former City Council member Lynn Wheeler, a Republican, said the district is more GOP-friendly than the registration numbers suggest. A number of voters are registered as Democrats but consistently vote for Republicans.
“She's running a strong race – she's everywhere,” Wheeler said. “She's a running a strong, formidable campaign. But Andy has done a good job, and Jane is Democrat in a Republican district.”
The other district race is in District 7, where Republican incumbent Warren Cooksey is running against Democrat Marc Friedland. District 7, which includes Ballantyne, is the safest GOP seat in Charlotte. Republicans are 44 percent of registered voters and Democrats are 27 percent.
Childrey said residents have complained to her about council's rezoning decisions, which would allow more density to the area. She has criticized Dulin for a controversial 2007 vote that allowed a 10-story condo project near single-family homes on the northwest corner of Fairview Road and Wintercrest Lane. Dulin was one of the nine council members who voted for the project, despite city planner's recommendations against it. The developer of the project – which hasn't been built – is Afshin Ghazi, a large campaign contributor to Dulin and other council members.
“People are concerned they don't have any support from Andy,” Childrey said.
Dulin said he stands by that vote, saying the proposed tower was a “well-laid out, well-thought out plan.” He said the impact to neighbors would have been minimal, and that opposition to the condos has been stoked by a small number of households.
“I have done a very good job to make decisions that are right,” said Dulin, who is perhaps the council's most conservative member.
In response to Childrey's plan for bringing new jobs to Charlotte, Dulin said: “Does she not think I'm working on jobs? We have created thousands of construction jobs over the last four years” though projects such as the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Dulin won his seat in 2005 after winning the Republican primary. He ran unopposed in 2007.
Childrey said she has raised $10,000. Dulin's campaign said Wednesday he's raised nearly $43,000 in 2009, and has about $25,000 left to spend.
Dulin said having an opponent has helped him raise more money – much of it will be spent on bringing Republican voters to the polls on Nov. 3.
“We'll spend that money driving (John) Lassiter voters to the polls,” Dulin said. “If the Democrats hadn't run anyone against me, I would have raised $7,000 and just put out a mailer for my voters. We are going to hold the Democrat majority accountable.”
Dulin also is carrying a large amount of debt from an unsuccessful 2008 bid for the N.C. State Senate. In his campaign finance report for Charlotte City Council, Dulin has listed an outstanding loan of $47,500 to himself from that race, as well as a debt of $21,071 to consultant Michael Ellison.
Ellison said he expects to be repaid after Dulin wins re-election.
“His main focus now is to get re-elected,” Ellison said. “It's an amiable agreement.”
