Charlotte’s mayoral hopefuls square off in debates

Last week’s police trial, the future of the streetcar and city taxes were all on the agenda Tuesday night when Charlotte’s mayoral candidates met for their first televised debate.

Four Democrats and two Republicans met in separate forums sponsored by Time Warner Cable News at the Ballantyne Hotel.

In the first debate, Democrats Michael Barnes, Dan Clodfelter, David Howard and Jennifer Roberts advocated a regional approach to issues such as transportation and defended the city’s settlement with Jonathan Ferrell’s family. They rejected the suggestion that there’s a crisis of leadership in a city about to select its fourth mayor since 2013.

In the second, Edwin Peacock and Scott Stone each made the case to be the first Republican elected mayor since 2007.

Early voting in the mayoral and City Council races starts Sept. 3. The primaries are Sept. 15.

Jim Morrill, Steve Harrison

This story was originally published August 25, 2015 at 10:37 PM with the headline "Charlotte’s mayoral hopefuls square off in debates."