Why a Charlotte council member is leaving the Democratic party

Incumbent City Council member Claire Fallon, who’s leaving the council after losing last month’s primary, also plans to leave the Democratic Party.

Fallon, 82, said she plans to change her registration to unaffiliated when her term expires in December. She was first elected at-large in 2011.

“My party left me a long time ago,” she told the Observer. “The party never wanted me. Never supported me really.… They’ve been trying for six years to get rid of me. I’m not a rubber stamp, nor do I intend to be.”

Fallon claimed the party “worked against” her in last month’s primaries. She finished sixth in the race for four at-large nominations. Mecklenburg Democratic Chair Jane Whitley said that’s not because the party opposed her.

“That absolutely is not true,” Whitley said. “The voters made their choice and they chose other people.”

A Democratic Women’s group gave Fallon $1,700 in 2015.

Fallon has often taken positions at odds with those of other Democrats on council. She has been a critic of Mayor Jennifer Roberts as well as Mayor Pro Tem Vi Lyles, the Democratic nominee for mayor.

Fallon said she supports Republican council member Kenny Smith for mayor.

Democratic consultant Dan McCorkle, who worked for Fallon, said he’s not surprised. Voting records show Fallon voted in GOP primaries at least from 2002 to 2008. Last year she gave $200 to GOP Rep. Bill Brawley of Matthews.

“Claire did not represent my Democratic values anymore,” McCorkle said.

This story was originally published October 3, 2017 at 12:26 PM with the headline "Why a Charlotte council member is leaving the Democratic party."