North Carolina mayors prepare for presidential race

As the general election draws closer, mayors across the state are getting ready.

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts will attend three days of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, which begins Monday. She will speak on a panel about innovation in cities, she said.

She said she also hopes to increase voter turnout by educating people about Charlotte’s challenges as a growing city, including the need for unity and access to opportunity.

She said she discourages people from protesting, referencing Trump’s scheduled appearance in Winston-Salem on Monday.

“I think people should voice the opinions that they want to,” she said. “I’m not encouraging people to protest, but to be educated.”

Roberts is among 20 North Carolina mayors who have officially endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. She also joined three others, who are Democrats, for a conference call Thursday morning where they praised Hillary Clinton’s stance on issues of unity and income inequality relevant to North Carolina.

“She speaks of unity, of strengthening community, of addressing poverty and wealth inequality,” Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer said in the call. “These are some of the key issues in North Carolina.”

The conference call also included Durham Mayor Bill Bell and Winfall Mayor Fred Yates.

The mayors’ endorsements come as many Republican state leaders have urged North Carolina voters to stand behind Donald Trump, including U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, and Gov. Pat McCrory.

This story was originally published July 21, 2016 at 4:51 PM with the headline "North Carolina mayors prepare for presidential race."