In Democratic commissioner primary, at-large incumbents easily win reelection bids

Ella Scarborough and Pat Cotham, both longtime at-large Mecklenburg County commissioners, easily won their reelection bids Tuesday night.

Scarborough captured about 23% of the vote in the Democratic primary for three at-large commissioner seats, with Cotham trailing slightly behind with 21%, according to final but unofficial election results. Political newcomer Leigh Altman, a public-interest attorney, had about 15% of the vote.

With no Republicans seeking any of the three at-large spots, Scarborough, Cotham and Altman were effectively elected to the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday. They were among eight Democratic candidates in the at-large primary.

And in District 3 — the only other primary among the county commissioners — Chairman George Dunlap handily won against Democratic challenger Cade Lee, an undergraduate student at UNC Charlotte. Dunlap secured around 75% of the vote in the northeastern Charlotte district, with Lee taking 25%.

Dunlap is heavily favored to beat Republican Friday Paul Okure in November.

In the Democratic at-large commissioner primary, Ray McKinnon narrowly lost to Altman with 13.8% of the vote. Results showed the remaining at-large candidates struggling to capture a sizable percentage of voters.

Brenda Stevenson had about 12.4% of the vote, followed by Tera Long at 6%, Tigress McDaniel at 4.6% and Lloyd Scher at 4.1%.

Campaign finances

Altman raised more than $85,000 for the primary, funneling predominantly individual contributions into a mixture of advertising, mailers and campaign events, among other expenses, according to campaign disclosure reports.

By comparison, Cotham — an at-large commissioner since 2012 — raised about $8,000 in individual contributions for the primary. Recent campaign disclosure reports were not available for Scarborough, who previously served for a decade on the Charlotte City Council.

Meanwhile, in the District 3 commissioner race, Dunlap raised nearly $20,000 — by far outpacing Lee’s fundraising total of just under $2,600, according to campaign disclosure reports.

Key issues for Mecklenburg commissioners

In fiscal year 2020, the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners — which consists of six representatives elected by district, as well as three elected at-large — approved a $1.9-billion budget.

Their budget priorities led to new investments tied to early childhood education, affordable housing, mental health support, parks and greenways, and racial equity.

At their annual retreat in January, the commissioners vowed to address what are known as “food deserts,” or areas with low access to supermarkets, in Mecklenburg — particularly within the county’s “crescent.”

Commissioners also asked County Manager Dena Diorio to develop a new framework to support the Arts & Science Council, following the failed sales tax referendum last November. ASC President Jeep Bryant is requesting $5 million from the county, though commissioners have disagreed on their role in using taxpayer dollars to support the local arts community.

Looking ahead to November

Two Democratic county commissioners — Vilma Leake, of District 2, and Mark Jerrell, of District 4 — are running unopposed this November.

Democrat Elaine Powell, vice chair of the county commissioners, will defend her District 1 seat in north Mecklenburg against Jim Puckett, the former incumbent.

District 5 in southeast Charlotte is open after Susan Harden, a major proponent of the sales tax referendum, announced she would not seek reelection. Democrat Laura Meier, a former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teacher, faces Republican Matthew Ridenhour, the former incumbent.

And in District 6, in south Mecklenburg, Democratic incumbent Susan Rodriguez-McDowell is running against Republican Joel Levy, an attorney, this November.

This story was originally published March 3, 2020 at 8:44 PM.