Candidates are filing to run for CLT office during 2022 elections. How do these roles serve you?
The filing period for candidates running for office in North Carolina in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections has begun, and the list of names on the ballot is growing.
Candidates are running for a host of positions in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County with a variety of duties. Here are the responsibilities of each position.
Mayor of Charlotte
The mayor presides at city council meetings and represents the city at special events, according to the City of Charlotte website. That person, along with city councilors, are also responsible for the execution of local laws.
Mayor Vi Lyles, now in her second term, has been in office since 2017. Charlotte mayors serve two-year terms per election cycle.
Charlotte City Council
City council members are responsible for setting policy, approving the financing of all city operations and enacting ordinances, the City of Charlotte website says. Along with the mayor, they are also tasked with appointing city officials, reviewing the annual budget, setting tax rates and authorizing contracts on behalf of the city.
An important part of the city council’s duties is deciding what state funds are used for. For instance, if the city receives money for infrastructure improvements, the council would decide what projects and areas to prioritize.
The council is made up 11 members: Julie Eiselt (Mayor Pro Tem); Braxton Winston (At Large); Dimple Ajmera (At Large); Greg Phipps (At Large); Larken Egleston (District 1); Malcolm Graham, (District 2); Victoria Watlington (District 3); Renee Johnson (District 4), Matt Newton (District 5); Tariq Bokhari (District 6); and Edmund H. Driggs (District 7) Each council member is elected to a two-year term.
Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners
The board’s major responsibilities include adopting the annual county budget, setting the county property tax rate, and assessing and establishing priorities on the many community needs, especially those related to health, education, welfare, mental health and the environment. The Board also makes appointments to citizen advisory committees.
Property taxes are used to fund local government services like public education, fire departments, law enforcement, parks and economic development.
The current board of commissioners is made up of nine members: George Dunlap (Chairman, District 3); Elaine Powell (Vice Chair, District 1); Vilma D. Leake (District 2); Mark Jerrell (District 4); Laura Meier (District 5); Susan Rodriguez-McDowell (District 6); Pat Cotham (At-Large); Leigh Altman (At-Large); and Ella B. Scarborough (At-Large). Commissioners are elected to serve two-year terms.
Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court
The clerk of court, part of the North Carolina Judicial Branch, is responsible for all clerical and record-keeping functions of the superior court and district court, according to the UNC School of Government. They also have jurisdiction over certain foreclosures, guardianships, divorces and name changes.
Elisa Chinn Gary, the current clerk, has been in office since 2014. County clerks are elected to serve four-year terms.
Mecklenburg County Sheriff
The sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county, according to the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association. They have the duty to preserve the peace and public order, enforce criminal laws, prevent and detect crime, provide security for courts and serve criminal warrants.
Garry McFadden, the current sheriff, has been in office since 2018. Sheriffs are elected to serve four-year terms.
MORE: How and when to vote
This story was originally published March 3, 2022 at 1:51 PM.
