Who is Les Gladden, candidate for Pineville Town Council?
Name: Leslie R. Gladden
Age as of Nov. 7, 2023: 66
Campaign website or social media page: None
Occupation: Retired Captain/Firefighter with the Charlotte Fire Dept.
Education: 2 years of college
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held)
Served on the Pineville Town Council 1999-2009, 2011-2017 and 2019-present
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
I was a member of the Pineville Volunteer Fire Dept. for 40 years. I held many positions in this time including, chief of the department.
What are, in your view, the most important issues facing Pineville, and what would your approach be to handling them if elected?
At this time, approximately 60% of Pineville’s housing units are rentals. Compared to other cities/towns in the area Pineville, by far, has the highest percentage rental units. Charlotte 47%, Matthews 32% Mint Hill 21%, Belmont 31%. I don’t feel that this is a healthy breakdown of our housing inventory to promote a productive community.
I feel that the best way to correct this trend is to follow the Pineville Zoning Ordinance that is currently in place. We can not continue to approve projects such as the three 3 story apartment buildings just approved by 2 council members and the current mayor in our small downtown area.
Communities across Mecklenburg County have seen growth and development as well as a hot real estate market in recent years. How should Pineville approach development and housing issues?
We should stick to out current zoning ordinance. The zoning regulations are in place to make growth and development more predictable; to help offset concerns related to the stress on streets, infrastructure, and community services and facilities; and to promote health and general welfare throughout Pineville.
What separates you from your opponent(s)?
EXPERIENCE. It is possible that Pineville could end up with a Council with six years total experience. Four of those years would be from one person.
We could also end up with a mayor with only two years of experience from being on the Council. I welcome new people and ideas, but we must maintain some continuity within the board to keep things already in progress moving. That was the idea when we changed to four-year staggered terms.
What one professional or political accomplishment are you most proud of?
My professional accomplishment would being a captain in the Charlotte Fire Dept. For the political side would be that I was able to follow through with helping the town purchase the old Cone Mills property after many years of trying. That property is now slated to become a mixed-use development that will further enhance our downtown area.
This story was originally published October 9, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
