LaWana Slack-Mayfield, Charlotte City Council at-large candidate, answers our questions
To help inform voters in the Nov. 4, 2025, election, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The Charlotte Observer to help make this coverage possible.
Name: LaWana Slack-Mayfield
Email: mayfield4councilatlarge@gmail.com
Political party: Democrat
Which position are you running for on the Charlotte City Council? City Council At-Large
Age: 55
Campaign website or social media page www.votelawanamayfield.com
Occupation: Elected Official/Student
Education AAS, AA, NCCER, OSHA 10 & 30
Have you run for and/or held elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought and/or held)
2011-2019 Council District 3, 2022-present Council At-Large
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
Leading the “Faith in Housing Initiative”, moved for $1.5 Million over 3-years to assist city employees facing financial hardships in our most recent budget, host the first Youth “Domestic Violence Prevention” town hall for both young women and & young men 13-18 as a sitting council-member. Volunteer in community for LGBT+ MeckDems, Charlotte Black Pride, NC International Minority Coalition.
What are the most important issues facing Charlotte, and how would you address them?
All issues are important, we are one of the fastest growing cities in the Nation. Increased crime with a limited police for of under 2,000 for a city/county over 1 million, our infrastructure and the sink holes created from failing underground pipes failing. We need to pause developing long enough to not only address our failing infrastructure we need to identify and implement the plan of replacing all of our failing infrastructure.
The city of Charlotte provided CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings with more than $305,000 in a deal reached during a private meeting – details of which were not available until news outlets started reporting on the issue. Did the city handle this correctly based on what the public knows about the situation? Why or why not?
As this was a closed session discussion for Council members I feel it was not handled correctly since a council member choose to share the information with the media to gain some type of media favor, nor do I agree that little to No attention was paid to a sitting elected official threatening a city employee which was clear harassment and a mis-use of their elected powers.
How will you earn public trust in the wake of public controversies that roiled City Council this spring?
My work stands for itself, although we will. not always agree my work in the community has and will continue to be transparent with with integrity. We do need more transparency and I have had conversations with the current Mayor and suggested ways to be more transparent with community and Council.
How will you work to improve transparency within city government?
Unfortunately individual members have created challenges, their are “closed session” meetings for a meeting just as if any of you were seeking other employment you would expect that the potential employer would not contact your current employer to advise them you are seeking other opportunities. I believe council will have better transparency when members take the time to learn the laws that govern us and manuever with other from a place of truth vs personal gain.
The General Assembly has given Mecklenburg County permission to put a referendum on the ballot to raise the county’s sales tax to fund road, rail and bus projects. Will you vote in favor of the referendum? Why or why not?
I am still listening to residents regarding their concerns, once I have a clear understanding of the true community impact ie...”prepared food tax & how it could affect our unhoused residents” I will make my decision.
Is there an area where you disagree with your party on local or state issues? Why? Daily, I have voted no on numerous projects brought before council and shared at the time of the vote my concerns with moving forward. Unfortunately, concerns I addressed years ago have come to fruition suchas how communities identified at “corridors of opportunity” has opened the door for large displacement of residents.
What separates you from your opponent(s)?
My track record, the creation of programs that have benefited the working class and small business owners in our community. I also believe that fact that I have been very direct and transparent with community and the fact that they don’t have to worry if I am saying what they want to hear and not following up.
What one professional or political accomplishment are you most proud of?
most recently it will be ensuring our most vulnerable city employees will have access to $1.5 Million over the next. 3-years to help them with financial obstacles.
This story was originally published August 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
