Renee Perkins Johnson, Charlotte City Council District 4 candidate, answers our questions
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Voter Guide 2025: Read answers for Charlotte City Council District 4
The District 4 race, which covers University City, features a rematch between Renee Perkins Johnson and Wil Russell in the Democratic primary.
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To help inform voters in the Sept. 9, 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: Renee’ Perkins Johnson
Email: renee@reneeperkinsjohnson.com
Political party: Democrat
Which position are you running for on the Charlotte City Council?
District 4 Councilmember
Age: 58
Campaign website or social media page: reneeperkinsjohnson.com
Occupation: Elected Official/Nonprofit Executive
Education: M.S., C.B.I.S (Certified Brain Injury Specialist)
Have you run for and/or held elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought and/or held)
Yes. I’ve served as the Charlotte City Council District 4 representative since 2019
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
The highlight of my civic engagement is serving on City Council with a focus on equity, accountability, and community voice. I’ve fought for fair housing, small business support, worker protections, and public safety. As a Human Services professional, I bring a trauma-informed lens to policy, always leading with compassion and purpose to lift up the people of Charlotte.
What are the most important issues facing Charlotte, and how would you address them?
1. Public Safety & Violent Crime
CMPD responds to over a million calls annually, with the region’s highest number of violent incidents. While overall crime has declined in some areas, violent crime, particularly in Uptown, has risen sharply in 2025.
My approach:
- Support strategies to improve officer retention and morale
- Expand community-based public safety programs
- Invest in youth violence prevention and intervention
- Advocate for enhanced mental health and wellness resources for officers
- Hold city leadership accountable for working with CMPD and the FOP to implement meaningful, lasting solutions
2. Traffic Safety & Vision Zero
Traffic-related fatalities, especially those involving pedestrians and cyclists, remain a serious concern.
My approach:
- Push for clear, measurable safety benchmarks across city departments
- Advocate for targeted enforcement in high-risk areas
- Support infrastructure improvements that prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety.
- As a result, I led the charge and championed the City’s only Infrastructure Committee meeting in December 2022
3. Transit, Congestion & Infrastructure
Charlotte’s population growth continues to strain our aging infrastructure and limited transit network—disproportionately impacting underserved communities.
My approach:
- Champion multimodal solutions, including improved bus service and last-mile connectivity
- Push for stronger developer concessions to help fund critical infrastructure
- Lead with equity—ensuring investment in communities long overlooked
- As a result, I led the charge and championed the City’s only Infrastructure Committee meeting in December 2022
- While funding tools like a transit sales tax may be considered, I believe transparency, public trust, and robust community engagement must come first
4. Affordable Housing & Displacement
Charlotte’s rapid development is displacing vulnerable residents and exacerbating income inequality.
My approach:
- Advocate for preserving existing affordable housing
- Require deeper community engagement and accountability from developers
- Expand affordable housing options along growth corridors and transit lines
- I remain focused on equitable development that honors the history, culture, and voices of existing neighborhoods—which is why I founded the District 4 Coalition to bring residents, stakeholders, and leaders together around a shared vision for inclusive growth.
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?
No we did not. However, as a current Council Member, I’m limited in what I can share due to legal and personnel rules. However, I understand why residents have questions. When public dollars are involved, transparency is critical. While I can’t speak to this specific settlement, I’m actively pushing for stronger accountability, greater transparency, and better internal processes. The public deserves confidence in fair and ethical decision-making.
How will you earn public trust in the wake of public controversies that roiled City Council this spring?
Public trust is earned through transparency, accountability, and consistent action. In the wake of recent controversies, I remain committed to restoring confidence in local government by improving how we operate. I was chosen to work with Mayor Lyles to help guide Council forward—focusing on increasing transparency in our processes, strengthening public engagement, and ensuring decisions are made with fairness and integrity.
How will you work to improve transparency within city government?
I will continue to work for a more transparent, timely, and accessible city government—with clear processes and real public accountability. I’ve pushed for stronger accountability from city employees and challenged barriers to open governance, like the rule requiring a majority vote just to add items to the agenda. Because of this consistent advocacy, the Mayor selected me to help lead efforts to move Council forward through this challenging time.
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 believe improving our transportation system is critical to Charlotte’s future. That’s why I championed the creation of the city’s first Infrastructure meeting in 2022 to ensure our investments are guided by long-term planning, transparency, and equity. As for the proposed sales tax referendum, I want to fully review the final plan, hear from residents, and ensure it delivers clear, equitable, and accountable outcomes before deciding how I’ll vote.
Is there an area where you disagree with your party on local or state issues? Why?
Yes. I’ve disagreed with local party leadership at times, particularly around how certain internal matters were handled. I believe in transparency, accountability, and putting the community first. That’s why I was happy to support a change in leadership that better reflects those values.
What separates you from your opponent(s)?
What separates me from my opponent is experience, independence, and perspective. I’ve served on City Council for five years, consistently advocating for equity and community voice. As a construction leader backed by the establishment, he benefits from the city’s explosive growth. I lead a nonprofit that serves many displaced by it. As a former Realtor & nonprofit leader, I understand both economic growth and its human impact. I lead with people first. Not profit or politics.
What one professional or political accomplishment are you most proud of?
My greatest accomplishment is earning the continued trust and support of District 4 residents. Since 2019, I’ve worked to challenge the status quo and advocate for equity, transparency, and stronger community engagement. Despite political pushback and misinformation, I’ve stayed focused on delivering results. I’m honored that voters continue to believe in my leadership and our shared vision for the district.
This story was originally published August 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM.
