Warren Turner, Charlotte City Council District 3 candidate, answers our questions
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Voter Guide 2025: Read answers for Charlotte City Council District 3
West Charlotte’s District 3 features a Democratic primary contest between incumbent Tiawana Brown as well as challengers Montravias King, Joi Mayo and Warren F. Turner. King has suspended his campaign and endorsed Brown, but King will still appear on ballots. The election is complicated by the fact that Brown faces felony fraud charges, which could force her to resign or drop out of the race if convicted. Brown has not been convicted of any crime associated with her recent charges.
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Tiawana Brown, Charlotte City Council District 3 candidate, answers our questions
Warren Turner, Charlotte City Council District 3 candidate, answers our questions
Joi Mayo, Charlotte City Council District 3 candidate, answers our questions
Montravias King, Charlotte City Council District 3 candidate, answers our questions
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: Warren Turner
Email: district3_turner@yahoo.com
Political party: Democratic
Which position are you running for on the Charlotte City Council? District-3 city council
Birth date: Candidate did not answer.
Campaign website or social media page: warrenturner.cc
Occupation: Retired, North Carolina Department of Public Safety (chief probation officer)
Education: BS in Political Science
Have you run for and/or held elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought and/or held)
Charlotte City Council for 8 years
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
Member, Steele Creek Association; Member and Advisor, Southwest Area Neighborhood Coalition (SWAN); LIFE Member, Second Ward High School Alumni Association; Life Member BPC; Member, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated; Former Membership Chair, Fayetteville State University National Alumni Association (Charlotte Chapter); Ordained Deacon
What are the most important issues facing Charlotte, and how would you address them?
Safeguarding the City of Charlotte brand and protecting the Charlotte Douglas International Airport are key priorities. There is also an urgent need to address rising crime rates and the displacement of senior citizens and youth due to housing affordability challenges. We propose establishing a Homestead Act tailored to our community, designed to protect current and prospective homeowners from the financial impact of increasing home values and property taxes—particularly in established neighborhoods experiencing significant tax reassessments as larger, new homes are constructed among older, smaller units. Additionally, we recommend hiring more police officers and restoring community policing initiatives to previous levels, shifting from a reactive to a proactive approach to public safety. This measure would directly support residents affected by higher property prices and taxes resulting from new developments in older communities.
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?
Due to insufficient transparency, I will not make a judgment on this matter.
How will you earn public trust in the wake of public controversies that roiled City Council this spring?
I believe the city should be transparent whenever allowed by law. Leadership should issue a public announcement outlining next steps and an expected timeline.
How will you work to improve transparency within city government?
Conducting ethics workshops and providing reminders to leadership about their responsibilities to the citizens of Charlotte.
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 currently reviewing the package, which addresses various needs in our city, including improvements to roads and sidewalks. It also considers enhancements to public transportation, particularly relating to bus routes. It is important to understand the implications this may have for Cats once a Transit Authority is established.
Is there an area where you disagree with your party on local or state issues? Why?
While I wouldn’t say we disagree, I do think we’re not doing enough to protect the environment. We should take stronger action toward achieving carbon neutrality at all levels of government.
What separates you from your opponent(s)?
I offer proven leadership from my city council tenure, where I led transportation improvements as Vice Chairman by overseeing the initial 9.2 miles of light rail. As Chair of Public Safety, I addressed gang violence, reduced homicides, tackled drug houses and prostitution, and established Prostitution Exclusion Zones. I also drove economic development projects, including bringing the Wal-Mart Center, Bryant Park, Rivergate, City Park and more to Charlotte.
What one professional or political accomplishment are you most proud of?
I transformed a district that once struggled with high crime and unemployment, bringing economic development and new housing to areas like Morehead, Freedom, Wilkinson Blvd, and West Blvd. I am proud of this turnaround, but we must continue protecting these gains from rising crime that threatens Charlotte’s prosperity.
This story was originally published August 12, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
