Tigress Sydney Acute McDaniel, Charlotte mayor candidate, answers our questions
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Voter Guide 2025: Read answers for Charlotte mayor
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles is seeking a fifth term at the head of city government and facing four challengers in the Democratic primary. The winner will advance to the general election, where challengers from the Republican and Libertarian parties await. Lyles did not respond to The Charlotte Observer’s questionnaire.
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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: Dr. Tigress Sydney Acute McDaniel, JD
Email: seetigressrun@gmail.com
Political party: Democrat
Age: 48
Campaign website or social media page: www.theseetigressrun.com
Occupation: Scientist, Economist, Business Owner and Lawyer pursuing license to practice law (CA first)
Education: Doctoral Scientist and Economist, MS in Ag Econ and Rural Development, BS in Ag Ed and EnviroScience and Juris Doctorate
Have you run for and/or held elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought and/or held)
I’ve run, but not yet held elected office.
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
I’ve served as Ombudsman, Finance Committee Chair and Parliamentarian for various social relief and civil rights advocacy organizations and performing arts based non-profits.
What are the most important issues facing Charlotte, and how would you address them as mayor?
Environmental Sustainability and Climate Crisis, Budget and Infrastructure, Personnel Management and Collaboration, Housing and Economic Stability, Cultural Division, Disunity and Inequity
What strengths do you bring to the position that set you apart from your opponents?
Unrivaled and unique interdisciplinary academia and expertise, excellent conflict resolution skills, and ethical rigor
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?
We need more disclosure before any such determination can be made affirmatively, but generally no - specifically as to the pattern poor relations between city government and high level officials. From the lens of a Juris Doctorate and thus a lawyer (pursuing license to practice), settlements work that way - and are NOT an indication of admission of liability and instead a private contract allowed by law for parties to resolve their dispute(s). The issue here, of course, is that there’s a bigger picture at play for which affected city officials and the public at large “deserve/d” to know what happened.
How will you work to improve transparency within city government?
Foremost, exemplify transparency myself to set or rather raise the standard. Create a safe environment for collaboration, objective truth and interdiscplinary strategic planning
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’ve been very vocal about this. I cannot deny that money and even MORE money is necessary for infrastructural development and upfit. However, I vehemently reject the abuse of money; reality is that this tax referendum, & PAVE Act from which it arises, is another show of budgetary incompetence. The bill is already ratified. We STILL have so many projects to complete for our city goals. I’m conflicted. Then, there’s the TEI component (Trump, Elon & Insurrectionists); the tax referendum lines the pockets of Carolinas AGC & similarly non-DEI construction companies. If they’d only do what they’ve said they’d do and “right” the first time, they can very likely still remain rich. But we can’t keep voting YES for taxes and borrowing billions, and Charlotte still looks like it’s in a forever recession.
This story was originally published August 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
