Michael Osborne, Cornelius commission candidate, answers our questions
To help inform voters in the Nov. 5, 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: Michael Osborne
Age: 55
Campaign website or social media page: www.electosborne.com
Occupation: Entrepreneur
Education: MBA Business Administration, Wake Forest.
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held) 21’ Town of Cornelius Commissioner. 23’ Town of Cornelius Commissioner
Please list your highlights of civic involvement Teamwork drives success. Initiatives I led or strongly supported: Led citizen Land Use Plan task force protecting town character - first in region. Secured $20M+ road improvement grants - highest in town history. Fully funded police/fire departments - reversed years of underfunding. Transformed Transportation Advisory Board into solution-focused, efficient body. Launched region’s first community-driven AI Summit via Chamber, positioning Cornelius as innovation leader.
What are the most important issues facing Cornelius today, and how would you address them? Key Priorities: Quality of Life: Manage growth with high standards protecting our character Public Safety: Fully fund Police, Fire, Town Staff Support Local: Town-staffed EDC to attract new economy jobs, complementary businesses, responsible tourism with minimal infrastructure impact; Jetton social district; downtown parking Infrastructure: State/federal funding; Transportation Board for connectivity; alternative routes Parks: Aggressively acquire land before it’s gone
How would you ensure Cornelius’ growth doesn’t outpace its infrastructure? Follow the Growth Management Task Force’s Land Use Plan—strategically placing development where it belongs and removing it from where it doesn’t. We’ve adopted Downtown and Parks Master Plans including land acquisition. But, plans on shelves don’t protect our town. I’ll drive the hard work of turning these plans into reality while pursuing alternative infrastructure funding. Already secured $20M+ in grants. Implementation, not just planning, is key to managing growth.
Do you support implementing a local sales tax to fund transit improvements? Why or why not?
NC has $11B road shortfall—no help coming. All Cornelius approved development (2,200 units, 340k sq ft commercial), if developed today, generates only $2M revenue before expenses, yet needs major infrastructure. In addition to rail benefits, the sales tax would provide $5M-$6M annually with no offsetting expenses. Options: sales tax (visitors help pay), property tax hike (residents alone), or fall further behind.
Why should voters choose you over others who are in the race?
Two-term commissioner with proven record of listening and protecting quality of life. Led citizen-driven Growth Management Task Force that designed our current Land Use Plan. Results: 3 Centralina excellence and quality of life awards—most ever in 2-year span; state’s 1st community driven AI Summit via Chamber; $20M+ grants for roads secured—town record. I have the experience to transform citizen-supported plans into reality. I get results and will achieve our shared vision for better Cornelius.
This story was originally published October 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
