Patrick J. O’Brien, Mint Hill Board of Commissioners candidate, answers our questions
_fitted.jpeg "Patrick J. O’Brien is a candidate for the Mint Hill Board of Commissioners in 2025.")
Name: Patrick J. O’Brien
Age: 68
Campaign website or social media page: Have not yet created a website or Facebook page
Occupation: Accountant/Auditor/Financial Consultant
Education: BS Accounting; Ramapo College of New Jersey
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held)
No
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
I have voted in every election since I was eligible to vote at age 18, and believe I researched issues and candidates to ensure I always made an informed choice when entering the voting booth. Locally I began volunteering by phone banking, canvassing and participating in literature drops for candidates running in local Mecklenburg County, Mint Hill municipal and statewide races.
What are the most important issues facing Mint Hill, and how would you address them?
The most important immediate issue facing Mint Hill voters in this upcoming election is to express their opposition to the proposed transit plan funded by a one-cent increase in the Mecklenburg County sales tax because it does not adequately serve the residents of East Charlotte, Matthews and Mint Hill and locks us into these transit goals for 30 years.
How should Mint Hill handle residential, commercial and industrial development? Should the town change any ordinances or rules to alter how development occurs? If so, what?
Mint Hill needs to evaluate applications for residential, commercial and industrial development plans to ensure they comply with existing zoning standards for land use. In addition, the town must ensure infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer systems adequately supports the increase in population and businesses and includes affordable housing units.
What’s the best thing the Board of Commissioners has done for Mint Hill in the last 4 years? And what’s the worst thing?
The best accomplishments of the Board of Commissioners recently have been the completion of the Fire Station #2 and Public Services Facility on Lebanon Road. It is a shame that the recently opened Splash Pad Park, which does give residents a venue to escape the summer heat, does not include a community pool that would provide an opportunity for children to learn to swim in addition to beating the heat.
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 oppose the referendum and encourage the residents of Mint Hill to send the Mecklenburg County Commission back to the drawing board to examine all possible options to fund the construction of the Silver Line light rail from Matthews to the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in addition to the Red Line light rail from uptown to Mooresville.
What separates you from your opponent(s)?
While I consider myself to be fiscally conservative, I believe that I will be the most progressive voice on the Town Council.
What one professional or political accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am proud of the fact that I canvassed, phone banked and did literature drops for Twanna Henderson in the last election and helped her get elected as the first woman of color on the town council.
