Chris Carney, incumbent mayor of Mooresville, answers our questions
To help inform voters in the Nov. 4, 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.
Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney will make what he says will be his only and last reelection bid in the Nov. 4 municipal election.
Name: Chris Carney.
Age, as of Nov. 4, 2025: 54
Campaign website: mayorcarney.com.
Occupation: Owner, Strategic Capital Solutions. Former Navy Seabee, 1991-1999.
Have you run for elected office before?
Yes. In 2005, I was elected as Ward 4 Mooresville commissioner and was reelected in 2009. Fellow commissioners selected me to be mayor pro-tem. Then, I was appointed to the N.C. Senate, serving from 2011 to 2013 representing Iredell, Lincoln and Gaston counties. I served on the education, health care and finance committees and was vice chairman of transportation. I lost my reelection bid and am serving my first term as mayor of Mooresville.
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
Charter member, Top of the Lake – Mooresville Rotary Club. Town appointments: Liaison to the Audit/Finance/Insurance Committee; Centralina Regional Council/CEDC; Finance Committee; Iredell County commissioners; Mooresville Housing Authority; Nominating Committee; Personnel Committee; Public Safety Committee; and Senior Roundtable; Board Representative on the Mooresville Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan Community Advisory Committee.
What is your vision for Mooresville’s future?
My vision starts with growing a strong local economy that gives every family a shot at the American Dream. That means recruiting corporate headquarters and creating more skilled jobs here in Mooresville. Instead of government forcing higher wages — which often drives up costs — we should focus on bringing in companies that pay well and offer real opportunities for people to build a better future.
How should Mooresville best handle traffic and other growth challenges?
The best way to tackle traffic and growth is to keep building on the progress we’ve made. We rewrote ordinances that once allowed dense development with little road work — and it’s working. From 5,000 apartments approved before 2023 to just 60 since. By partnering with state and federal leaders and holding developers accountable, we’ve secured $450 million in road projects, easing congestion now and paving the way for improvements to our secondary roads next.
What differentiates you from the other candidates?
What sets me apart is simple: I’ve delivered on my promises. We reformed bad development policies, secured $450 million in road funding, made public safety a top priority, and brought in better-paying jobs. We’ve also invested in parks, events, and projects that make Mooresville an even better place to call home. I promised to give 100% as your mayor — and I have. With a second term, I’ll keep building on that progress and preparing our town for the future.
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM.