Endorsements: Our choices for 2023 Charlotte City Council primary elections

After a shorter-than-usual term, Charlotte will once again vote for a new city council in the 2023 election cycle. With most incumbents defending their seats in the Sept. 12 primary, voters will make a decision about whether change is needed on a council that has trudged through issues surrounding transit, development and housing.

Here are our recommendations in contested Democratic primary races. (Unlike last year, there are no Republican primaries on the ballot.)

At-large

In the Democratic primary, six candidates are competing for the council’s four at-large seats. Current at-large reps Dimple Ajmera, James “Smuggie” Mitchell and LaWana Slack-Mayfield are the three incumbents in the race, as Mayor Pro Tem Braxton Winston is running for labor commissioner in 2024. Rounding out the field is current District 3 representative Victoria Watlington, UNCC student Ben Copeland and community leader Charlene Henderson El.

Ajmera, the top vote-getter in last year’s race, has grown into her role on the council and proven herself to be a dedicated civil servant. While Mitchell’s return to council last year was overshadowed by questions about his business ownership, he is an astute, collegial representative with a deep understanding of the issues our city faces.

Slack-Mayfield puts a lot of work into her role, and it shows. Her strong advocacy and bold leadership serves Charlotte well. Watlington continues to be a sharp, independent voice on a council that often feels homogeneous. Voters should feel comfortable electing her to serve an at-large term.

We recommend Ajmera, Mitchell, Slack-Mayfield and Watlington. Copeland, however, is a thoughtful and promising candidate, and we hope he continues to pursue leadership roles in the community.

District 2

Incumbent Malcolm Graham is challenged by Gary Young, former chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce, in this district north and west of Uptown.

Young is a solid candidate who displays both the passion and knowledge necessary to be a good council member. But Graham is an effective leader on council and has a proven record of getting things done for his district and the city as a whole, including his more recent efforts to bring professional tennis to Charlotte. He deserves another term.

District 3

Three candidates are running to fill Watlington’s seat in this west Charlotte district, including former District 3 councilman Warren F. Turner. Turner left office in 2011, a year after he was accused of sexual harassment by at least six women, all of them city employees. Turner has declined to discuss his past with local media, despite the fact that it is highly relevant to his candidacy. We believe that’s disqualifying.

The other two candidates in the race are Tiawana Brown, a community advocate whose nonprofit, Beauty After the Bars, provides assistance to formerly incarcerated women, and Melinda Lilly, former chair of the LGBTQ+ Democrats of Mecklenburg County. Both would be capable in the role, but we recommend Brown, who promises to be a highly visible and accessible representative for her district.

District 4

Incumbent Renee Perkins Johnson is challenged by Wil Russell, a construction manager who earned an unexpected endorsement from Mayor Vi Lyles, and Olivia Scott. Scott declined to participate in an endorsement interview with the Editorial Board.

Russell would bring an impressive breadth of experience to the role, having served on the UDO advisory committee and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission, as well as the board of directors of Sustain Charlotte.

While Johnson is a passionate advocate for what she believes is best for her district, Russell offers a perspective that the current council lacks — and needs. We recommend Russell.

District 5

Voters have a tough choice to make in this district. Incumbent Marjorie Molina is hoping to be elected to a full term after joining council last year. As a Black woman and fluent Spanish speaker, Molina provides important representation for her diverse district. She has spent much of her abbreviated term focused on the Eastland Mall redevelopment — an issue that’s critically important to her district — but her handling of the situation has upset her opponents and many of her constituents.

A broad coalition of east Charlotte residents feel as though Molina let them down by not supporting the indoor sports complex, and she owes them an explanation. We’re also skeptical of Monday’s unanimous motion to further delay a decision on a project that residents have awaited for far too long already, especially ahead of a primary that for most incumbents will be more competitive than the general election.

Voters have two other choices in community activist Curtis Hayes Jr. and entrepreneur Vinroy Reid, both of whom ran for this seat in 2022. Despite Molina’s handling of the Eastland project, but she has otherwise been a good representative and deserves an opportunity to grow into the role. We recommend Molina.