Charlotte Observer endorsements: Our choices in Mecklenburg County races

Elections for the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners tend to get less attention than Charlotte City Council and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board, but the county commission’s work is no less important.

Education, public safety and growth continue to be top priorities for commissioners, as they also fulfill responsibilities for approving funding for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and other county services.

As always, the Editorial Board makes endorsements only in contested races. The county commission has three at-large members who represent the entire county, and three candidates are running for those seats: incumbents Arthur Griffin, Jr. and Leigh Altman, as well as Yvette Townsend-Ingram, who defeated longtime commissioner Pat Cotham in March’s Democratic primary. Since they’re virtually guaranteed election to the board, we make no endorsement in that race.

Here are our recommendations in contested district races:

District 1

In this north Mecklenburg district, incumbent Elaine Powell faces a challenge from Republican Aaron R. Marin.

Since she was first elected in 2018, Powell has been among the board’s fiercest advocates for parks and the environment. She’s had a positive influence on promising improvement of parks and recreation in Mecklenburg County, and she places a lot of value on community engagement and making sure the voices of her constituents are heard.

Marin did not respond to an interview request from the Editorial Board, but his website says he’d prioritize parks, safety and economic growth. We recommend Powell for another term.

District 2

Longtime incumbent Vilma Leake is running for reelection in her west Mecklenburg district against Republican Angela Edwards, who has previously challenged Leake as a Democrat.

Leake has long been a divisive figure on the board, but she has also been a strong advocate for underrepresented communities, particularly the county’s Black residents, and she remains active in the community. She did not respond to an interview request from the Editorial Board. Edwards does not have a strong grasp of the issues facing her district or the county. We believe Leake is the better choice for voters in this district.

District 5

Incumbent Laura Meier is running for a third term in her district, which includes the South Park area. Her opponent is Republican Art McCulloch, an anesthesiologist.

Meier has ably served not only her district, but all of Mecklenburg County. She’s emerged as a leader on key issues like mental health and education, including through her advocacy for the proposed Katie Blessing Center, which would be the largest pediatric behavioral health care facility in North Carolina.

McCulloch would bring a fiscally conservative voice to the board, but he lacks the same experience and understanding of the county and district’s needs. We recommend Meier.

District 6

In this south Mecklenburg district, incumbent Susan Rodriguez-McDowell is running against Republican business owner Jim Marascio.

Rodriguez-McDowell has been an impressive commissioner in her three terms on the board, carving a role for herself on issues like education and child welfare. She’s also helped to repair the fractured relationship between commissioners and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Marascio is a fiscal conservative who says he wants to see greater accountability attached to the county’s spending. He has a history of community involvement, having previously served on advisory committees and task forces for the city of Charlotte.

Both Rodriguez-McDowell and Marascio would be capable representatives for this politically diverse district, and we’ve long touted the importance of having ideological diversity on a board that currently lacks a single Republican. Marascio would be a viable, thoughtful member of the board, but Rodriguez-McDowell has proven that she is as well, and she deserves another term. We recommend Rodriguez-McDowell.

Mecklenburg County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor

This nonpartisan office assists county residents with stormwater and natural resource issues. Three candidates are running: Tigress Sydney Acute McDaniel, Mitchell Mullen and Lisa Rudisill. Mullen, who has a background in civil engineering, stands out as the best choice. He has a clear passion for the environment and a strong grasp of what the office requires — along with a desire to increase public awareness about the work that it does. We recommend Mullen.

This story was originally published October 17, 2024 at 10:32 AM.