An Evening with Charlotte's Mayors - May 21

If you're civic-minded, politically engaged, or just want to get more insight into the well-being and future of Charlotte, there's a great event coming up that you should mark your calendar to attend. An Evening with Charlotte's Mayors is a free public forum, taking place Tuesday, May 21, 7 p.m. at Dale F. Halton Theater at Central Piedmont Community College (1206 Elizabeth Ave.). All six of Charlotte's living mayors will be on the panel: current Mayor Anthony Foxx (who's leaving his post soon to join the Obama Administration) and former mayors: North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, Richard Vinroot, former U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick, Harvey Gantt, and Eddie Knox.

Charlotte mayors present and past. Top, left to right: Mayor Anthony Foxx, Gov. Pat McCrory, Richard Vinroot; bottom: Sue Myrick, Harvey Gantt, and Eddie Knox.

The forum is billed as an "historic discussion [that] comes at an intriguing time in Charlotte's history. A crucial mayoral election looms while concerns swirl over the city's future: growth without annexation, the widening gap between the affluent and poor, and rising tensions over control of the airport and a persistently high unemployment rate." Award-winning documentarian and TV journalist Steve Crump will moderate the evening, and audience members will be allowed to ask questions.

The event is free to attend, but registration is required by clicking here.  Doors will open at 6 p.m., the forum begins at 7, and a dessert, wine, and coffee reception will follow. The event is sponsored by The Charlotte Observer, PNC Bank, and CPCC.

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Is Pat McCrory Hesitant to Say 'Charlotte' in TV Ads?

Pat McCrory was mayor of Charlotte from 1995 to 2009, holding office for a city-record seven terms. In my opinion, he was an effective mayor and should be credited for spearheading and championing a lot of the successful growth Charlotte experienced during the last decade. His successor, Mayor Anthony Foxx, has done a good job as well and has helped lead the city out of the recession. See what I just did? I complimented two political leaders, one who's a Republican (McCrory) and one who's a Democrat (Foxx). I wish more of you what push your partisan views (and hate) aside and give credit where it's due. But on to my point.

McCrory is in the homestretch of his second run for governor of North Carolina. He lost to Bev Perdue in 2008. This time around, McCrory is facing Walter Dalton, the Democratic nominee and current lieutenant governor of the state. McCrory has a sizable lead in the polls I've seen, but the 2012 NC gubernatorial race will probably end up being closer, influenced by voter turnout and the majority of people voting straight-party. McCrory appears to be outspending Dalton, at least that's how it seems regarding the number of TV ads by him I've been seeing lately, which led to something else I noticed.

Does Pat McCrory have a problem saying "Charlotte"? Check out two of his recent commercials (here and here, or watch below), where he touts his tenure as mayor but doesn't name the city.

It seems odd to me that McCrory doesn't say Charlotte in those ads, which are two of the last three TV ads he's released. In the other one, Charlotte is mentioned, but by someone else, in that not-intended-to-be-funny-but-kinda-is-ad featuring former Wilson, NC Sheriff Wayne Gay, who says McCrory "did great as mayor of Charlotte. He'll do great with our state, or I'll hunt him down."

Perhaps McCrory is concerned about any perceived Charlotte stigma negatively affecting his appeal to voters across this large, diverse state of ours. Plus, former Charlotte mayors don't have a good track record of seeking higher office, such as Harvey Gantt's (D) two failed runs for U.S. Senate (1990 and 1996), Sue Myrick's (R) unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate in 1992 (though she would be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 and hold that seat until she announced her retirement in 2012), Richard Vinroot's (R) three failed attempts to become NC governor (1996, 2000, and 2004) and McCrory's own unsuccessful 2008 run.

Still, c'mon Pat, represent for the Queen City!

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10 Reasons Why Anthony Foxx Will Be Charlotte's Next Mayor

I attended the "Young Professionals for Anthony Foxx Meet and Greet" that was held at Loft 1523 on last evening. A crowd of about 150 young professionals turned out to mingle, network, and hear Foxx discuss his platform.

Foxx speaking at a campaign event earlier this year.

Based on what I heard and saw last evening, here are 10 reasons why I believe City Councilman Anthony Foxx will be elected Charlotte's next mayor this November.

• Foxx and his campaign are taking several pages from President Barack Obama's campaign playbook. And the most important chapter is on the importance of mobilizing people on the ground.
• Not to draw too many Obama comparisons, but Foxx is talking a lot about change, which is something that struck a chord with voters last November.
• Foxx is a Democrat, and that party is ascending in Charlotte.
• This election, unfortunately, will end up being about race. Race won't be the only factor, but it will play a pivotal role. Foxx is seeking to become just Charlotte's second African-American mayor, a feat not accomplished since Harvey Gantt was elected in 1983. Charlotte's voting demographic has changed a lot since then, which will work in Foxx's favor. He will easily garner the African-American vote and from what I could see from the enthusiastic crowd last evening, he'll probably get a large percentage of the white vote as well. The Hispanic vote may prove to be the deciding factor in this election.
• No more McCrory. Pat McCrory, a Republican and Charlotte's longest serving mayor in history, announced last year that he would not be seeking an eighth term. This not only propelled Foxx to decide to run, but with the unbeatable McCrory (in mayoral elections anyway) out of the picture it has opened the door for a Democrat to take the seat, which they haven't held since Gantt.
• Foxx is young (38) and will be able to connect easier with the all-important 18 to 35 vote. Charlotte, by the way, is the third fastest-growing city for people ages 25 to 39.
• His platform, as he talked briefly about at the event, focuses heavily on creating opportunities for all Charlotteans, creating jobs, improving education for children, and preaching social responsibility. While Foxx's opponents will also talk a lot about job creation, which will resonate with residents during this recession, his other issues show that he wants to unite people and I think that's what Charlotteans want right now.
• His campaign video is inspiring.
• He has a beautiful family (a wife and two kids).
• And the number one reason Anthony Foxx will be elected Charlotte's next mayor: He's a Charlotte native with a terrific story. Not only do we not encounter many Charlotte natives these days (I always say that only 2 out of every 10 people I meet in Charlotte are actually from here), but we have even fewer in leadership positions. Foxx has a great story that shows what a person can accomplish with hard work, talent, and ambition. As he remarked last evening, he grew up in a neighborhood off Beatties Ford Road, where he wasn't expected to succeed. After graduating from West Charlotte High School, he then went on to graduate from Davidson College (where he served as student body president), and got his law degree from NYU. He's been a successful attorney for the last 13 years, and a city councilman since 2005.

For more on Foxx's campaign, visit www.anthonyfoxx.com.

If you want to learn about his opponent, Republican John Lassiter, visit www.votelassiter.com.

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A Great Night for 'Changing Places'

Last evening I attended the opening reception for Changing Places: From Black and White to Technicolor at the Levine Museum of the New South. The new exhibit is the centerpiece of a yearlong project that is "exploring how people in the Charlotte region are dealing with the growing cultural diversity and change created by the influx of newcomers from across the U.S. and around the globe." The museum is touting it as its most ambitious project to date, and I believe it based on the excellent opening.

Photos by Ron J.Deshaies/Treasured Events of Charlotte

A few hundred Charlotteans from all backgrounds attended and we started by filling out name tags on which we listed where we're originally from. That struck up many conversations throughout the evening, as it was intended. I talked to a nice lady who came up to me because my name tag said South Carolina. She was an SC native too and told me that she used to teach at a school near where I grew up, and that it was before desegregation. You couldn't have picked a more fitting place for this conversation than the Levine Museum of the New South. Coincidentally, part of the exhibit includes a "video-talkback," in which visitors can record their responses to questions and those responses will become part of the exhibit, with the purpose of creating an ongoing conversation between newcomers and longtime residents.

Several business, arts, and government leaders were there, including city councilman and newly announced mayoral candidate John Lassiter. (Johnnyboy has big shoes to fill because outgoing Mayor Pat McCrory is known for always being present at public events like this. You gotta get on the ball, Anthony Foxx.)

The highlight of the evening was the entertainment. Dancers and musicians from various cultures, from pop-and-lock to mariachi, epitomized the new exhibit. I always feel smarter and more cultured when I attend a museum event--it's something about knowing that I chose to come here over going to see a movie or something. The Levine really does offer great programming throughout the year and it's one of the most affordable forms of entertainment, which can be a particularly great option during this recession. And opening nights are always tops. It's a great chance to meet new people and converse with a glass of wine in hand. Plus, I've mastered the art of attracting the servers carrying the passed hors d'oeuvres.

Changing Places: From Black and White to Technicolor officially kicked off today during a free community day at the museum. Click here to visit the museum's website for more details on the exhibit and its related programming. There's a community conversation event taking place Wednesday.

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