A Guide to Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s 2025 Local Elections
Who is running and where
It’s that time of year again, folks. If you didn’t get the chance to vote in the primaries in September — and with an 8% turnout, we know a lot of you didn’t — now is the time to make up for it.
This year’s general election will decide who represents you on Charlotte City Council and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education (BOE).
No matter who you vote for, please do so with an educated conscience, whether that be through the guide we’ve put together below or through your own research.
- Early voting will start on Oct. 16 and last through Nov. 1. Find your most convenient early voting polling location here.
- Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 4. On that day, you’ll have to vote at your assigned precinct. Find it here.
- Check your voter registration and find out which districts you live in here.
Charlotte City Council & Mayoral Elections
MAYOR
Vi Lyles (D)*
Vi Lyles is running for her fifth term as mayor of the Queen City. From expanding affordable housing to improving public safety and investing in Charlotte’s infrastructure, she says that she is delivering real results.
“But, there is still work to do – and I’m ready to keep doing it,” Lyles said on her Facebook page.
Lyles and a few council members were subject to a recent controversy when they voted in a closed meeting to approve a settlement for CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings as a proactive measure of appeasement for the chief, who had threatened to sue the city for harassing texts he received from then-council member Tariq Bokhari in 2024.
Lyles has stood by the decision to settle with Jennings and this campaign season appears to be focused on lobbying for the passage of the one-cent sales tax referendum to fund the city’s transit plan.
Rob Yates (L)
Rob Yates is the only Libertarian on the ballot and believes that the best person to make decisions on what is best for you is you.
“If you want to trust an expert, then you should be able to, but we wholeheartedly and utterly reject the idea that an appointed bureaucrat or a politician who campaigned solely to get elected has the authority to violate your personal or bodily autonomy,” his website reads.
Yates has served as the Charlotte chair and the North Carolina co-chair for the Foundation Against Racism and Intolerance for nearly five years, participated in community walks and fundraising for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and works as the communications director for the Libertarian Party of North Carolina. His mayoral campaign platform centers on electoral reform, affordable housing, transportation and public safety.
Terrie D. Donovan (R)
Terrie Donovan is a small business owner and real estate agent whose platform centers on public safety, prioritizing more funding for police, stricter enforcement of our current laws, support for victims’ rights and promoting more after-school and mentorship programs, according to her X account.
Donovan recently voiced her support for the Charlotte Fraternal Order of Police’s request that the National Guard be sent to Charlotte in the wake of Iryna Zarutska’s murder, posting an AI-generated photo of Charlie Kirk embracing Zarutska in the moments leading up to her death on Facebook.
CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL AT-LARGE
Dimple Ajmera (D)*
Dimple Ajmera was the first Asian-American and youngest woman to be elected to Charlotte City Council. The four-term incumbent immigrated to the US at age 16 and started a successful career in finance. She represented District 5 in east Charlotte before winning her at-large race on a platform of public safety, sustainable infrastructure, affordable housing and economic opportunities.
“I ran – and won – my race on a proven record of achievements that include Public Safety, Affordable Housing, the Environment, Women’s Equality, Economic Development, and Infrastructure,” she writes on her website.
James “Smuggie” Mitchell Jr. (D)*
West Charlotte High School alumni and incumbent James “Smuggie” Mitchell spent much of his career working in construction as director of business development for Barton Maslow and president of R.J. Leeper Construction — a position that led Mitchell to resign from City Council in 2021 following stakeholder concerns related to the firm’s work with the city. He was reelected to council in 2022 and cleared of any wrongdoing by the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office in 2023.
Read more: James ‘Smuggie’ Mitchell Cleared of Wrongdoing (2023)
“Mitchell has always been a servant leader, after a brief absence from public office he decided there is more work to do in Charlotte,” reads his website. “It is because of that love of service that Mitchell filed to run and won an at-large seat in the 2022 elections.”
Mitchell has served as vice president of the Black Political Caucus and has the organization’s endorsement this election. He currently works as director of business development at McFarland Construction.
LaWana Slack-Mayfield (D)*
Incumbent LaWana Slack-Mayfield served as a District 3 representative for eight years before taking a three-year hiatus then winning her at-large seat in 2022. Mayfield is endorsed by several LGBTQ+ organizations, the Charlotte-Metrolina Labor Council and the Black Political Caucus.
Her priority issues include affordable housing, economic development, employment opportunities, and ending racial and gender bias to “create a city that is truly ‘Welcome to all,’” her website states. “I don’t play the game of politics. I do the work of service.”
Listen: Nooze Hounds: At-Large City Council Rep LaWana Mayfield (2023)
Victoria Watlington (D)*
Incumbent Dr. Victoria Watlington is a licensed professional engineer and certified project manager. She joined the council in 2019 as a District 3 representative before winning an at-large seat in 2023. Her platform includes building strong neighborhoods, engaging community leaders, infrastructure and investing in workforce development.
“Charlotte is in the midst of a leadership transition,” her website says. “I want your support to be that pragmatic, progressive, professional leader that our community deserves.”
In May, Watlington called actions by the council “unethical, immoral, and frankly, illegal” in relation to Jennings’ settlement, though she has since walked back that language a bit. Regardless, she was not in support of the settlement as approved by the majority of her fellow council members.
Read more: Mayor, Council Members Denounce Watlington’s Claims of Illegal Behavior
Misun Kim (R)
Born and raised in South Korea, Misun Kim immigrated to America in 1991 and became a small business owner in 1992. A single mother to two adult children, Kim “understands the challenges working families face and brings a deeply personal perspective to public service,” her website said.
Despite being an immigrant herself, Kim wrote on Facebook about her beliefs that undocumented immigrants “knowingly contravened the law” by entering the country, so even children of undocumented immigrants should be sent back to their parent’s home country because, though they may “not have committed a crime, … they are part of a family that has broken the law.” She added (wrongly) that undocumented immigrants utilize public resources without contributing to the tax base.
Kim is a proud supporter of Donald Trump, has spoken against allowing transgender folks to work as teachers or public service providers, criticized DEI initiatives and appears to oppose vaccines. She recently shared the “uplifting story” of her son, who previously identified as gay but has since “undergone a significant transformation” and is now engaged to a woman.
“As they prepare to get married, I am reminded of the incredible power of prayer and the love and support of our family and friends, including my biostatic group,” Kim said on Facebook. “This remarkable journey demonstrates that individuals struggling with sexual identity confusion can find clarity and live fulfilling lives.”
Edwin B. Peacock III (R)
Edwin B. Peacock III served as the Charlotte City Council At-Large member from 2007-2011 and was appointed by council as the interim District 6 representative in May to complete Tariq Bokhari’s term following Bokhari’s resignation.
Peacock told The Charlotte Observer that the most important issues facing Charlotte now are crime and transportation. He said he will address crime by developing an updated public safety plan in coordination with the CMPD chief and District Attorney Spencer Merriweather.
CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3
Joi Mayo (D)
Joi Mayo is a community advocate and former middle school math teacher who founded and serves as board chair for Transforming Nations Ford, a community development nonprofit that advocates for the Nations Ford/Arrowood Road corridor. Mayo also serves as a board member with Steele Creek Community Place.
Mayo’s campaign centers on affordable housing, equitable development and community empowerment.
“Joi’s passion for community engagement and commitment to improving neighborhoods led her to run for District 3 Representative for the Charlotte City Council,” her website reads. “Her journey from being a middle school math teacher to becoming a community leader and advocate for equitable development is a testament to her unwavering dedication and passion for creating thriving neighborhoods.”
Listen: Joi Mayo Is Transforming Nations Ford (2024)
Robin Emmons (I)
Robin Emmons is the only unaffiliated candidate on the ballot, having gathered the 1,382 signatures (1.5% of registered district voters) necessary to do so.
Emmons was honored as a CNN Hero for spearheading an urban farming initiative to sustain Charlotte food deserts. She was also awarded the Eisenhower Fellowship, received the Athena International Woman’s Leadership Award, recognized as one of Mecklenburg Times’ 50 Most Influential Women and given the Margaret Fuller Award for exceptional service and community stewardship.
Her priorities lie in affordable housing and stability, economic opportunity, public safety, and healthy and connected neighborhoods.
“Fueled by a lifelong dedication to service, our campaign is a call to action to reignite our commitment to governance for the people, revitalize civic engagement, and restore the Middle – those who understand the value in rebuilding what we’ve lost. I’m running because I believe reclaiming that is worth it,” her website reads.
James H. Bowers (R)
James Bowers moved to Charlotte in 1987 and has sold cars, mortgages, retail furniture, fuel and now insurance. Bowers has been a minister since 1997 and currently serves in that role at Children’s Church. He is a Captain in the Young Men of Valor boys organization and served five years on the Mecklenburg County Motor Vehicle Review Board.
“In today’s political environment I’ve noticed that lawlessness is pervasive and tolerated, and that makes Charlotte less safe,” Bowers writes on his website. “And the need for transparency and working with our law enforcement departments is crucial in ‘Making Charlotte Great Again.’”
CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 6
Kimberly Owens (D)
Kimberly Owens has practiced law in Charlotte since 1994, giving her the negotiation, litigation and practical business experience to serve Charlotte well on the City Council, her website states. She has also participated on the Council for Children’s Rights, providing due process to students facing expulsion and long-term suspension, and served as a chair for nonprofit boards like RAIN and its housing program The Havens.
Owens advocates for causes she believes in through Moms Demand Action, Planned Parenthood, Rotary Youth Exchange and Lillian’s List Action fund. Her platform prioritizes smart housing policies, transportation that works for everyone, public safety, sustainability and supporting small businesses.
“I want to be your voice on the city council and be the bridge between our community and the resources we need most,” Owens’ website said. “No good policy is developed behind closed doors. No plan should proceed without citizen input.”
Krista Bokhari (R)
Krista Bokhari is running to replace her husband Tariq Bokhari, who resigned as the District 6 representative earlier this year to take a short-lived role in the Trump administration. As a former marketing director in the manufacturing, hospitality and tourism industry, Krista hopes to bring “checks and balances” to city council.
“Currently the council is dangerously unbalanced with 10 of the members being Democrats and only 2 being Republican,” she said on her website. “The District 6 seat is one of the two seats standing between zero guardrails, accountability or transparency.”
Bokhari has been outspoken in her opposition to the settlement that council reached with CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings in the wake of his tiff with Tariq. She’s earned endorsements from a number of local Republicans and conservative organizations. She also supported the Charlotte FOP’s request for the deployment of the National Guard into Charlotte in a Facebook post that garnered a response from Owens highlighting the differences in the two candidates’ platforms.
REFERENDUM
Mecklenburg County Public Transportation Systems Local Sales and Use Tax
Residents will get the chance to vote for or against a 1% sales tax increase that would raise the county’s sales tax from 7.25% to 8.25% to fund transportation infrastructure.
The generated revenue from the sales tax would go toward the formation of the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority, rail line development, Better Busing practices, and retrofitting roads with bike lanes and sidewalks.
Supporters of the referendum say the tax would foster faster commutes, increase job access and create better roads. Opponents worry that the tax will accelerate gentrification and lowest-income households will foot the bill.
Read more: Exploring Both Sides of the Transit Tax Debate
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education
BOARD OF ED DISTRICT 1
Melissa Easley*
Melissa Easley was elected to the CMS BOE to represent District 1 in 2022, representing north Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson. She’s a public education advocate, veteran educator of more than 15 years and mother of two CMS students. Easley co-founded North Carolina Teachers United, an online community consisting of educators, support staff, parents and community leaders elevating voices of those on the front lines of education.
As an openly bisexual woman with a gender-fluid spouse, Easley has faced threats of violence for her sexuality since the time she was elected. She recently faced criticism on social media following a post to her personal Facebook page regarding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In the since-deleted post, Easley condemned political violence against anyone, regardless of party affiliation.
”But do not expect me to feel sorry, pity or mournful for the man that has gone around saying I or my spouse are abominations, that we are mentally ill, that we don’t deserve the same rights as everyone else,” she wrote.
Easley later made a statement on her board-tied Facebook page clarifying that her comments were made as an individual citizen and not on behalf of the BOE.
Bill Fountain
Bill Fountain is a former combat fighter pilot and teacher committed to upholding “the American principles that make opportunity possible” in CMS.
Fountain supports the homophobic and transphobic organization Protect North Carolina Kids. He held a sign that read “Stop Mutilating Minors” in a protest against trans health care for youth patients and posted it to his Facebook page and website.
“Save CMS,” Fountain’s website reads. “For too long CMS has prioritized social and political agendas over core academics that steered children toward a victimhood mindset, undermined parental values, and tolerated code of conduct violations.”
Charlitta Hatch
Charlitta Hatch is a CMS graduate, mother, children’s book author and technology executive running for her first elected office position.
Hatch is pursuing her Ph.D with a certificate in Qualitative Research and Social Systems Transformation at UNC Charlotte. She is also an adjunct professor and teaches History of Racism and Psychology of the Black Experience.
“I envision a district where every student regardless of their zip code has access to safe, inclusive, and future-ready schools,” her website said. “Where families are valued as partners, educators are supported, and technology works for equity, not against it. Together, we can lead with purpose, prepare with vision, and build a public school system that reflects the brilliance of our entire community.”
BOARD OF ED DISTRICT 2
Juanrique Hall
After 12 years, the BOE’s longest serving member Thelma Byers-Bailey is not running for reelection, meaning District 2 will have a new rep.
Juanrique Hall is a former West Charlotte High School football coach and community advocate who works to mentor young people on violence prevention, joining the city’s first Alternatives to Violence program in 2021. His mission is to combat illiteracy, restore discipline and rebuild trust in public schools, according to his website.
“Our vision is to create an inclusive and equitable educational environment that fosters the success of every student in District 2,” Hall’s website said.
Hall is also known to partner with Moms for Liberty, an extremist group that lobbies against any school curricula that mentions LGBTQ+ rights, race or diversity.
Shamaiye Haynes
Shamaiye Haynes is a CMS mother, advocate and community organizer with a “deep commitment to cultivating equity, opportunity and belonging in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools,” her website said.
In 2018, Haynes founded the Charlotte Community Think Tank, an organization focused on spreading resources and academic appreciation for education on Charlotte’s west side. She has also served as a board member of the Black Political Caucus, League of Women Voters and the Charlotte Alliance of Black Accountants.
“[Haynes] sees education not just as a pathway to achievement, but as a cornerstone of justice and collective liberation,” her website reads. “With a track record of listening deeply, acting boldly, and leading with integrity, Shamaiye is ready to serve District 2 with transparency, collaboration, and a clear vision for what our schools—and our students—deserve.”
BOARD OF ED DISTRICT 4
Robert L. Edwards
Robert L. Edwards has more than 20 years of experience in K-12 education, higher education and behavioral health. He began teaching music and mentoring at-risk youth when he was 22 years old before moving to higher education faculty roles.
He joined the CMS residency program in 2023, focusing on special education, and currently serves as a teacher for exceptional children in CMS and a compliance facilitator at Cochran Collegiate Academy.
Edwards’ campaign focuses on integrating AI in education, funding and resource allocation in the wake of federal funding cuts, equity and inclusivity in education, and incorporating the CASEL 5 model social-emotional framework.
Jillian King
Jillian King is a former teacher and current homemaker. Her mission is to promote transparent communication, active community engagement and innovative educational practices that support the success of every student, according to her website.
King is endorsed by the Democratic Municipal Officials, Run for Something, EducateUS and Moms Demand Action.
“She is committed to creating safe, welcoming schools where diversity is celebrated, and every student feels valued and supported,” her website states. “Her platform centers on delivering a holistic, high-quality education that nurtures both academic excellence and social-emotional well-being.”
Stephanie Sneed*
Current BOE Chair Stephanie Sneed is running for re-election to represent District 4, where she was first elected in 2022. Sneed is a CMS parent and trial attorney practicing in the areas of labor and employment law.
Prior to her position as board chair, Sneed served on the CMS Bond Oversight Committee and the Black Political Causes Education Committee. She is also a founding board member of the Charlotte Community Think Tank.
“Stephanie wants to ensure her children and ALL of the children in CMS receive an exceptional education that prepares them to be stewards in the community and global leader,” her website reads. “She believes that an investment in our children now will pay dividends to our community in the future.”
BOARD OF ED DISTRICT 5
Lisa Cline*
Lisa Cline is the CMS BOE District 5 incumbent running for re-election. Cline has 39 years of education experience with 29 of those years coming at CMS before her retirement in 2019. Since then, she has participated in several volunteer roles and taught multiple K-12 learning pods during the pandemic, inspiring her to run for CMS BOE in 2022.
If reelected, Cline’s website says she will continue working on closing the gap between students of different income levels and raise student performance in reading, math and science, apply personalized resources for each student to ensure post-high school success, and create a physically and emotionally safe learning environment.
Cynthia Stone
Cynthia Stone is a born-and-raised Charlottean, attending Pinewood Elementary in 1961 and graduating from UNC Greensboro in 1976. Stone began a career in education in 2005 at Chantilly Montessori School until her retirement in 2023 from Park Road Montessori.
“I became an educator because education is the key to eliminating poverty,” she writes on her website. “Education is a right and it is our obligation to ensure that right is available to all of our young people. As Mecklenburg County aspires to become a world class community, we must have an educational system that is worthy of our citizens and that can provide a workforce that companies are seeking to hire.”
Stone’s campaign prioritizes student safety and mental health, teacher retention, quality of education and transparency for the BOE.
BOARD OF ED DISTRICT 6
Toni Emehel
Toni Emehel is a CMS graduate, parent and volunteer who has 20 years of experience with CMS as a school improvement team leader, Parent Teacher Organization board officer, Augustine Literacy Project tutor, Booster Club board officer and more.
“It’s imperative that we don’t build a foundation on low performance by sidestepping honest truths,” she said on her website. “Embracing the honest truth, even when it’s challenging, is what ultimately paves the way for improved student outcomes and lasting success.”
Emehel is endorsed by Democratic Mecklenburg County commissioner Vilma Leake and Republican former Gov. Pat McCrory.
Anna London
Anna London is the president and CEO of Charlotte Works, the state’s largest single-county workforce board. London earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s degree in professional counseling, crediting her success to the attentive educators that paved the way for her.
“Every step confirms what my life first taught me: when schools are safe, nurturing, and connected to real-world opportunity, students don’t just survive—they thrive,” London states on her website.
If elected, London said she will nurture safe, welcoming schools, ensure every student graduates ready for college, career or military service, and advocate for higher pay, resources and respect for educators.
Justin Shealy
Justin Shealy is an attorney and parent who says he has grown increasingly concerned about the issues CMS faces, including declining safety, politics taking precedence over academics, and a lack of transparency, his website states.
Shealy promises to prioritize student well-being, back-to-basics education focused on core academics, curriculum transparency and parental involvement, and fiscal responsibility that directs resources where they matter most: classrooms and teachers.
“I’m running for School Board because I believe it’s time to put students first, restore parental rights, and bring common sense accountability back to our schools,” his website states. “I want to make sure every parent feels confident sending their child to a CMS classroom, knowing they’ll be safe, challenged academically, and taught without political bias.”
