Charlotte City Council select veteran member as Mayor Pro Tem

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte City Council has fresh blood and a laser eye focus on the people. As newcomers join the dais, a longtime veteran is taking the reins as the number two in the city.

Charlotte City Council’s new term started with a bang, thanks to the talented band at Phillip O Berry Academy. Council was officially sworn in Monday night with JD Mazuera Arias, Joi Mayo and Kimberly Owens taking their seats. Owens had the quote of the night, vowing to make Charlotte City Council boring again.

“Simply put, as I said on the campaign trail, I want to bore you,” she said. “To bore you with acts of governmental competence.”

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But The Mayor Pro Tem vote was anything but boring. Council opted not to give Dante Anderson another term as the mayor’s number two.

Councilman Mazuera Arias’ attempt to make Dimple Ajmera Mayor Pro Tem failed with Ajmera only earning four votes.

Councilmember LaWana Slack-Mayfield then nominated James Mitchell, who earned eight votes.

“This is about our whole entire council working together for the betterment of Charlotte,” Mitchell said to reporters after the vote.

After the vote, Mitchell’s colleagues praised him as a leader and someone who will challenge city leadership when needed.

“We need someone that has relationships across the state and really across the nation,” Councilmember Mayfield told reporters.

“What matters is the ability to lead,” Councilmember Graham told reporters. “I said over and over again, this community is dying and starving and begging for leadership from the city council.”

Neither Ajmera nor Anderson took questions from the media after swearing in.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles was sworn in for her fifth term. She mentioned her top two priorities as implementing the sales tax increase for transit and public safety.

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