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The 5 people who could be Charlotte’s next mayor: Your guide to the leading contenders
The five who could be Charlotte’s next mayor (top row, L to R): Harold Cogdell Jr., Carrie Cook, Robert Harrington. (bottom row, L to R): James “Smuggie” Mitchell Jr., Caleb Theodros
by Tony Mecia
The selection of Charlotte’s next mayor is just days away.
The Charlotte City Council is expected to vote Monday on a replacement for Mayor Vi Lyles, who is stepping down.
Public interviews by the City Council with the five leading candidates are scheduled for Thursday at noon.
On Wednesday, the city announced the five finalists:
Harold Cogdell Jr., a longtime Charlotte attorney and former Charlotte City Council member and Mecklenburg County commissioner
Carrie Cook, a Charlotte civic and economic-development leader who most recently served as vice president and community affairs officer for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Charlotte
Robert Harrington, a longtime Charlotte attorney and partner at Robinson Bradshaw who has held leadership roles with the N.C. Bar Association and numerous civic organizations
James “Smuggie” Mitchell Jr., who has worked in business development and government affairs for construction and infrastructure firms and has served on the Charlotte City Council since 1999 (with two short breaks) and is now the city’s mayor pro tem
Caleb Theodros, a first-term North Carolina state senator and former chair of the Black Political Caucus who has also worked in technology and risk management at Bank of America
To help you understand more about them, The Ledger has compiled information on the five, including:
Their applications to serve as mayor (thanks to a public records request from Y’all Weekly)
Video clips of their speeches to the City Council on Monday, June 15
Video clips of their interviews with the City Council on Thursday, June 18
Clips from interviews several of them gave to the “R&D in the N.C.” podcast, hosted by former council members Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston, who now work in government relations with The Southern Group. (Thanks to them for the clips.)
We’ll update with more information on the leading candidates as it becomes available.
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Harold Cogdell Jr.
Who he is: Cogdell is a longtime Charlotte attorney and former Charlotte City Council member, Mecklenburg County commissioner and Charlotte Housing Authority chairman whose outlook emphasizes inclusive economic opportunity, transparent and respectful governance, neighborhood investment and broad community engagement to ensure Charlotte’s growth benefits more residents. He presents himself as a pragmatic consensus-builder.
Why he applied: “I find it deeply gratifying to participate in the process of developing thoughtful policy and establishing organizational priorities that reflect community values and address community needs. I am a firm believer in the old adage, blessed is he who plants trees under whose shade he will never sit. It would be a welcome challenge to help facilitate transparent, thoughtful and respectful dialogue focusing on the city's role in ensuring Charlotte's desirability continues for generations to come."
Clips from “R&D in the N.C.” podcast interview:
On working with the community:
On working together and equity:
On party identity and party loyalty:
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Carrie Cook
Who she is: Cook is a Charlotte civic and economic-development leader who most recently served as vice president and community affairs officer for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Charlotte office and founded GreenLight Fund Charlotte. She previously held leadership roles with the Charlotte Chamber and U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan’s office. She says she can build trust and consensus.
Why she applied: “Serving as Interim Mayor would be a privilege and opportunity to bring decades of leadership experience during a time where my skills and relationships could help facilitate stability and engagement. I was raised in Charlotte and have spent my entire life working with and across different groups to build trust, engage thoughtfully, steward resources, and take action.”
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Robert Harrington
Who he is: Harrington is a longtime Charlotte attorney and partner at Robinson Bradshaw who has held leadership roles with the North Carolina Bar Association, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Arts & Science Council and numerous civic organizations. In his application, he described himself as a consensus-building civic leader and community volunteer.
Why he applied: “Strengths that I would bring to the position include the ability to facilitate communication between members, the ability to communicate effectively with the public, and experience in facilitating meetings involving persons with disparate positions. I view the interim mayor’s role as a bridge between now and the period that will begin with the election of the next mayor and council.”
Clips from “R&D in the N.C.” podcast interview:
On service:
On the role of a mayor:
On data centers:
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James “Smuggie” Mitchell Jr.
Who he is: Mitchell is Charlotte’s mayor pro tem. He is a longtime Charlotte political figure who has served on the Charlotte City Council since 1999 (with two short breaks). He has worked in business development and government affairs for construction and infrastructure firms, and in his application, he says he has a collaborative, pro-growth approach centered on economic development, public infrastructure and neighborhood investment.
Why he applied: “I believe this is an important moment for Charlotte, and I would welcome the opportunity to help provide stability, continuity, and collaborative leadership during this transition. Serving as Mayor Pro Tem has given me a greater appreciation for the responsibility of helping bring people together, facilitating productive discussions, and ensuring that City Council remains focused on the issues that matter most to our residents.”
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Caleb Theodros
Who he is: Theodros (pronounced TED-rows) is a first-term North Carolina state senator and former chair of Charlotte’s Equitable Development Commission and Black Political Caucus who also works in technology and risk management at Bank of America. He says he brings a data-driven, operational mindset and a focus on equitable growth, execution and collaboration across government, business and community groups.
Why he applied: “I am interested in serving as Interim Mayor because I believe Charlotte needs steady, practical leadership during this transition. I would not approach the role as an opportunity to introduce a broad new agenda. My focus would be to support the work already underway, respect the procedures City Council has put in place, and help maintain stability and momentum over the next 18 months.”
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