Charlotte has an open City Council seat — 143 people say they want the job
Update: On Thursday morning, city officials announced 40 of the original 143 applicants were “deemed ineligible as part of a verification process conducted by the City Clerk’s office.”
The city of Charlotte received 143 applicants for a vacant at-large City Council seat, officials said this week, following the resignation of James “Smuggie” Mitchell.
The current council is expected to select an applicant Monday, a temporary appointment until an election is held.
Mitchell announced he would step down earlier this month after taking a job with a private construction company. The job drew controversy over potential conflicts of interest, as the firm, RJ Leeper, has a number of contracts with the city and other public entities.
The long list of applicants hoping to succeed Mitchell includes people who have previously held public office or have run unsuccessfully for elected office in Charlotte. It also includes a number of advocates for issues like racial justice, air quality and transportation. The list includes people from the K12 education realm and Charlotteans who volunteer or work with marginalized populations, including people who are homeless.
Because Charlotte has partisan elections, Mitchell’s replacement must be a registered Democrat, according to city rules. And the person who is appointed must also be at least 21 years old, a Charlotte resident and qualified to vote in City Council elections.
The city said in a press release it would vet candidates to determine who meets the criteria and expects to provide an updated list.
The applicants include former candidates such as Jessica Davis, who ran for the District 2 seat now held by Malcolm Graham; Joel Odom, who ran for mayor; and Gina Navarrete, who challenged and lost to District 6 incumbent Tariq Bokhari. Former District 4 representative Greg Phipps also applied. (Navarette was later disqualified, according to the city, due to turning in her application late).
Mitchell’s replacement will serve until the end of his term in December. In November, there will be an election for the at-large seat, and District 1 Representative Larken Egleston said this week that he will run. Former City Council member LaWana Mayfield has also said she’s running for the at-large seat.
Following a public forum for the candidates Friday at 11 a.m., City Council will vote to appoint the new at-large member on Monday.
“Friday’s special meeting will be streamed live online the city’s Facebook and YouTube, and GOV Channel pages,” the city announced Thursday.
A swearing-in ceremony will be held Tuesday with the mayor and city clerk, and a more formal event will take place Feb. 8, city attorney Patrick Baker has said.
Who applied for the open Charlotte seat:
Listed alphabetically by first name based on the city of Charlotte’s published list of applicants. 40 of the applicants were deemed ineligible based on voter registration or other requirements.
Adam Howell
Addison Poole (ineligible)
Adrian Fields (ineligible)
Alexa Parsley
Alfred Minter (ineligible)
Alicia Benjamin
Amar Johnson
Amy Goudy
Andrea Taylor
Anjali Griffin (ineligible)
Anna Nguru (ineligible)
Anthony Anderson (ineligible)
Anthony Andrews
Ashlei Blue
Ashley Bobga
Austen DiPalma
Balla Keita (ineligible)
Brandy Jackson
Brenda Adams
Brenda Lanier
Brittany Lyke
Brittany McCauley
Brittany Robinson (ineligible)
Bruce Clark
Bryant Sims
Cameron Gilbreath (ineligible)
Carl Terrell
Cecil Fletcher (ineligible)
Cedric McCorkle
Cherie Readus
Chris Domeny (ineligible)
Christian Pedersen (ineligible)
Christopher Venezia (ineligible)
Clifton Howard
Crystal Screen
Curtis Hayes
Curtis Stone
Dante Anderson
Daraell Logan
Darrell Bonapart
David Brown
Deborah Woolard
Demario Baker
Derrick Suber
Duane Coffey (ineligible)
Edwina Corprew (ineligible)
Elizabeth Megan
Emil De Jong
Eric Platts
Ericka Ellis-Stewart
Felicia Mckoy
G. Sean Williams
Gina Navarrete (ineligible)
Glenn Thomas
Gordon Culletto
Gregory Denlea (ineligible)
Gregory Phipps
Gregory Williams
Gwen Prince (ineligible)
Henry Santos (ineligible)
J. J. Briceno (ineligible)
Jamerican Toney
Jasmine Sherman (ineligible)
Jason Spooner
Jeffrey Simpson, Sr.
Jesse Boyd
Jessica Davis
Jessica Foster
Joel Odom
John Bommelje
John Canaday
Jonathan Mettel
Joshua Lipack
Juan Euvin
Juddson Larkins
Kathryn Arnold
Keith Albert
Keith Way
Kelly Price
Keraz Gandhi (ineligible)
Keri Miller
Kerwin Scott (ineligible)
Kimberly Brooksbank
Kris Tyte (ineligible)
Krisha Chachra
Labecca Patrice Thomas (ineligible)
Larry Mims
LaTasha Earl
LaToya Fuller
LaToya McCants
Lissette Torres
Marcia Kirkpatrick
Maria Brown
Maritza Ortiz
Mark Sumwalt
Maurice Grier
Maya Marshall (ineligible)
Melissa Young (ineligible)
Mike Vagianos (ineligible)
Nancy Wiggins
Natalie Douglas
Nathaniel McGowan
Nicolas Hatley
Nicole Braxtan
Noelle De Atley
Patricia Frye
Patrick Diamond
Paul Pegues
Peyton Glendinning
Quentin DeBerry (ineligible)
Rebecca Cuering
Rebekah Whilden
Ricardo Torres (ineligible)
Robert Pinka
Robin Taylor
Rodney Moore
Russell Martin
Ryan McGill
Samantha Gilman
Samir Maniar (ineligible)
Sandra Carter (ineligible)
Sarah Smith
Sarai Lewis
Sheree Thomas-Belk (ineligible)
Sherry Washington (ineligible)
Shirley Mitchell
Stephanie Al-Zubaidy
Stephanie Hand
Steven Howell (ineligible)
Steven Jones
Susie Bell
Sydney Pendle
Talathia McKenzie
Tara Harris
Terry Lansdell
Tonisha Pope (ineligible)
Trey Charles Lowe (ineligible)
Tyler Loveless
Valerie Starks
Vicki Morton (ineligible)
Vickie Craighead-Davis (ineligible)
Wade Leaphart (ineligible)
William Shoff
Correction
A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the district that Jessica Davis ran in in 2019. It was Charlotte City Council District 2.
Charlotte council member announces sudden resignation after taking construction job
