Charlotte mayor: Foxx not running.

[Miles]

Article.

This strikes me as a bit odd; he is very popular, especially after the success of the DNC, and would have easily won. Apparently, he might get an appointment in the Obama Administration.

[Sol]

Crap.

Linda Coleman or Brad Miller might work instead. Larry Kissell too.

[Miles]

Crap.

Linda Coleman or Brad Miller might work instead. Larry Kissell too.

This is for his job as mayor; I should have been more specific. He's served for two terms and would have been up again later this year.

But, yeah, those three would be great for statewide office.

[Miles]

Potential Candidates

Democrats:

- State Senator Dan Codfelter; currently in his 8th term.

- David Howard, city councilman at-large; elected in 2009.

- Patrick Cannon, Mayor Pro-Temp; elected to the city council in 1993 (the youngest person ever to win a council seat).

- Jennifer Waston Roberts; vacated County Commission (BOCC) seat that she held since 2004 and was the Democratic nominee in CD9  in 2012.

It wouldn't surprise me if there are more from the Assembly considering; 'kinda sucks to be a Democrat stuck in Tillis' Assembly.

Republicans

- John Lassiter, ran against Foxx in 2009 and lost by 3,000 votes. He'd be the strongest R, IMO.

- Edwin Peacock, former at-large BOCC member, vacated his seat to run for the GOP nomination in CD9 but came in third place.

- Scott Stone, 'kinda a Some Dude; ran against Foxx in 2011 and lost by 35 points.

- State Sen. Ruth Samuelson, serving 4th term; probably too conservative to win, but she has a strong base in south Charlotte.


If I had to chose a candidate to support, it would probably be Roberts if she ran. She has as solid record on the BOCC and, as 2012 showed, she's a great campaigner.

[Sol]

Crap.

Linda Coleman or Brad Miller might work instead. Larry Kissell too.

This is for his job as mayor; I should have been more specific. He's served for two terms and would have been up again later this year.

But, yeah, those three would be great for statewide office.

Duh. I should have read your post more carefully.

In which case, yay?

[Miles]

Crap.

Linda Coleman or Brad Miller might work instead. Larry Kissell too.

This is for his job as mayor; I should have been more specific. He's served for two terms and would have been up again later this year.

But, yeah, those three would be great for statewide office.

Duh. I should have read your post more carefully.

In which case, yay?

Well, I remember campaigning for him back in 2009; I kinda hoped he'd stay around longer.

I've heard he might  be tapped for Transportation Secretary. He could also run in CD12 when Watt retires, which should be in the next cycle or two. Still, I think he'd be a better statewide candidate.

[Mr.Phips]

Potential Candidates

Democrats:

- State Senator Dan Codfelter; currently in his 8th term.

- David Howard, city councilman at-large; elected in 2009.

- Patrick Cannon, Mayor Pro-Temp; elected to the city council in 1993 (the youngest person ever to win a council seat).

- Jennifer Waston Roberts; vacated County Commission (BOCC) seat that she held since 2004 and was the Democratic nominee in CD9  in 2012.

It wouldn't surprise me if there are more from the Assembly considering; 'kinda sucks to be a Democrat stuck in Tillis' Assembly.

Republicans

- John Lassiter, ran against Foxx in 2009 and lost by 3,000 votes. He'd be the strongest R, IMO.

- Edwin Peacock, former at-large BOCC member, vacated his seat to run for the GOP nomination in CD9 but came in third place.

- Scott Stone, 'kinda a Some Dude; ran against Foxx in 2011 and lost by 35 points.

- State Sen. Ruth Samuelson, serving 4th term; probably too conservative to win, but she has a strong base in south Charlotte.


If I had to chose a candidate to support, it would probably be Roberts if she ran. She has as solid record on the BOCC and, as 2012 showed, she's a great campaigner.

If Lassiter couldnt win in the Republican heavy enivornment in 2009, what makes you think he would win now?

[Miles]

If Lassiter couldnt win in the Republican heavy enivornment in 2009, what makes you think he would win now?

I'm not sure I'd call 2009 especially Republican heavy. There was just lots of residual good will towards McCrory.

I'm not saying he'd win, I'd just say he's near the top of the Republican bench.

[Miles]

Edwin Peacock (R) is running.

Peacock, like Foxx, is young, at 43. Peacock was an At-Large member of the City Council first elected in 2007. In 2011, he was swept out amid Foxx's coattails. As RHH points out, he's a relatively moderate Republican with a reform-oriented view.

In the crowded NC-09 R primary in 2012, Peacock finished 3rd in a field of eleven. Though he only garnered 12%, it looks like he has a pretty nice base emanating out from South Park.

[Miles]

Well, there it is:

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The last Secretary of Transportation from NC was Liddy Dole, under Reagan.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Well, there it is:

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The last Secretary of Transportation from NC was Liddy Dole, under Reagan.

Well, that gives him the standing to make a Presidential or VP run in 2016. He'd be a perfect balance for someone like Schweitzer or Hillary.

[publicunofficial]

Well, there it is:

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The last Secretary of Transportation from NC was Liddy Dole, under Reagan.

Well, that gives him the standing to make a Presidential or VP run in 2016. He'd be a perfect balance for someone like Schweitzer or Hillary.

That hardly gives him nationwide credentials. It would maybe give him enough strength to run against Burr or, depending on how his approvals change, McCrory in 2016.

[traininthedistance]

I would've ideally preferred Villaraigosa, but Foxx seems pretty good for Transpo.

[SamInTheSouth]

I would've ideally preferred Villaraigosa, but Foxx seems pretty good for Transpo.

What qualifies him to head up the U.S. Dept of Transportation?

[traininthedistance]

I would've ideally preferred Villaraigosa, but Foxx seems pretty good for Transpo.

What qualifies him to head up the U.S. Dept of Transportation?

Well, dealing with transportation issues (across all modes) is very often one of the largest parts of any big-city mayor's portfolio in general.  In particular, Foxx had been fairly proactive on that front, spearheading things like a new runway for the area's airport and a streetcar line.

You could certainly say that it would be better to have someone with a background not in politics but on the technical side of things, say an engineer or the head of a transit agency, and there's definitely some merit to that.  But elected figures being appointed to the Cabinet is the way of the world these days, and I definitely want a mayor for this position more than any other class of elected figure- transportation innovation these days is coming at the city level, not the state or the feds.

[Miles]

Mayor Foxx's confirmation process is going well so far. He had a hearing with the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee yesterday:

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[Miles]

As for the race to replace Foxx, Mayor Pro Temp Patrick Cannon [http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/05/21/4053151/field-widens-in-charlotte-mayoral.html]entered yesterday.[/url] Cannon is the first Democrat to get in. Here's an interesting bit of history:

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To be perfectly honest, though, the more I read about Edwin Peacock, the Republican, the more I like him.

[Miles]

We may have another close, open-seat race again, so here's the 2009 race, where Foxx won his first term.

[windjammer]

We may have another close, open-seat race again, so here's the 2009 race, where Foxx won his first term.

I thought that Charlotte was really democrat!

[Miles]

I thought that Charlotte was really democrat!

Historically, its pretty swingy.

Turnout was 22%, which also helped the Republicans and there was lots of residual good will towards McCrory.

[Miles]

Peacock hired Jack Hawke,who was McCrory's chief strategist. Hawke was the state GOP Chairman for most of Jim Martin's tenure.

Here's an interesting piece on how Hawke helped to grow the NCGOP; though its from 1997, its an interesting read.

[Miles]

Mayor Foxx may be confirmed as early as next week.

[Miles]

Peacock is quickly consolidating Republican support:

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[Miles]

Foxx got unanimous backing from the Senate Transportation Committee.

[Miles]

The full Senate is set to consider Foxx's nomination today!