CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Minutes after being sworn in as the city's first new mayor in 14 years, Anthony Foxx pledged to tackle homelessness, job creation, and government spending.
Foxx will have the backing of a Democratic majority on city council with the party holding 8 of 11 seats. No political party has held such a strong majority since Charlotte began holding partisan elections in the 1970's.
"Potholes don’t know partisan politics," Foxx told NewsChannel 36 Monday evening. "We’ve got a lot of issues to deal with in this community."
The city's first Democratic mayor since Harvey Gantt left office in 1987, Foxx said he would ask a panel to look for ways to trim Charlotte's $1-billion budget.
Republican council members applauded the move toward a more efficient government, but cautioned the discussions on potential cuts have yet to begin.
"Where some of the efficiencies are and where some money can come out of the budget, he may find there are some places he doesn’t want to touch," said council member Andy Dulin, a Republican who leads council's budget committee.
Using technology to improve the criminal justice system and better planning to unclog the region's congested roads are among the other top priorities Foxx named Monday evening as he vowed to work more closely with state lawmakers.
State Senator Malcolm Graham, a Democrat who represents Mecklenburg county, said having Foxx and a Democrat-backed council will likely help the city make more allies in Raleigh.
