CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Two key cogs of Charlotte-Mecklenburg's local government take office this week with the swearing-in of a new Charlotte City Council and a new Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board.
Each body has a major say in how more than $1 billion in tax money is spent.
The city council sets policy for everything from law enforcement to industrial development to roads and rapid transit. New Mayor Anthony Foxx takes charge of a 12-member group that features the strongest Democratic majority in recent memory. But they take the reins of a city weakened by an historic recession.
The school board, which five new faces join Tuesday, sets policy for some 170 schools and more than 134,000 students.
The school board members, whose first order of business will be to elect new leaders, say they hope to break with a past marred by city/suburban squabbling and personal attacks. Any new consensus will be challenged almost immediately by such pressing issues as looming budget problems, student assignment, and changes in how teachers are paid.
CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL
ANTHONY FOXX, mayor
704-342-8005 (office), 704-336-2241
SUSAN BURGESS (at-large)
704-333-2874
PATRICK CANNON (at-large)
704-376-5559 (office), 704-336-7400
DAVID HOWARD (at-large)
704-336-409, 704-342-0933 (office)
EDWIN B. PEACOCK III (at-large)
704-347-1080 (office)
PATSY KINSEY (District 1)
704-376-5367, 704-336-3432 (office)
JAMES MITCHELL JR. (District 2)
704-509-9593
WARREN TURNER (District 3)
704-336-3184, 704-713-0452 (cell)
MICHAEL BARNES (District 4)
704-509-6141
NANCY CARTER (District 5)
704-336-2422 (office)
ANDY DULIN (District 6)
704-367-1266, 704-968-8776 (cell)
WARREN COOKSEY (District 7)
704-543-1474, 980-230-5495 (office)
CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG BOARD OF EDUCATION
KAYE MCGARRY (at-large)
704-366-8971
TRENT MERCHANT (at-large)
704-517-9747
COACH JOE WHITE (at-large)
704-542-2192
RHONDA LENNON (District 1)
704-564-3382
RICHARD MCELRATH (District 2)
704-488-5360
Richard.Mc Elrath@cms.k12.nc.us
JOYCE WADDELL (District 3)
704-577-6778
TOM TATE (District 4)
704-502-3093
ERIC DAVIS (District 5)
704-651-0217
TIM MORGAN (District 6)
704-577-3102
