Council voted Tuesday night against an expedited process. This means applications will open June 2 and close June 9.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ Charlotte City Council has decided on a process to select an interim mayor afterย Mayor Vi Lyles leaves office on June 30.
Lyles, who announced earlier this month that she would step down before the end of her term, said she plans to spend more time with family after nearly a decade leading the city and more than 30 years in local government.ย
Under North Carolina law, the decision falls entirely to the 11 members of city council, not voters. Council must name a replacement by June 30.
Council voted Tuesday night against an expedited process, meaning applications will open June 2 and close June 9. A public forum will be held before council announces an appointment on June 22.
Candidates must be a registered Democrat who lives in Charlotte. They can come from within council or from the broader community. Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell was the first council member to announce his interest in the position.
“This is a difficult time period for us, so it’s no time to be in neutral or say we need to get up to speed. This is a time we say we need to continue our momentum, ” Mitchell said. “I’m just trying to be a leader among leaders, but we really have a good team, and I would like to continue that for 18 months.
Mitchell has pledged not to run for mayor in 2027, a move that could win support from colleagues who have their own mayoral ambitions.
The application will specifically ask if the candidate is interested in running in 2027, though the city attorney noted this is not binding. It is technically allowed, despite many councilmembers expressing concern about such candidates.
“Just the question: do you intend to run?” Councilmember Ed Driggs said. “I’d like to see the answer or the lack of an answer to that question.
Outside candidates are also expected to apply, including former Mayor Jennifer Roberts, who has also agreed not to run for a full term.
For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts that impact you from WCNC Charlotte, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications.
