CHARLOTTE — A tight mayoral race in which both candidates spent more than $1 million dollars combined — a city record — ended in victory for Democrat Anthony Foxx on Tuesday evening. Foxx led fellow Charlotte City Council member and Republican candidate John Lassiter by 51.32 percent to 48.61 percent.
Lassiter has conceded to Foxx.
In a poll released the day before the election, Lassiter had led Foxx by one percentage point. Public Policy Polling said undecided voters had been showing a shift toward Lassiter in the last days of the election. Almost 57 percent of all Charlotte ballots were cast with a straight Democratic Party ticket.
For the first time in 14 years, Charlotte will have a new mayor as Foxx succeeds Republican Pat McCrory. Foxx will be the city’s first Democratic mayor since Harvey Gantt left office 22 years ago.
Although both Foxx and Lassiter were present for a candidates’ reception hosted by MeckPAC, a local LGBT political action committee, only one received their endorsement. Foxx, MeckPAC’s endorsed mayoral candidate, has been consistently favorable on LGBT issues. Lassiter failed to return the organization’s questionnaire earlier this year.
nextissue: Be sure to pick up the next print issue of Q-Notes on Nov. 14 or head back to www.q-notes.com for more local and national LGBT election news and analysis.
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related stories:► Charlotte: Foxx to speak at ‘Happening’, April 17th, 2010
► Preview: Q&A with Anthony Foxx, November 19th, 2009
► Charlotte, here’s your chance, November 14th, 2009
► Pro-LGBT majority for Charlotte council, November 4th, 2009
► LGBT issues to play small role in Tuesday’s elections, November 2nd, 2009
► Photos: Charlotte candidates flock to MeckPAC reception, October 15th, 2009
► MeckPAC announces primary endorsements, September 5th, 2009
► Kinsey, Sutkowski endorsed, August 28th, 2009
Congratulations Anthony Foxx!!!
Comment by Wade — November 3, 2009 @ 11:41 pm
Ok-now the Dems have complete control…No one to blame but themselves from this point on.
Comment by Tom — November 4, 2009 @ 7:16 am
charlotte just screwed up and at a time when the city is going down the tubes.
Comment by fred — November 4, 2009 @ 7:59 am
Congratulations from all the Atlanta Earnest family! Eve and Bill Earnest
Comment by Eve Earnest — November 4, 2009 @ 9:29 am
YES!! Since Pat McCrory has been running the city into the ground for the last 14 yrs, it’s good to have a strong leader to pull Charlotte out.
Congrats Anthony Foxx!!
Comment by Kim — November 4, 2009 @ 9:38 am
Kim-Could you please provide a couple of examples of how Mayor McCrory ran the city into the ground?
I think I know of at least one you will provide but still would like for you to back up your claim.
Comment by Tom — November 4, 2009 @ 9:13 pm
Kim-I’m still waiting for you to provide a couple of examples….
Comment by Tom — November 5, 2009 @ 9:11 pm
OK Kim-Still waiting on you to provide be a couple of examples.
Comment by Tom — November 6, 2009 @ 7:34 pm
Hey Tom, Kim probably has a life (unlike you) and doesnt go on this website every minute of her life to anwser to idiots like you.
Comment by Chris — November 7, 2009 @ 12:35 pm
Hey Chris why don’t you let Kim speak for herself. However, she probably realizes she put her foot in her mouth.
Comment by Casey — November 25, 2009 @ 7:18 pm