Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

Married, Dr. Nick Carter, Charlotte Community Health Clinic; First Charlotte Physicians

One daughter, Annamarie, enrolled in Medical College of VA PhD program

Graduated, Randolph-Macon Woman's College, MA, UNC-CH; 
Doctoral studies, UNC-CH, in Romance Philology

Former French professor

Studied accounting at CPCC

Resident of Charlotte since 1976

Formerly:  President of Symphony Guild of Charlotte, Designer House Chairman;  member, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors;  President of Mecklenburg County Medical Alliance; NC Medical Alliance Board of Directors;  Volunteer Coordinator (2 years) of CROP Walk; Chair, Charlotte Has Heart for Loaves & Fishes and Board member; assistant Girl Scout Leader.

Elected 1999 City Council:  Vice Chair of Budget and Environment Committees, also member, Transportation, Economic Development Committees

Board member:  Arts & Science Council (10 years), Smart Start (10 years), Mecklenburg Ministries (3 years), Police Athletic League (7 years), CROP Walk (19 years), Centralina Council of Government-CONNECT Board (1+ years)

Worked with Taste of the World, Latino Pathways, South Central Piedmont Resource Conservation & Development District

NC League of Municipalities:  former Vice Chair (1 year), then Chair (2 years) Strategic Planning and Legislative Action Committee; member, Long Range Planning (4 years), currently elected to Board

National League of Cities: EENR Steering Committee (policy-making, 5 years), Democratic Governance and Regional CitiesFutures Panels, 2008 Chair of Large Cities Council,  platinum award by Leadership Summit (education for municipal service)

Currently nominated for NLC Board of Directors by NCLM;  submitted for seat on NC Environment Management Commission

Member, national Community Streetcar Coalition (3 years);  national Executive Board, Climate Prosperity Project (2 years).

St. Martin's Episcopal Church.  Completed Education for Ministry; Cursillo

Hobbies:  national, global travel, including UNCC alternative energy exploration of Lower Austria, Center for International Understanding to Mexico,  Sister Cities to Wroclaw, snorkeling, hiking, reading, Sudoku, vintage movies

Candidate Statement:

Locally the most important issue is public safety.  I have worked closely with CMPD and residents to grow community cohesion and support our officers.  I have voted to hire more police, fund after-school programs for middle schoolers and nurture youngsters through positive programs like PAL, Weed & Seed, and Gang of One.  We're formulating a Landlords' responsibility ordinance and a non-residential building code ordinance to mirror our vacant residence ordinance.  We've received federal and state funding for officer hiring and gang prevention and lobbied successfully for state bills to create a safer environment.

The environment critically impacts Charlotte; our region is in air quality non-attainment.  Ways to improve our air are in the works:  transportation patterns, alternative energy, building codes.  The Streetcar and Light Rail on Independence are prime ways we can improve air quality in Charlotte East.  We passed Urban Street Guidelines which NCDOT is now using, Bike Ordinance, and are studying Connectivity and Sidewalk Guidelines.  We funded and built our first Light Rail line and are planning for future projects.  We're nationally known for our Transit Oriented Development. I serve on three committees, Transportation, Economic Development and Planning and the Environment, from which these policies and projects originated. 

I see the next iteration of Charlotte as the Southern Energy Capital.  Green business will provide jobs and better environmental practices here and national leadership and prominence.  We, as a region, can develop this focus and market the complementary industries of automotive engineering, healthcare and research.  Economic diversity provides stability and a dynamic work force.

There is a theme running through these goals and accomplishments:  partnership.  We have a strong history of public/private/non-profit partnerships in Charlotte which have enhanced the work of City Council.  I am grateful and intend to nurture it as before for greater success in the future.