Please, share these resources and links for those who need to know where to register, where to vote, and what the candidates stand for. (Plus, some exceptional links in the MyTake below!)
Zoning, school boards, law enforcement, taxation, small business laws, transportation, property rights; all are immediate issues that affect every local citizen. They are issues governed right here at home and underscore the need for higher voter turnouts in local elections.
Click here to access locations for early voting in your county.
And you can still register to vote in NC in person, all the way up to February 28, 2026!
My Take: This is a friendly reminder that Early Voting begins soon. Turnout is typically lower in Primary Elections, especially in non-presidential election years. In 2022, turnout for the primary was a paltry 14% in Mecklenburg County. Iredell County was the standard-bearer in our area with 18% turnout.
All that to say, elections have consequences. Did anyone have a chance to watch yesterday’s oversight hearing at the General Assembly in Raleigh where the topic was Charlotte Area Transportation System (CATS) safety?
If not, here are some links to the video:
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden NC General Assembly testimony | Part 1
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden NC General Assembly testimony | Part 2
Wow. The distinction between the two highest ranking and significant law enforcement figures from our area could not be more clear. Sheriff McFadden spent his time airing complaints and using a lot of words, ones that didn’t always make that much sense when they were strung together. Charlotte’s Chief Patterson, on the other hand, told reporters following the hearing that the meeting “really lets me know that the General Assembly cares about Charlotte and they want to work with us to make our city safer.”
Patterson’s position is an appointed one and I hope she stays on for the foreseeable future. We need more leaders willing to accept responsibility and work toward solutions.
McFadden’s job security is entirely up to the whim of the voters. He has several opponents in the upcoming Primary Election contest which means the opponents may split the vote. Maybe it’s time to coalesce around one of the contenders. Here are links to information about the candidates:
Ricky Robbins for Sheriff | Mecklenburg County Sheriff | Mecklenburg County, NC, USA
Antwain Nance – For Mecklenburg County Sheriff
The FY2026-2027 annual budget retreat took place Jan. 28 and 30, 2026 at the CPCC Harris Conference Center. See the Agenda and Presentations Here.
If you have a chance, please have a look at some of the video from the two-day event:
FY27 BOCC Annual Retreat – Day 1 – 1/28/26
FY27 BOCC Annual Retreat – Day 2 – 1/30/26
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is a division of the Mecklenburg County Manager’s Office. The division supports the County manager and Board of County Commissioners in the development of the County’s annual operating budget. OMB monitors the County’s budget to help inform management of resources.
My Take: Mecklenburg County Commissioners were able to squeeze their annual retreat in between the recent ice and snowstorms. The City of Charlotte holds a similar meeting as well, but it has been postponed, likely until March. Fee increases will likely be proposed during the deliberations over the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget over the next several months.
As the process moves forward, we will be seeking additional feedback and will report on those results.
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