2007 Charlotte mayoral election explained

Election Name:	2007 Charlotte mayoral election
Flag Image:	Flag of Charlotte, North Carolina.svg
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Year:	2005
Next Year:	2009
Nominee1:	Pat McCrory
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	58,501
Percentage1:	61%
Nominee2:	Beverly Earle
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	37,624
Percentage2:	39%
Mayor
Before Election:	Pat McCrory
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Pat McCrory
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

The biennial Charlotte mayoral election was held on November 6, 2007. Mayor Pat McCrory, a Republican, was re-elected to a seventh term.

Hot button issues

• Light rail

was a source of controversy.

• Potential fallout over Charlotte Bobcats Arena: Arena bonds were voted down in 2002 but were later pushed through without voters' permission. This may have cost Republican city councilwoman Lynn Wheeler, a close McCrory ally, her job.
• Growth: Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. Around 32 people move to Charlotte every day and the city has found it hard to keep up in areas such as education.
• Drunk driving

Charlotte saw a rash of drunk driving incidents, many resulting in deaths, in 2006, leading many to wonder if tougher punishments should be meted out.

Candidates

Democrats

• Beverly Earle: Seven-term North Carolina State Representative.^[1]
• Andy Silver: hypnotherapist dropped out of the race after learning that Earle would run

Republicans

• Pat McCrory: Six-term incumbent
• Ken Gjertsen: Member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education, Transit tax opponent

Primary Election Results

Democratic

Beverly Earle was unopposed and did not face a primary.

Republican

Notes and References

1. Web site: Charlotte mayoral race heats up. Flynn. Shawn. July 20, 2007. News 14 Carolina. 2008-11-29. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120405224854/http://charlotte.news14.com/content/top_stories/585100/charlotte-mayoral-race-heats-up/. April 5, 2012.