CharMeckVotes.org

Nancy G. Carter – City Council District 5 (D)

Website URL: http://www.nancycarterforcharlotteeast.org/

E-mail: n3157w@yahoo.com

Phone Number: 704-564-8997

Facebook Page: NancyCarterclt

Twitter: NancyCarterclt

Current Occupation: Neighborhood Activist

Education–Highest Degree: MA, UNC-CH

What office are you running for?

Mayor or City Council District Race

Please share with us a short personal/professional biography:

Married, Dr. Nick Carter, Charlotte Community Health Clinic; First Charlotte Physicians
One daughter, Annamarie, enrolled in Medical College of VA PhD program
Doctoral studies, UNC, Romance Philology
Former French professor
Studied accounting at CPCC

Formerly President of Symphony Guild of Charlotte, Medical Alliance; Volunteer Coordinator (2 years) of CROP Walk, Chair, Charlotte Has Heart (Loaves & Fishes), assistant Girl Scout Leader.

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

Board member: Arts & Science Council, Smart Start, Mecklenburg Ministries, PAL, CROP Walk, CCOG-CONNECT

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

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

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

Member, national Community Streetcar Coalition

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

Three (3) most important organizations you belong to:

National Executive Board, Climate Prosperity Project: serving with national heads of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Global Urban Development, leaders of AFL-CIO, Sierra Club, IEDC, et al to promote a sustainable environment through saving resources, creating opportunities (new or transformed jobs), educating our work force.

NC League of Municipalities Board, informing, educating, planning and networking with NC municipal officials and engaging them to lobby for us in Raleigh and DC

CROP Walk, working with churches, schools, businesses to raise funds to feed hungry people locally, nationally and globally and build community in our City

Three (3) most important political/civic accomplishments in the last five (5) years:

Focusing on Eastland: involving citizens in the City’s Eastland Mall Strategic Plan, organizing the Eastland Area Strategic Team, getting the Chamber to recognize Eastland as a priority, federally funding the ULI Study, getting options on Belk’s and Dillard’s which put us at the table for decision making, getting $16MM from the City for infrastructure and $4MM for Central Ave. streetscape, building a new fire station there, meeting with citizens, local and national developers to achieve optimum revitalization there, including potentially police division headquarters, library, and greenway,

Promoting the Streetcar: $8MM for Planning and Design from City, Feasibility Study, Citizens’ Advisory Group and my membership in national Community Streetcar Coalition

Independence: lot-by-lot land use planning by City with 127 member advisory group, working through zoning for transformational development on Independence (WalMart), saving light rail decision by getting NCDOT to move projected HOT/HOV lanes to embrace center lanes reserved for rapid transit

Why are you running for the office of your choice?

For the last 10 years, I have listened to all sides of issues before us, studied the issues and backgrounds, listened to my colleagues’, staff’s and professionals’ advice, independently formed opinions and voted to take action. I come with no agenda, no bias to the table. However, I do speak up, consistently and assertively, for District 5. I consult with District residents, resolve issues, convey concerns to staff, and devote 40-80 hours a week to City/District business. In Charlotte, Raleigh and DC, throughout the city, state and nation, I have formed collaborative partnerships which benefit District 5 and Charlotte. We have planned; we have built solid foundations with citizen input, professional advice, and visionary dreams. We are on the threshold of success in Charlotte East: I want to move ahead with these partners to realize the great potential of this area.

What makes you the most qualified candidate?

Over the last 10 years I have learned so much, have put that knowledge to use for District5 and the City. As you can note in my biography, organizations have acknowledged this education to task and to leadership.

Over the last 10 years, I have traveled the District and the City, meet with hundreds of committed citizens, discussed so many opportunities and challenges. I know the players, the problems, the potential. People see me as a non-threatening connector, a generator of considered action.

My relations with CMPD, CFD, CMU, CDOT, CATS, Planning, N&BS have been very cordial, resulting in exemplary service to our area. I know the players, the capacities, the potential and so work well with our professionals and citizens.

This pattern of relationship carries over to our state and national delegations. Much has been accomplished because of our collaborative interaction.

In this challenging economy, if elected, what do you see as your role in improving the quality of life in Charlotte for all its residents?

I commit to continuing actions in which I now engage: listening to citizens, working on their individual concerns and goals, moving Charlotte to protect our environment and enhance the quality of life of all of our residents, funding mutually established priorities (public safety, transportation, economic development), reaching out to engage local, state and national partners in these directives. I bring Charlotte’s voice to regional leaders and policy makers at the Centralina Council of Government’s CONNECT Board. I joined Court Watch to understand and impact our justice system. I am promoting a Citizens’ Advisory Group to analyze the City’s Small Business policy and service. I am part of a team putting on a Healthcare Reform education forum. Where there is a challenge, I put Charlotte’s and my District’s voice at the vision and decision making table. Where there is action needed, I participate (cleaning up Albemarle Road litter with Maudia Melendez’s Jesus Ministry, supporting Weed and Seed’s Back to School event at Eastland, putting forward, nationally, the impact of the auto industry’s woes on Independence Blvd.). Talking with everyone (neighborhood meetings, Ms. Sarah Stevenson’s Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club…), uncovering issues, partnering to improve situations (Eastland, Independence, streetcar), I take action.

What role do you see residents playing in improving the quality of life in Charlotte?

The role of Charlotteans is imperative: joining in the creation of the New Era. In the past, neighbors have demanded better control of their quality of life: we guided the City through establishing a Quality of Life statement and subsequent codes, combining services into a unified Code Enforcement service and, most recently, expanding their hours of operation to the times when violations occurred. I shared in each of those steps, responding to citizens’ concerns, participating in the process and improving the service offered by our staff. We respect our citizens’ advice. Recently an impressive group considered the Streetcar, making recommendations on its potential. I am requesting a Citizens’ Advisory group on the way we interface with small business people, how we assist the formation of small businesses and support them. Having participated in the United Agenda for Children, I want to be sure that the thoughtful consideration of a challenge is heard AND enacted. I want to make sure that the most creative, educated-to-the-point individuals participate and are heard, not just the most negative or assertive, that good ideas are not lost, that all Charlotte benefits from hearing our citizens’ voices. I respect and support citizen action: WISH, Court Watch….

How can residents get involved in your campaign? Please include campaign manager or volunteer coordinator’s contact information.

My thanks to the League of Women Voters’ for this and their many other services to our community.
Gray Newman is the Campaign Manager for the Committee to Elect Nancy Carter. His contact information: 704-609-3160 or dibloc@aol.com
I can be reached at n3157w@yahoo.com or 704-564-8997 or 1401 Cavendish Ct., Charlotte, NC 28211.
Information can be viewed on NancyCarterforCharlotteEast or on Facebook.
I would appreciate any and all support and encourage everyone to vote in the Primary on September 15th.