Charlotte’s City Council race includes a mayor who went to prison and other former members – WFAE

Published April 26, 2022 at 2:34 AM EDT

In this episode of Inside Politics: Election 2022, we take a look at Charlotte City Council. Specifically, we’re going to dig into the race for the council’s four at-large seats. Those are positions that are elected by voters across Charlotte, not just people who live in specific districts.

And one of those at-large seats is being sought by former Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon, who is running in the Democratic primary on May 17. Cannon, of course, spent time in federal prison for accepting $50,000 in cash and gifts when he was on council and mayor. He addressed his past in an interview last month:

“There’s no real rhyme or reason as to why it was done, and I make no excuses for it. Instead, I wish to right my wrong to prove to people that that’s not the real Patrick Cannon.”

Cannon headlines the field, but there are other fascinating candidates, too, like LaWana Mayfield, who four years ago pushed a conspiracy theory that questioned whether planes crashed into the World Trade Center on 9/11.

Joining us to talk about the Democratic slate is former at-large City Council member Michael Barnes, who ran for mayor in 2015 and lost in the Democratic primary to eventual winner Jennifer Roberts. And to talk about the Republicans’ chances — if there are any — is former council member Kenny Smith. He also reached for the stars in 2017 but lost to Vi Lyles for mayor.