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While mayoral candidates Anthony Foxx and John Lassiter don't mind talking about Mayor Pat McCrory and his Charlotte legacy, of course, they'd rather discuss their vision for the future. Here are edited excerpts from recent conversations with the candidates.
Democrat Anthony Foxx:
On growth: "My vision is to activate our community to move forward economically growing jobs that are sustainable long into the future, but also to activate our community to deal with some of the things that really threaten the fabric of our community."
On education: I've pledged "to spend focus time in the schools every week tutoring a young person and encouraging other able adults in the community to do the same ... a lot of the challenges facing our city right now need to be dealt with on a one-to-one level."
On full-time vs. part-time mayor: "If I'm fortunate enough to be elected mayor, I would not make that transition in my term. I might do it going out the door for the next person. I really think this community needs someone who does have it as their focus."
On the soul of Charlotte: "I still think this city's the best place in America."
"The civic mind of our city was a lot more defined 25, 30 years ago. We knew who we were and where we were going -- that's not a criticism. Charlotte's got a lot more of everything." The question is, "Can we get better?"
There's "a superficiality that's grown up around our city that I want to purge."
Republican John Lassiter:
On Charlotte's future: "The future of Charlotte is very, very positive; all the fundamentals are still here." We've got seven Fortune 500 companies, an infrastructure that is the envy of much of America, the finest airport.
We have to make the "problem areas" better -- Freedom Drive, North Tryon Street, Central Avenue, Eastland Mall. "We can do it all. We have the capacity. We have a singular focus on what our expectations are."
"We have a whole series of quality-of-life issues that we have to get our arms around, safety, transportation, [keeping] our air clean and our water clean ... Putting ourselves in a position to address each of those issues is a combination of skill sets that will be on our next city council."
On homelessness: In Charlotte, there are "way too many folks who sleep every night outside or in a car or double or triple up in a small apartment."
On full-time vs. part-time mayor: "I will still be a part-time mayor; I've spent 60 to 80 hours working most of my adult life."
On running for mayor: "With my level of experience and achievement," people are surprised I'm "actually willing to serve as mayor." People like me are going "I would never do that."
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