'What’s Your Passion?' County Commissioners on Why They Serve Mecklenburg County

2024-2026 County Commissioners inside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Meeting Chamber. Left to Right: Commissioner Meier, Commissioner Powell, Commissioner Rodriguez-McDowell, Commissioner Townsend-Ingram, Commissioner Jerrell, Commissioner Altman, Commissioner Dunlap, Commissioner Griffin and Commissioner Leake.

The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners is the governing body of Mecklenburg County. Nine commissioners are elected every two years—six represent districts and three are elected county-wide.

The Board's major responsibilities include adopting the annual County budget, setting the County property tax rate, and assessing and establishing community priorities, especially those related to health, education, welfare, mental health, and the environment. 

Why does a County Commissioner decide to serve their community? What is their passion? 

Several members of the Board answered that question in January 2024 as they began the process of building the FY2025-FY2026 budget:
 

Mark Jerrell, Chair, District 4

“The opportunity to provide the systems that will allow for economic mobility.”

Leigh Altman, Vice Chair, At Large

“Making a giant leap forward in our transportation system.”

Yvette Townsend-Ingram, At Large

“Education is always my jam. Education whether it be educating students, educating the community, educating the public.”

Arthur Griffin, At Large

“The vanishing middle class. What we have to work toward—where if you work in this community, you can live in this community.”

Elaine Powell, District 1

“Environmental stewardship. It is the thing that lights my fire, sparks my soul.”

George Dunlap, District 3

“The ability to do even more affordable housing in our community.”

Laura Meier, District 5

“Everything the County does is my passion. If I had to narrow it to three, it would be education, park and green space, and mental health.”

Susan Rodriguez-McDowell, District 6

“Showing my constituents how government really does work and really is working to promote their values, our shared values, is really exciting to me.”