An Experiment in Representation: Reflections on Today’s Listening Session with the NC House Democratic Delegation

Why I’m Exploring an Unaffiliated Run for City Council, District 3

On Saturday, June 14, 2025, I attended a community listening session hosted by Senator Joyce Waddell and District 3 State Rep. Carolyn Logan, joined by other Mecklenburg County delegates at the Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library. What follows is a personal reflection on that event and the deeper civic questions it raised.

This morning, I attended a “listening session” hosted by our state’s Democratic delegation—one of the rare opportunities for residents to speak directly with elected officials. But instead of leaving hopeful, I left with more questions about the state of civic engagement in Charlotte—and about who’s really being heard.

The session took place on the same day as the national No Kings protest, a movement that drew thousands across the country and right here in our city. The low turnout at the listening session wasn’t just poor timing—it was a symptom of something deeper: how disconnected our political structures have become from the people they’re meant to serve.

Inside the room, the conversation centered almost entirely on education funding and teacher pay. While these issues are vital, I tried to expand the discussion to include literacy—and its undeniable link to economic mobility in our community.

My comments were met with polite acknowledgment but little true dialogue. It became clear that both elected officials and organizers were more focused on protecting their priorities than listening with openness to the full range of community concerns.

Later, a few officials cautioned me that pursuing public office without party backing—specifically, in their view, a Democratic one—would be a mistake. They warned that without a political machine behind me, any campaign would be futile.

It was a subtle, almost casual reminder of the party’s comfortable assumption that voter loyalty is guaranteed. As if the city and county being “Democratic” was news to me. As if those of us who have long been unaffiliated—and long disillusioned—didn’t exist. Once again, the binary leaves no room for the rest of us.

That feedback didn’t deter me—it made me more certain that something fundamental needs to change. To be clear I’m not announcing a campaign today. I’m exploring a possibility—one that can’t be decided by me alone. It belongs to all of us who live here.

What I know for sure is this: District 3 deserves leadership that isn’t bought in advance, boxed in by partisanship, or beholden to backroom deals. The two major parties—each in their own way—have contributed to the gridlock and performative politics that leave communities like ours stuck in cycles of inaction and neglect.

The Democratic Party, despite its language of inclusivity, often seems deaf to dissenting voices within its own base. The Republican Party, on the other hand, has all but abandoned the idea of public collaboration altogether. Choosing between them feels like a false choice.

That’s why I’m exploring an unaffiliated run. Because I believe our community deserves leadership rooted in values, not party lines. Because I believe the foundational issues we face—like literacy and economic opportunity—require deeper engagement and long-term thinking.

And because I believe real progress doesn’t come from the top down, but from neighbors talking with neighbors, deciding together what kind of city we want to build.

This isn’t just about me. It’s about us. This exploration—like democracy itself—is an experiment. One that tests how much we value our freedoms, how deeply we believe in our collective power, and how willing we are to demand leadership that reflects our highest values.

Too often, we’ve fallen into apathy—re-electing leaders who have long since traded in their independence for party loyalty, and who now serve partisan machinery instead of people.

If you, too, believe that it’s time for something different—something independent, people-powered, and rooted in respect—I invite you to explore this possibility with me.

By signing the petition, you’re not just helping to meet a legal threshold. You’re helping to decide if we should have another choice on the ballot. Not One prepackaged by party politics. One grounded in the needs, hopes, and wisdom of the people who actually live here.

Let’s not just demand better representation. Let’s create it—together.

If you believe we deserve more than scripted soundbites and partisan gridlock, I invite you to be part of something different.

Independent candidates in North Carolina don’t just declare—they must be nominated by the community. That means gathering hundreds of verified signatures from District 3 residents just to appear on the ballot. It’s a higher bar, yes—but one that reflects a deeper kind of democracy.

If you’d like to sign the petition—or have someone from our team come to you at your convenience—please fill out the quick interest form here

🗺️ Not sure if you live in District 3? Check your district here

This isn’t about one person’s ambition. It’s about whether our community wants more choices, more accountability, and more independent leadership on City Council.