STEELE CREEK NEWS

Meet the At-Large City Council Candidates

(October 20, 2019) Five candidates are running in the 2019 General Election for At-Large seats on the Charlotte City Council. The candidates are Democratic incumbents Dimple Ajmera, Julie Eiselt, James (Smuggie) Mitchell, and Braxton David Winston II, and Republican challenger Joshua Richardson.

The Steele Creek Residents Association intended to provide our residents with information on all these candidates through a candidate questionnaire specific to Steele Creek that we provided to the candidates on October 11. We requested responses from the candidates by October 19, but have only received two response as of October 20. Below are the responses from Dimple Ajmera and Julie Eiselt. Questions are in ALL CAPS. Responses are in blue.

For more information on the 2019 Election, including the Early Voting sites and hours, a complete candidate listing, election schedule, and other information, see Charlotte Municipal Election Voting Guide. Early Voting begins on October 21 at the Old Hollywood Video at 11130 S Tryon Street, and the Election is on November 5 at precinct polling locations. Please note that the polling location for Precinct 230 has moved to the Berewick Recreation Center. (Enter the gym from the bus lot in the back of the building.)

NAME: Dimple Ajmera

PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ajmera left a lucrative career to become a public servant since 2017 (City Council District 5). Prior, she served on the Board of Commissioners of the Charlotte Housing Authority. Ajmera is currently Charlotte City Council At-Large running for re-election.

WORK EXPERIENCE: Former CPA

RESIDENT OF East Charlotte for Five Years

CAMPAIGN CONTACT (NAME, PHONE, EMAIL):

Dimple Ajmera • 704.956.7114 • Dimple@DimpleAjmera.com

1. PLEASE STATE WHY YOU ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

We must ensure our City Council lifts up every resident of Charlotte no matter their zip code. I want to continue the momentum of my historic win. I am a proven candidate running on tangible achievements to address issues that include Public Safety, Affordable Housing, the Environment, Women’s Equality, Economic Development and Infrastructure. As an immigrant and woman, I have a passion for being a leader and positive role model for individuals whom might otherwise live in the shadows.

2. IF ELECTED, WHAT WILL BE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES?

My important accomplishments include: St. John’s affordable housing development; affordable health care for city employees; neighborhood and safety town halls; Eastland redevelopment; entrepreneurship boot camps; championing an equitable Cross-Charlotte Trail; and spearheading the SEAP, the city’s first-ever framework to transition to a low carbon future. It takes six votes to get approval on City Council. It takes a champion to fight for the people of every zip code.

3. ARE YOU WILLING TO COMMIT TO SUPPORTING ONLY THOSE REZONING PETITIONS IN STEELE CREEK THAT MEET THE GUIDELINES OF THE MOST RECENT 2012 STEELE CREEK DISTRICT AREA PLAN AND/OR THAT PROVIDE TANGIBLE BENEFITS TO RESIDENTS?

Just two decades ago, Steele Creek was practically rural. Not that long again, an Uptown commute was 30 minutes; now upwards of an hour. With an influx of approximately 21,900 people annually to Charlotte, we as a Council must support smart, sustainable growth as presented in the Steele Creek District Plan and adopted by City Council. As a member of the Transportation Committee, I am well aware of traffic issues in Steele Creek and throughout Charlotte. I support the 2030 Transit System Corridor Plan. I also believe in the short and long-term policies accommodating vehicles, transit, bicycles and pedestrians.

4. WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE FOR ADDRESSING TRAFFIC CONGESTION SPECIFICALLY IN STEELE CREEK AND THE GREATER CHARLOTTE AREA IN GENERAL?

As stated, I am a member of the Transportation Committee and continue to have my finger on the pulse of the critical issues surrounding smart, sustainable growth. While I feel this has been addressed in previous questions, I am happy to discuss further with any members of your association. Reach out to me at Dimple@DimpleAjmera.com and I will contact you personally.

5. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR SCHOOLS, ROADS, AND PARKS ARISING FROM RAPID POPULATION AND BUSINESS GROWTH?

Many of these issues are not in my purview but am proud to have championed equitable transportation and recreation options, especially for the Cross-Charlotte Trail. I was steadfast in my belief that “the city should fulfill its obligation to voters who approved bonds for a comprehensive trail through the whole city. We are in the business of equity." Part of Phase I is to help Charlotte reach its vision of becoming a true "City of Bikes." This aligns my beliefs as an environmentalist. All of these are “quality of life” issues that go hand-in-hand with economic development.

6. WHAT MAKES YOU THE BEST CANDIDATE TO SERVE CHARLOTTE AND STEELE CREEK COMMUNITY RESIDENTS?

As an At-Large candidate, I represent all of Charlotte, not just certain zip codes. I am consistent in my voting.

7. WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE THE 75,000 RESIDENTS OF STEELE CREEK VOTERS KNOW ABOUT YOU?

Environmental issues are near and dear to my heart. I chaired the Environment Committee and helped Charlotte become a global leader in sustainability with bipartisan support. We won the American Cities Climate Challenge and receive $2.5 million from former Mayor Bloomberg’s foundation.

I am a fighter. I vote my values, not special interests. Our challenges remain great, but our determination is greater. We will persist!

For more information see https://www.dimpleajmera.com/.

CANDIDATE: Julie Eiselt

PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE:

Currently serving a second term as City Council as an at-large
representative, and as Mayor Pro Tem.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

I spent career in international banking and corporate international treasury primarily in the Latin American and East European markets.

RESIDENT OF of Dilworth neighborhood for six months.

CAMPAIGN CONTACT: Julie Eiselt, votejulieeiselt@gmail.com, 704-578-9611

1. PLEASE STATE WHY YOU ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

In 2007, I was nearly abducted at gun point, which led me to found the community advocacy group Neighbors for a Safer Charlotte. Since then, I have worked closely with the police department, the District Attorney, and the courts as both a community member and an elected official to try and combat the rise in violent crime in our community. This work brought me closer to city government and exposed many of the deeper systemic inadequacies that require thoughtful policy-making. I bring the same energy and determination to helping solve these issues as I brought to the work that first got my involved in advocacy and organizing.

2. IF ELECTED, WHAT WILL BE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES?

I am committed to making sure that citizens have a voice in the 2040 Comprehensive Vision Plan. We need to be strategic in locating development density along planned public transit corridors and limit it along corridors that have limited mass transit potential. In those quarters such as Highway 160, we need to consider bus rapid transit routes and other such pilot programs to alleviate traffic congestion. We also have to work towards reducing the time of the average journey on public transit to increase economic mobility and give people hours back in their day. And we must ensure that Charlotte’s growth is managed in such a way so as to be sustainable for everyone, not displacing long-term residents but instead making our city an equitable and inclusive place for everyone to live.

I will continue to work closely with grassroots neighborhood organizations to empower them with the resources and the tools they need to prevent crime before it happens through services like the Jump Start Microgrant program, which I initiated during my first term on City Council.

3. ARE YOU WILLING TO COMMIT TO SUPPORTING ONLY THOSE REZONING PETITIONS IN STEELE CREEK THAT MEET THE GUIDELINES OF THE MOST RECENT 2012 STEELE CREEK DISTRICT AREA PLAN AND/OR THAT PROVIDE TANGIBLE BENEFITS TO RESIDENTS?

I have been a vocal advocate for approving rezonings that fit what is called for in an Area Plan, unless there is a public good or benefit that warrants the exception.

4. WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE FOR ADDRESSING TRAFFIC CONGESTION SPECIFICALLY IN STEELE CREEK AND THE GREATER CHARLOTTE AREA IN GENERAL?

We need to make our bus system more efficient and modern so that people choose to ride the bus as a mobility option, rather than depend on a single-occupancy vehicle. However, the current average one-way bus trip in Charlotte takes 90 minutes, so those who have a choice are not likely to take the bus. We ought to be get that travel time to or below a half hour, on modern buses that provide Internet access. By investing in modern and efficient bus service, we create a system that meets the needs of working people across neighborhoods, income levels, and types of employment, making transit options more diverse and more accessible.

5. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR SCHOOLS, ROADS, AND PARKS ARISING FROM RAPID POPULATION AND BUSINESS GROWTH?

We need to assess our entire regional transit needs and come up with various financing scenarios such as what we could expect from state and federal sources. If we were to truly be visionary, we would start the discussion of a multi-county bond, along with public-private partnerships for capital projects, and more innovative tax and fee systems to be able to support increased service provision should it prove to outpace the growth of the tax base.

6. WHAT MAKES YOU THE BEST CANDIDATE TO SERVE CHARLOTTE AND STEELE CREEK COMMUNITY RESIDENTS?

When I see a need, I take action. I bring a unique attitude and determination to solve problems to my role on City Council, rooted in my own experience in making government work for the community, and in the many conversations I have had with residents all across town and making sure their concerns are heard by staff and by my colleagues on Council. I also bring a much-needed professional background in banking and finance to City leadership as we continue to explore options for how to pay for increasing capital improvements.

7. WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE THE 75,000 RESIDENTS OF STEELE CREEK VOTERS KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I am married to a great guy, and we have three wonderful kids. We have lived in Charlotte for 21 years. I look at the work that I do on Council as foundational to building a city where my children will want to live and raise their families. The work we do now is for the next generation, and we have a duty to make it even better than what we leave behind.

For more information see https://www.julieeiselt.com/ in