Hello, I am Commissioner Elaine Powell. With 33 years of community service in Mecklenburg County, I'm stepping up again as the Democratic candidate to continue my service as your Mecklenburg County Commissioner for District 1. 

I will continue to bring community voices to the decision-making process. I believe this is the core of our democracy and the responsibility of elected leaders. I take pride in asking challenging questions and listening to everyone's input, no matter their political party or background.

VALUES

Citizen Engagement

I served thousands of hours for 29 years as a community volunteer in Mecklenburg County. Most recently, I served as the Chair of the Park & Recreation Commission until May 2018. It is essential to our democracy that elected leaders seek community input and use feedback in the decision-making process.

Stewardship

I am a champion of environmental stewardship, which is directly related to community health. People want to live in a county with clean air, water and soil, and nearby parks and greenways. We must protect our natural resources to preserve our quality of life now and for future generations.

Public Education

Every child deserves a quality education. I served as a CMS volunteer in a variety of roles from 1989-2014. I plan to work with elected leaders on the School Board to review the community input they are receiving. I will ask questions to understand CMS budget requests so that I can make sound funding decisions.

​Economic Growth

I believe small businesses are the backbone of America. I currently help my husband manage the demands of his small equipment rental company, which has been in business in Charlotte since 1979. I plan to seek input from small business owners and the county-appointed Advisory Boards.

Community Health & Livability​

My professional background in clinical health care has shown me how interconnected many issues are to community health. I plan to seek input from multiple stakeholders and consider potential impacts and long-term consequences of all decisions.
I will focus on Smart Growth.