Meet Elaine Powell
District 1
I’m running to be your Mecklenburg County Commissioner in District 1. My goal is to bring community voices to the decision-making process. We need authentic, inclusive leadership—genuine people who want to make a difference. We need more diversity on the board of commissioners, and as a champion for community engagement, public health, parks, recreation and environmental stewardship, I offer a unique skill set.
I seek out citizen voices and am a natural-born advocate. For the past 33 years I have been actively engaged in our community. I began volunteering in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) in 1989, starting out as a community partner at Eastway Middle School. I continued to serve in a variety of roles in CMS from 1989 until 2014.
I have had an extensive "real-life internship" in local government. I have been appointed to multiple councils, boards and a commission in Mecklenburg County since 2001, beginning on the Mecklenburg County Waste Management Advisory Board. I served as the Chair of the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Commission (PRC), the Chair of the Natural Resources Stewardship Advisory Council, and the Vice Chair of the North Park Region Advisory Council from 2010 until May 2018.
My experience has made me a fierce advocate for citizen engagement in government. The best decisions, where you actually create positive change, come from that engagement. When the community has buy-in, you can plan change, and the only way to get that buy-in is to have everyone’s voice in the decision-making process.
I can’t bear to see people taken advantage of and I can't stand bullies. I believe in good manners. I am respectful of everyone and I listen. But more than anything, I'm inclusive and I’m a critical thinker. I believe that’s what we need in elected leadership. We don’t know what problems we as a community will face in life, but we need leaders who will think through the issues, seek input from multiple sources and consider long-term consequences.
Service is part of who I am. I am the third generation in my family to graduate from Ursuline Academy, whose philosophy is Serviam, which means, “I will serve.” I’m inspired by my mother, who reminded us to think of others who had less, even as we suffered through some very tough times. She battled multiple adversities with class and determination. My mother believed in herself, and no matter what came her way, she never gave up. I celebrate her strength and her example inspires me daily as I work in the community. I grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, and Wilmington, NC. I moved to Charlotte a few weeks after I graduated from the University of Delaware in 1986 and began my career with the Sisters of Mercy at Mercy Hospital. We opened Mercy Hospital South in 1987.
My family lives in the Mountain Island Lake area of District 1.
I seek out citizen voices and am a natural-born advocate. For the past 33 years I have been actively engaged in our community. I began volunteering in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) in 1989, starting out as a community partner at Eastway Middle School. I continued to serve in a variety of roles in CMS from 1989 until 2014.
I have had an extensive "real-life internship" in local government. I have been appointed to multiple councils, boards and a commission in Mecklenburg County since 2001, beginning on the Mecklenburg County Waste Management Advisory Board. I served as the Chair of the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Commission (PRC), the Chair of the Natural Resources Stewardship Advisory Council, and the Vice Chair of the North Park Region Advisory Council from 2010 until May 2018.
My experience has made me a fierce advocate for citizen engagement in government. The best decisions, where you actually create positive change, come from that engagement. When the community has buy-in, you can plan change, and the only way to get that buy-in is to have everyone’s voice in the decision-making process.
I can’t bear to see people taken advantage of and I can't stand bullies. I believe in good manners. I am respectful of everyone and I listen. But more than anything, I'm inclusive and I’m a critical thinker. I believe that’s what we need in elected leadership. We don’t know what problems we as a community will face in life, but we need leaders who will think through the issues, seek input from multiple sources and consider long-term consequences.
Service is part of who I am. I am the third generation in my family to graduate from Ursuline Academy, whose philosophy is Serviam, which means, “I will serve.” I’m inspired by my mother, who reminded us to think of others who had less, even as we suffered through some very tough times. She battled multiple adversities with class and determination. My mother believed in herself, and no matter what came her way, she never gave up. I celebrate her strength and her example inspires me daily as I work in the community. I grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, and Wilmington, NC. I moved to Charlotte a few weeks after I graduated from the University of Delaware in 1986 and began my career with the Sisters of Mercy at Mercy Hospital. We opened Mercy Hospital South in 1987.
My family lives in the Mountain Island Lake area of District 1.
Leadership Experience
- Vice Chair of the Board of County Commissioners, 2018 - current
- Mecklenburg County Environmental Stewardship Committee, Chair 2019 - current
- Mecklenburg County Health & Human Services Committee, 2019 - current
- Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Commission, Chair, 2010-2018
- Mecklenburg County Natural Resources Stewardship Advisory Council, Chair, 2010-2018
- Mecklenburg County North Park Region Advisory Council, Vice Chair, 2010-2018
- Mecklenburg County Waste Management Advisory Board, 2001-2009
- Mecklenburg County Livable Communities Plan (now called Livable Meck)
- Connect Our Future "Reality Check 2050" and Community Input Groups
- United Agenda for Children
- UNCC Integrated Network for Social Sustainability
- Mecklenburg County ReVenture Advisory Council
- Mecklenburg County Wipe Out Waste Ambassador
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Catawba Area Plan Advisory Group
- Mountain Island Lake Stewardship Committee
