State Lawmakers Return to Raleigh Wednesday

CHARLOTTE, NC – As a new session begins, State Senator Joel Ford says he
and other members of the Mecklenburg Delegation will be fighting to make sure Charlotte doesn’t lose influence in Raleigh.

“Well, we have to repair some relationships and make nice with the North Carolina General Assembly,” Ford says.

He thinks it’s only a matter of time before House Bill 2 is repealed. But there’s still a lot of tension between city and state leaders over a failed attempt to repeal the controversial law in December.

“You have the folks from other parts of the state and in Charlotte looking at one another very warily. There’s not a lot of trust,” explains WCCB Charlotte Political Contributor Mary C. Curts.

Curtis says it’s in lawmakers best interest to find ways to work with each other.

Ford says his other priorities include juvenile justice reform and securing more transportation funding for Charlotte.

But one challenge for Ford and local Democrats is that while they make up most of the Mecklenburg Delegation, Republicans control the state legislature.

“When they get to Raleigh, where the Republicans are in power, it actually diminishes their influence,” Curtis explains.

Ford told WCCB it’s important Charlotte remains a priority on the legislative agenda.

“It’s important because Charlotte-Mecklenburg is the heartbeat of the economic engine for the state of North Carolina. And our health and financial stability is very, very important to the entire state. And I’m sure that the leadership understands that and they will do what they can to work with us,” Ford says.