Charlotte City Council could choose to fill hole left by Tariq Bokhari or leave the District 6 seat empty

Zane Cina,

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte City Council will say good bye to one of its two republicans. Councilman Tariq Bokhari announced he is stepping down from his district 6 position to take on a role in President Donald Trump’s administration. Bokhari will become the Deputy Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration. Bokhari said he will remain in his current position for at least a couple weeks while details are finalized.

Bokhari’s departure will leave a hole in City Council. The District 6 seat which Bokhari has held since 2017 will be empty unless the Council decides to change that. Michael Barnes, a former Charlotte City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem estimated that Council will appoint a temporary representative to Bokhari’s seat sometime in the Summer.Β  Barnes said the position will have to be filled with a person who lives in District 6 and shares Bokhari’s party as a Republican. Barnes noted that the Council will want someone who is not interested in running for the seat in November when the position is on the ballot.

“Someone who’s willing to try to get up to speed quickly,” Barnes said. “Who’s willing to work to address the needs of the district, but not not necessarily, you know, setting the place on fire.”

Former City Councilman Edwin Peacock said a decision may not have to be made at all by the Council. “The North Carolina General Assembly does not require the Charlotte City Council to fill the position,” Peacock said. He believes that with an election not far off for the district 6 seat, City Council may not see a need to fill Bokhari’s position. PeacockΒ also predicts there will be a lot of interest in the role.

“Very hotly contested. District six is a purple district,” Peacock said. “There will be a Democratic primary, I feel pretty certain… There will be definitely a Republican primary.”

The former Council members agree that Bokhari’s departure, as one of only two republicans, won’t have a great impact on City Council’s current dynamic.