Former City Councilman James Mitchell says he’s disappointed he wasn’t the one chosen to be the next mayor. From restoring the public’s trust, to his continued fight to keep the airport under local control, Mitchell spoke exclusively with WCCB’s Terrance Bates Tuesday.
“I was disappointed from the standpoint, I thought I was the right person to build consensus on the city coucil,” said Mitchell. Yet, as the attention shifts to new Mayor Dan Clodfelter, Mitchell says the big picture is what’s important. “So I do think he combines both the city and the state understanding. He can help us with relationships we need to have in the governor’s office.”
But all of that legislative work still pales in comparison to the work needed to be done to rebuild the public’s trust in the mayor’s office and beyond. “Since what happened with Mr. Cannon,” asked WCCB Rising anchor Terrance Bates, “have you had conversations with the FBI?”
“No, personally, no I have not,” answered Mitchell.
“Have you had conversations with Mr. Cannon himself?”
“I have texted him about two messages.”
“What were those conversations? What was the tone of those conversations?”
“He’s very hurt, but I told him, as always, stay prayed up.”
As for moving forward, Mitchell says the battle for control of the airport and Duke’s coal ash isues are priorities. “We have to perform in a way the citizens are holding us accountable,” said Mitchell. “We have to perform in a way we’re delivering a result the citizens would like for us to do.”
