I-77 Battle Takes Turn to Oust Cornelius Mayor

CORNELIUS, NC — The ongoing battle over Interstate 77 toll lanes has taken a turn to oust Cornelius Mayor Chuck Travis.

The Town Commissioners called an emergency meeting, citing the No Confidence Rule after the Mayor met with lawmakers last week to express support for the controversial project.

Commissioners called on the Mayor to resign Tuesday.

“My duties are to be your mayor and represent my position,

Mayor Travis told the crowd as he refused to resign.

The crowd interrupted him with outbursts of disagreement.

“He stepped out of bounds,” said Cynthia Underwood.

Those against the I-77 toll lane project say Mayor Travis betrayed trust when he met with State Senators last Wednesday to give his personal opinion on the project.

“What’s our plan?” said Mayor Travis. “You cancel the project, how are we going to get our interstate fixed?”

Mayor Travis’s supporters like former Huntersville Mayor Jill Swain argue the bill passed in the NC House of Representatives to stop the project is flawed because a lack of immediate funding to widen the road.

“It looks like HB 954 would cause us to wait again,” said Swain. “So, when you only have that as an option and our citizens and businesses can’t stand to wait any longer, lets move forward”

That opinion was out numbered in the town hall meeting.

The crowd cheered when commissioners unanimously announced that they want the mayor out, saying he can’t accurately represent voters.

The statement says in part, the board has been trying to terminate the project contract since 2015.

“There’s been several plans,” said Underwood. “It’s not without a plan

The request for Mayor Travis’s resignation was ceremonial to send a message back to lawmakers that taxpayers don’t want the project.