Former councilwoman fighting federal charges reflects on her time in office

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Tiawana Brown has finished her historic term as District 3 Councilwoman.

“I came in unapologetically, in my truth, standing on business for the people,” Councilwoman Brown said.

Brown made history as the first formerly incarcerated city council person, but she lost her primary in September by double digits.

District 3 stretches from South End to Steele Creek and even includes parts of West Charlotte. It is geographically the largest district representing a diverse set of needs for constituents. Brown says she has lived in D3 all her life.

“I accomplished what’s most important, and that’s being true to the people using the seat that they put me in for them, for their voice, for their calls, for getting results for them,” Brown said.

Brown is the CEO of her non-profit Beauty After The Bars. She says it helps formerly incarcerated women restart their lives through housing and professional development.

This past May, Brown found herself back in legal trouble after federal authorities accused her and her two adult daughters of fraudulently obtaining more than $120,000 in PPP loans.

“I think it was targeted,” Brown said. “Without getting into really hindering my case, if I go and pull all of the PPP loans in the city of Charlotte, what will we found out?”

Brown has pleaded not guilty to the charges, but she says the charges cost her her seat on city council.

“I would have to say the way that my name was ran through the media and on the blogs, and every time something came up, it was ‘indicted councilwoman’, ‘indicted councilwoman.’”

Brown’s time on council was peppered with controversies including secret settlements to then-chief Johnny Jennings and state audits.

“We were already going through a whirlwind and then here come my allegations,” Brown said. “I became a shield for all of the other mess and that wasn’t fair. There was so much going on.”

Brown has written a book, Unbreakable: The Rise, The Fire, The Fight Part One, documenting her journey through these latest charges. She is patiently waiting for her day in court and says she will continue working for the people.

“What I bring can’t be erased. It’s history. It’s in the books. It’s already been written,” Brown said. “I have a calling on my life and not only do I know who I am, I know whose I am.”

Brown is scheduled to appear in court early next year. That’s also around the time when her book will be released.

She’s not ruling out another run for public office and says she will continue to look for ways to serve the people on a larger scale.