Charlotte City Council names Rob Harrington as Interim Mayor

Kaci Jones,

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Robert Harrington has been selected as the interim mayor of Charlotte. He will serve the rest of Vi Lyles’ term.

“I think we’ve got an 18 month bridge here, it’s a bridge to the future,” Harrington said in an interview after being selected. “I’m excited to be a part of that bridge and to channel the great energy you see in that room.”

Harrington is a partner at Robinson Bradshaw where he litigates complex business disputes. The 11-member city council is often divided on issues and struggles to run efficient meetings.

“You can feel their passion about the city and I can feel their passion for the city and I’m just looking forward to the future,” Harrington said.

Before the vote, nearly 30 speakers spoke to council about their picks. Several people endorsed Harrington.

“He exhibits all of the qualities that will make an excellent and effective interim mayor. He’s level-headed, dedicated and hardworking. He’s warm, he’s genuine, he’s truly a connector,” Charlotte Resident Chelsea Evans Okeagu said.

Ed Driggs is the only republican city councilman. He represents District 7. He says he picked someone who can help increase the productivity of meetings.

“We need someone with gravitas who has a steady hand on the tiller, who can make this council reach consensus and function better because we have a hard time sometimes,” Councilman Driggs said.

Harrington will serve until the end of 2027 and he says he’s ready to bring his skillset to the dais.

“I think we offered what we had to offer and that’s a record of leadership a record of collaboration a record of listening and i look forward to bringing those skills to bare,” Harrington said.

Harrington starts in the role on July 1st. As of Monday night, council was still ironing out the specifics of the swearing-in ceremony. Harrington is replacing Vi Lyles who says she’s resigning to spend more time with her family.

Over the next 18 months, Harrington will be involved in many decisions for the City of Charlotte including renewing the lease for the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Many airport workers have been asking city council for help because of low wages and unsafe working conditions.

After Harrington’s appointment, 32BJ SEIU, the union representing airport workers sent a statement saying in part, ” Today, many airport workers are still earning poverty wages and rely on taxpayer-funded public programs for basic healthcare, food, and housing assistance. Charlotte residents continue to pay some of the highest airfares in the country while passenger satisfaction remains near the bottom among major U.S. airports, and passengers with disabilities continue to face serious barriers ranging from delayed assistance to damaged wheelchairs and safety concerns tied to chronic understaffing and turnover.

The next lease agreement should ensure that the terms reflect the needs of the residents, workers, and consumers who have been integral to CLT’s growth and continue to invest in its success every day.
We look forward to working with Mayor Harrington to ensure the next chapter of CLT delivers for everyone. That starts with transparency, accountability, and the opportunity for meaningful public input.”