TO:       Charlotte Media                              DATE: 10/27/09

 

FROM: Carol Gifford,

               MCDP Coordinated Campaign Manager

 

Contact: CoordinatedCampaign@mecklenburgdemocrat.org

                (704) 525-5843 MCDP

                (215) 872-9239 (cell)

 

SUBJECT: MCDP At-Large “Four Who Offer More” Bios

News Tips for Democratic At-Large Charlotte City Council Candidates:

 

FOUR WHO OFFER MORE:

 

  • Progressive, Proactive, Proven: Experienced leadership to move Charlotte forward
  • Initiatives to create jobs, diversify the workforce, reduce crime, support law enforcement officers and firefighters, and maintain low taxes, while supporting an eco-friendly environment

 

 

1. Susan Burgess (Incumbent, Mayor Pro Tem):

 

Professional:

  • Expert on issues affecting cities and municipalities – including planning, neighborhoods and housing and transportation; former Board member of National League of Cities and 2008 president of N.C. League of Municipalities.
  • Incumbent (elected At-Large in 1999), Mayor Pro Tem (past six years), chairs Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee and serves on Transportation, Environment and Governmental Affairs Committees.
  • Education expert; served as chair (1996-97) and member of Charlotte Mecklenburg Board of Education.
  • Public heath expert, co-owner of biotech company.

 

Personal:

  • West Virginia native
  • Married to husband, Patrick Burgess, for 40+ years. Four children, six grandchildren.
  • Girl Scouts life member

 

2. Patrick Cannon (Former Charlotte City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem for two terms, 1999-2005)

 

Professional:

  • Vast knowledge of Charlotte neighborhoods and community.
  • CEO of E-Z Parking, a parking management and design build company (www.e-zparking.net), owner of uptown Charlotte Historic Landmark building, leased for office space, and managing partner of BritTrick, a business consulting firm.
  • First elected to Charlotte City Council at the age of 26 in 1999; served four terms as District 3 Councilman, elected as At-Large City Councilman in 2001, serving in that position and as Mayor Pro Tem for four years.
  • Former Chair of City Council Community Safety and Housing Committees; served as Vice Chair of Economic Development/Planning Committee.

 

Personal:

  • Native Charlottean
  • Married to Trenna (Harrington) Cannon, two children

 

3. David Howard (Community Leader and Urban and Civic Planner)

 

Professional:

  • Civic leader molding future of Charlotte and region based on his leadership of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission (was past president), Mecklenburg Human Services Council and Mecklenburg County Environmental Policy Coordinating Committee.
  • Insight and knowledge about urban development issues (appointed Urban Community Adviser for National Urban Land Institute), including international component; selected as 2009 American Memorial Fellow by German Marshal Fund, affording him opportunity to visit five European countries in 25 days last summer.
  • Affordable housing expert; vice president with the nonprofit Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, an affordable housing developer.

 

Personal:

  • Grew up on Charlotte’s West End
  • Married to Mary Walker-Howard, three children, one grandchild

 

4. Darrin Rankin (Small business owner, financial educator, community activist)

 

Professional:

  • Small business owner; operates The Rankin Insurance Group with wife
  • Licensed real estate agent
  • Active in several philanthropic and professional organizations, including: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc, Big Brothers/Big Sister of Charlotte, the Urban League of Central Carolinas, and the Urban Financial Services Coalition.
  • “Serving is not about me, it’s about WE,” advocate of government reaching beyond its doors to engage with public

 

Personal:

  • Pittsburgh native who moved to Charlotte in 2001 to open business
  • Married to the former Holly Blakeman, two children

 

 

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