Greg Collard

Foxx Won't Seek A 3rd Term

Greg Collard, Lisa Miller and Tasnim Shamma — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:42:49 +0000

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx is not running for a third term.

Foxx announced his decision during this interview with WSOC-TV. Foxx says reports that President Obama is considering him as the next Secretary of Transportation has nothing to do with his decision. He said he's been discussing it with his wife for a few months. Foxx said the big reason he’s leaving because he feels he’s accomplished much of what he came into office to do.

Reporter Who Covered McCrory Is His New Communications Director

Greg Collard — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:33:00 +0000

A political reporter for a Raleigh television station is Governor Pat McCory’s new communications director.

Kim Genardo begins her new job Wednesday. She replaces Chris Walker.

As a reporter for WNCN-TV, Genardo covered both of McCrory’s gubernatorial campaigns and his administration. She had a one-on-one interview with him that aired Feb. 12^th, and her Twitter feed shows she covered Monday’s State-of-the-State address.

Vote Set For City Manager; Observer Reports Ron Carlee Offered Job

Greg Collard and Ben Bradford — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:13:16 +0000

It appears that Charlotte City Council has chosen its next city manager, at least informally.

The Charlotte Observer reports that council has offered the job to Ron Carlee, a former county manager in Arlington, Virginia. And city spokeswoman Kim McMillan says council plans a vote during Monday’s meeting.

Here’s Carlee speaking at reception earlier Wednesday:

Sporting News Ends Print Run, Goes All-Digital

Greg Collard — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:27:12 +0000

After 126 years, the nation’s oldest sports magazine, Sporting News, is ending its print edition. The Charlotte-based magazine is going all-digital.

Before Sports Illustrated, there was The Sporting News. It was the national authority on baseball. In fact, it was commonly called the Bible of Baseball in the early 20^th century.

The Sporting News evolved into more than a baseball publication, but it couldn’t keep up with Sports Illustrated, or ESPN The Magazine.

Davidson College Project Seeks History From Under Lake Norman

Greg Collard — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:02:28 +0000

The top headline in the October 1^st, 1959, Mecklenburg Gazette proclaims “Great Economic Progress is Seen.” A few days earlier, Gov. Luther Hodges visited the Catawba River to set off the first dynamite blast for construction of the Cowan’s Ford Dam – the site of a Revolutionary War battle.

The writer of the story called it the “beginning of a new era in the history of the Catawba River Valley.”

No kidding.

Pittenger Cruises To Congress In 9th District

Greg Collard — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 06:46:33 +0000

The 9^th district congressional seat will remain Republican. Former state Sen. Robert Pittenger defeated Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jennifer Roberts 52 to 46 percent. Pittenger will replace Republican Sue Myrick, who is retiring after 18 years in office.

In his victory speech at the Marriott SouthPark, Pittenger spoke of freedoms under attack, “especially the free enterprise system.”

And he pledged that he will work to that system. from the government.

“The greatest anecdote to poverty is the free enterprise system, not the government.”

Some NC Races Decided

Greg Collard — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 03:35:00 +0000

Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory is now Governor-elect Pat McCory. He gave his victory speech around 9 p.m. shortly after receiving a concession call from Democratic opponent Walter Dalton.

“Our goal was not just to become governor and get elected to this great office. Our goal was to be governor to lead. That’s what we plan to do and we plan to start that work tomorrow,” McCrory said from a ballroom at the Westin hotel in Uptown Charlotte.

Early Voting Becoming Passé

Greg Collard — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:27:11 +0000

With in-person early voting underway in North Carolina, it might be helpful to break down its use in different areas of the state.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state has eight urban counties and 20 suburban counties that make up eight metropolitan areas. The other 72 counties are classified as rural counties.

Within the eight urban counties, 59 percent of the ballots cast were before Election Day, while suburban and rural counties each had 53 percent of their ballots cast during the early voting period.

Protests: Diverse, Energetic And Smaller Than Expected

Greg Collard — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 21:38:56 +0000

Several hundred protesters marched in Charlotte Sunday afternoon in advance of the Democratic National Convention. The march attracted diverse groups upset with both political parties, but far fewer people than what organizers predicted.

The event was billed as the March on Wall Street South. Organizers predicted several thousand people. Police braced for possibly the biggest protest in Charlotte history.

That didn’t happen. Charlotte Police Chief Rodney Monroe estimates about 800 protesters turned out.
One of them was Erick Verlo of Colorado Springs, Colorado.