Rob Harrington appointed Charlotte mayor, pledges focus on public safety, housing and transportation

Rob Harrington pledged to devote the remaining 18 months of the mayoral term to the people of Charlotte, thanking the City Council for his appointment and outlining public safety, affordable housing and transportation as top priorities.

Harrington, speaking at a City Council meeting, said, "I pledge that I will devote the next year and a half to working with you to realize our collective goals for the residents of this great city." He also said he would "lead with three lenses: trust, order and efficiency, and respect," framing those principles as the basis for his approach to city government.

The remarks followed an invocation and the council's appointment process. Harrington thanked outgoing Mayor Lyles "for her service over the nearly nine years that she's been mayor," and invoked the work of earlier local leaders he said shaped his view of public service, including Harvey Gantt and Richard Root.

Harrington spoke about his background in Florence, South Carolina, and said his parents emphasized education and service. He tied those personal roots to a pledge of regular, day-to-day attention to city business, saying he would "wake up every morning for a year and a half thinking about Charlotte."

He listed several issues he expects to press with the council: "public safety, affordable housing, transportation infrastructure and challenges to programs intended just to level the playing field for our residents and small businesses," and urged colleagues to govern with trust and respect.

Council proceedings earlier in the meeting included a reading of applicants and finalists for the appointment; the meeting record names Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell and Carrie Cook among those finalists as announced at the session. The meeting closed with the host thanking attendees.

Harrington closed by thanking his family and colleagues and saying he looked forward to working with the council as mayor for the next 18 months.