James Mitchell resigns from Charlotte City Council
Questions were raised about potential conflicts of interest after Mitchell became president and part-owner of a construction company that does business with the city.
Charlotte City Council member James Mitchell talks about efforts to save the historic Excelsior Club at the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Forum, June 11, 2019. (Photo: QCity Metro)
January 11, 2021
James “Smuggie” Mitchell resigned Monday from Charlotte City Council amid suggestions that his new job as a construction company president posed a legal conflict with his position in city government.
Mitchell was introduced earlier this month as the new president of R.J. Leeper Construction, a Black-owned firm that does business with the city. News of Mitchell’s appointment to run the company came on the same day that Bright Hope Capital, a newly formed investment firm, announced that it had bought R.J. Leeper. Mitchell owns 25% of R.J. Leeper.
WCCB Charlotte s CW
January 11, 2021
James Mitchell Jr. Photo Via James Mitchell For Charlotte Facebook
CHARLOTTE, N.C. Councilmember James “Smuggie” Mitchell Jr. announced his resignation from the Charlotte City Council Monday morning, according to officials.
The resignation goes into effect 5 p.m. Monday. The initial announcement of the resignation was made on social media by Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt.
“His experience and service to the city of Charlotte will be missed,” Eiselt said.
Councilmemver James Mitchell has resigned effective 5:00pm today. His experience and service to the city of Charlotte will be missed!
The councilman was serving his third term as an at-large council member. He previously served from 1999 to 2013 as the District Two representative.