Laura Meier, Democratic Mecklenburg commission District 5 candidate, answers our questions
Name: Laura Meier
Birth date (month, day and year):
Campaign website or social media page: meierformeck.com
Occupation: County commissioner
Education: BS Political Science Appalachian State Univ., MA Teaching Winthrop Univ.
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held)
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
Co-President, Charlotte Women's Movement; Volunteer Coordinator for Josh Stein for Attorney General campaign 2016 in Meck County; lobbied the NCGA for ERA passage in North Carolina; attended the Women's March in DC in 2017 and helped organize women's marches in Charlotte; previous board member of Cops and Barbers; previous board member of Lillian's List; board member Katie Blessing Center; board member Smart Start of Meck Co; serve as BOCC liaison Domestic Violence Advisory Board
What made you want to run for Mecklenburg County Commissioner?
In 2016, I attended the showing of The New Jim Crow about mass incarceration. That one experience led me down a path of education, discovery, experience and action. I saw a sign once that read "If not you, then who?" It stayed with me, and in 2020 when the opportunity presented itself to run for this office, I seized this chance to make a difference in my community. The county oversees and funds the very things I am passionate about, and I am honored to be a part of it.
How will you make a difference with your platform?
Undoubtedly I have already made a difference by supporting access to health care, public schools, mental health services and our green spaces. We cannot do anything alone on the BOCC —it take five of us to do get anything done. Since I have been on the board, we have fully funded the CMS request, increased our land acquisition, partnered with several organizations to increase health care access — including mental health — and secured necessary funding to dredge Park Road and Freedom Park ponds.
Housing is an issue county-wide. What would you do to ensure county residents have access to affordable housing?
It's clear that government alone cannot address the affordable housing crisis. It is imperative that we seek public-private partnerships as well as partnerships between county-city-nonprofits doing the work. Incredible organizations like DreamKey Partners and Ascent Housing are perfect examples of partnerships who strive to solve to the housing crisis. Government must continue to lead the way, and we will not be able to do it without the partnerships in the community.
What are the three top priorities in Mecklenburg County and how would you address them?
Affordable housing: see above
Balancing Charlotte's growth: I would continue to advocate for green space for our ever-growing community. Not only will green space solve to cleaner water and air, but it also makes a huge difference in our community's mental health and economic development.
Public schools: I would continue to support fully funding the CMS request as we are seeing our General Assembly effectively defund our schools as they fund more and more private schools with vouchers.
What separates you from your opponents and makes you the best choice for Mecklenburg County voters this election season?
Throughout this campaign season, my opponent speaks little of county issues, so I do not know where he stands. He has focused on political parties instead of the people. To that, I say the voters have spoken (since 2018) that party is not important to them, but the issues are, including their beloved schools, parks and greenways, and most recently, mental health access. I am clearly the best choice for District 5 because I am experienced, trusted and responsive.
CMPD saw an 8% increase in violent crimes as of July 2024. How do you plan to address and curb rising rates of violence?
To be clear, Mecklenburg County does not fund CMPD nor has a direct influence on CMPD (that's the City of Charlotte). What we can do on the county side is address poverty levels, which has a direct correlation to crime. We are tasked with taking care of the people by providing equitable health care access; food and housing; equitable education opportunities; and programming to include "violence interrupters" in communities with high crime, youth and family services, and re-entry programs.
Last year, youth crime incidents spiked to the highest levels in Charlotte in at least the last five years, according to CMPD. In 2024, there has been a 300% rise in youth homicide suspects, according to CMPD. How do you plan to address and lower the rates of growing youth crime plaguing our communities?
The county's Office of Violence Prevention's plan, "The Way Forward," provides a framework to address community violence. I support programs focused on youth and families, community engagement, economic opportunity and work force programs, as well as intergovernmental partnerships. The importance of after-school programs for youth has never been more important. Additionally, we must support our DSS as there has been an increase in child abuse and neglect, another direct correlation to crime.
More than 100 people move here a day. How can the county do better at preserving neighborhoods and balancing rapid growth in neighborhoods?
Again, the task of preserving and balancing Charlotte's neighborhoods lies with the City of Charlotte (2040 Plan). What the county can address, however, is the balance of development and open space. By continuing to acquire land throughout the county, we can provide neighborhoods and development with badly-needed open space. Consider the South End area. Not one tract of land has been preserved for green space for the residents. I would like to ensure this doesn't happen to other areas.
