Charlotte City Council Decision on Filling Vacant District 6 Seat

Charlotte City Council is about to bid farewell to one of its two Republican members. Councilman Tariq Bokhari has announced that he will be stepping down from his district 6 position to take on a role in President Donald Trump’s administration. Specifically, Bokhari will become the Deputy Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration. While he plans to stay in his current position for a few more weeks as details are finalized, his departure will undoubtedly leave a gap in City Council.

The District 6 seat, which Bokhari has held since 2017, will be left vacant unless the Council decides to fill it. According to Michael Barnes, a former Charlotte City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem, it is likely that the Council will appoint a temporary representative for Bokhari’s seat sometime in the summer. This temporary appointee must reside in District 6 and align with Bokhari’s Republican party affiliation. Barnes emphasized that the Council will seek someone willing to quickly grasp the responsibilities of the position and address the district’s needs without causing too much disruption.

Former City Councilman Edwin Peacock mentioned that it may not be mandatory for the Council to fill the vacancy, as per the North Carolina General Assembly regulations. Since the district 6 seat will be up for grabs in the upcoming November election, the Council might decide not to appoint someone to replace Bokhari. However, Peacock anticipates significant interest in the role, especially given that District 6 is considered a purple district, likely leading to both Democratic and Republican primary contests.

Despite Bokhari’s departure, which decreases the Republican representation on the Council to just one member, former Council members believe that it will not drastically alter the current dynamic of the City Council.