CHARLOTTE — After four terms with Charlotte City Council, Tariq Bokhari is stepping down from his role in local government.
He’ll take on a new role with the Trump administration as Deputy Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration.
The District 6 representative told Channel 9′s Joe Bruno he’s still finalizing his departure plans. No formal notice has been issued yet, but while he’s leaving his city role, his next role will have just as much influence over the Queen City’s future.
As deputy administrator for the FTA, he’ll be in the No. 2 position at an agency responsible for deciding whether Charlotte gets federal funding for future transit projects.
“He’s not going to stop getting calls from me, that’s for sure,” said Councilwoman Marjorie Molina, D-District 5. “We got a lot of work to do. I think, in many ways, we are fortunate to have someone who actually knows our city.”
Right now, the city council is trying to convince the General Assembly to allow a sales tax increase referendum to fund a multi-billion transportation package aimed at building new rail, bus, and road projects.
“We’re penciling in about $5 billion or $6 billion of federal support that we hope to get,” said Ed Riggs, R-District 7. “So, Mr. Bokhari, in his new role, could be instrumental in helping us access all the right people and getting the best application process we can.”
At times, Bokhari has been critical and skeptical of the plans.
But Mayor Vi Lyles told Channel 9 she believes Bokhari’s new position will benefit Charlotte in the long run.
“I believe everything helps the transit plan. Mobility is what we are going to do and I think he’s going to be a part of this. He has helped us be more consistent in what we are doing and make some steps forward,” Lyles said.
Driggs, the only other Republican on the board, believes Bokhari will do the best he can to help Charlotte achieve its transit goals.
“Mr. Bokhari has been outspoken with observations about the plan,” Driggs said. “I don’t think he was fundamentally in opposition to it. I think there were some things he disagreed with or where he was thinking about the future.”
Charlotte City Council will appoint Tariq’s replacement. It has to be a Republican living in District 6.
One of the key people to watch for this role is Krista Bokhari, Tariq’s wife, Channel 9′s Joe Bruno reported Tuesday night. However, councilmembers, including Lyles, declined to make an endorsement Wednesday.
There will be an application process.
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