‘A cheerleader for Charlotte’: Councilman Mitchell steps aside after 20 years of service

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte City Councilman James “Smuggie” Mitchell has resigned from his At Large seat on Charlotte City Council. Mitchell announced his resignation Monday morning at the annual Charlotte City Council retreat.

Mitchell was recently named president of R.J. Leeper Construction, a full-service minority construction management and general contracting company located in Charlotte. The company was acquired by Bright Hope Capital LLC, a new investment firm that aims to significantly develop and grow Black- and Hispanic-owned businesses in the Charlotte region, according to a press release.

The company’s founder, Ron Leeper, served as a mentor to Mitchell and encouraged him to run for office.

“I was taught very early by my mentor when you run -- now in 1999 -- you need to have your same good name when you decide to leave,” Mitchell said. “That was important to me.”

Mitchell, a West Charlotte High School alumnus, served on Charlotte City Council from 1999-2013 and from 2015- present. His list of accomplishments is long, resulting in the Queen City landing thousands of jobs and dozens, if not, hundreds of events.

In an interview with reporter Joe Bruno, Mitchell said the two accomplishments he is most proud of are naming a street after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and bringing the CIAA Tournament to Charlotte.

Mitchell said he is proud Dr. Martin Luther King Jr is honored with a prominent street in uptown.

“When you look at other cities, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is in a challenged place of town,” he said. “Thank God I had a vision to put it downtown in Center City. Now you hear about PGA Golf tournament, pickup at Martin Luther King Boulevard. NASCAR celebration, MLK Jr. Boulevard, ACC Champ, MLK Boulevard.”

Mitchell points to CIAA’s selection of Charlotte as a host city for their annual basketball tournament as a turning point for the city. He said it proved Charlotte was ready for major events, like the Democratic National Convention.

“We weren’t this quiet city no more,” he said. “We were about to become this big urban city that could take on major events.”

Mitchell’s accomplishments also include Northlake Mall, Truist Field, Bank of America Stadium improvements, two political conventions and the Charlotte Inclusion Program.

Mitchell’s departure from City Council ensures there will be no conflicts of interest when RJ Leeper has business before the city. He said after a week of serving in both roles, it was apparent he had to step aside.

“I did not want me being the president to come in and for some reason put a chink in the armor,” he said. “I wanted to leave on my own terms, with a great opportunity like this and I wanted to leave when people say we miss him, he left too early, so I think I checked all of the boxes.”

As he leaves his post at the Government Center, Mitchell hopes people will remember him for his passion for the city he grew up in and loved to serve.

“I hope people will see James Mitchell and say, ‘He was the biggest cheerleader this community ever had and he loved Charlotte more than he loved himself,’” he said.

Charlotte City Council will appoint a replacement to his seat to serve until a new member wins an election in the fall. Council will let the public apply for the seat and hold a public forum.

State statute mandates the replacement be a Democrat since council has partisan elections and that was Mitchell’s political party. In the past, Council has supported appointees who say they are not interested in running for the seat.

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