UNC Charlotte student to run for Charlotte City Council

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In 2017, a millennial wave swept through Charlotte City Council. In 2019, Generation Z is stepping up to run.

UNC Charlotte senior Gabe Cartagena is running for Charlotte City Council's District 4 seat.

"Every office should have at least one young person running for it," Cartagena said.

District 4 is currently represented by Greg Phipps, who is not running for reelection. I-85 runs through District 4, which includes the university area and north Charlotte.

Cartagena is no stranger to politics

He was a DNC delegate and was elected as third vice chair of the Mecklenburg Democratic Party.

"We have a whole lot of problems that Charlotte politicians have liked to tell us we have and nothing seems to be getting better," Cartagena said.

He says some of his priorities include affordable housing, transportation and jobs.

Cartagena was partly motivated to run because of the UNC Charlotte shooting. He says he wasn't happy with the response from local officials

"This isn't a new problem. They should have been able to come to us with solutions," he said.

As a way to combat gun violence, Cartagena wants to focus on income equality, job security and domestic violence prevention.

The primary is Sept. 10. Turnout will likely be low. Fewer than 5,000 people voted in the 2017 District 4 primary.

Cartagena's campaign will include numerous UNC Charlotte students and graduates. He believes being a student is beneficial.

"I am not stuck in my ways, I am willing to look at data and make informed decisions," he said. "I am going to work around a calendar, I will manage my time well. It is going to be a lot of late nights and early mornings."

Cartagena is one of five people who have expressed interest in the District 4 seat according to Jane Whitley, chair of the Mecklenburg Democratic Party. Other possible candidates include Sean Thompson, Renee Perkins Johnson, Charles Robinson and Charlene Henderson.

Cox Media Group