Information helpful for talking with officials, learning which government does what, and making your voice heard. Updated.

1.
Talking with officials
Let public officials and decision makers know what you think about an issue, policy or decision that is
important to you. Ways to do this include:
• Sending an email or talking to them on the phone
• Connecting on Facebook or Twitter
• Meeting with public officials and policy makers
• Speaking at a public hearing
• Inviting public officials and decision makers to your school or organization
Things to keep in mind
• Know your target – do your homework to find out which level of government, which
department, which policy or decision maker you need to talk with
• Remember that you provide a valuable perspective that officials need to hear
• Listen – to everyone in the room, especially people you disagree with
• Be open‐minded, respectful and polite – treat people as potential allies, not enemies
• Build relationships – don’t only communicate to complain.
• Think critically – connect what you hear with what you know
• Think like a leader – how does this issue impact others? The future? What can I do to make
things better for the most people?
• Look for facts and figures – passion helps, but facts win and change opinions
• Identify the intent – don’t like a policy? try to see where the official was going with the idea
Communicating
• Mention that you are a student – you can use this to your advantage
• Ask questions and/or state your opinion
• Get your facts straight
• Make your comments short and to the point…focus on what’s important first
• Offer suggestions and solutions
• Ask for specific action
• Relate to your personal experience
• Use your own words
• Don’t waste time on the obvious
• Ask if you can help be a part of the solution
• If you are speaking, be confident and clear…and smile
• If you are writing, spell and punctuate correctly
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2. LOCAL GOVERNMENT: WHO DOES WHAT
Government Services
City of Charlotte Community Health and Safety
Police, Fire/Emergency Services, Animal Control,
City Council (includes Mayor) Water/Sewer, Garbage, Yard Waste, Recycling
City Manager (interim) Transportation
jburch@ci.charlotte.nc.us CATS, LYNX, Airport
Infrastructure
www.charlottenc.gov Build/maintain city streets, streetlights, sidewalks
www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_City.pdf Planning and Development
Land use, Zoning, Neighborhood Development,
Economic Development/Jobs
Towns: Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Services include
Mint Hill, Pineville Police, planning/zoning, garbage pickup, Fire/EMS,
Parks/Rec/Cultural Arts, streets, sidewalks, stormwater
Town Councils include mayors and town boards
Each town has a manager
www.cornelius.org www.ci.davidson.nc.us
www.huntersville.org www.matthewsnc.com
www.minthill.com www.pinevillenc.net
Town presentations at
http://generationnation.org/index.php/CLC/entry/local‐government‐
who‐does‐what
Mecklenburg County Community Health and Safety
Health, Mental Health, Social Services, Courts, Jails,
Board of County Commissioners Child Support Enforcement
Education and Economic Development
County Manager
Job training, Libraries, Funding for CMS, CPCC
harry.jones@mecklenburgcountync.gov
Growth and Environmental
www.mecklenburgcountync.gov Parks, greenways, Historic preservation, air, water and
land quality
www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_Mecklen
burg_Cty.pdf County Government Operations
Property, county taxes, Budgeting, Elections,
Communications
Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) Education
Board of Education Public instruction and programs
Superintendent Heath Morrison School operations
superintendent@cms.k12.nc.us School construction and buildings
www.cms.k12.nc.us
www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_CMS.pdf
North Carolina General Assembly Local impacts:
http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/counties/counties.pl?C Laws, school funding, policies, other
ounty=Mecklenburg
Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

3. Charlotte City Council
Mayor
Anthony Foxx
mayor@charlottenc.gov
704‐336‐2241
Mayor Pro‐Tem
At‐Large
Patrick Cannon
councilmancannon@gmail.com
704‐336‐7400
Mayor Pro‐Tem=leads council if Mayor’s away
At‐Large=represents entire city
At‐Large
Claire Fallon
cfallon@charlottenc.gov
704‐336‐6105
At‐Large=represents entire city
At‐Large
David Howard
info@davidhowardclt.com
704‐336‐4099
At‐Large=represents entire city
At‐Large
Beth Pickering
bpickering@charlottenc.gov
704‐336‐5285
At‐Large=represents entire city
More about City of Charlotte government: http://www.slideshare.net/kidsvotingclt/youth‐civics‐city
Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

4.
District 1
Patsy Kinsey
pkinsey@charlottenc.gov
704‐376‐5367
Central, East and Northeast Charlotte areas
District 2
James Mitchell
JamesDistrict2@aol.com
704‐509‐9593
NW and North Charlotte areas
District 3
LaWana Mayfield
councilwomanmayfield@gmail.com
704‐890‐5449
West and SW Charlotte areas
District 4
Michael Barnes
barnesdistrict4@aol.com
704‐509‐6141
NE Charlotte, UNCC areas
District 5
John Autry
jautry@charlottenc.gov
704‐336‐2777
East Charlotte areas
District 6
Andy Dulin
adulin@charlottenc.gov
704‐968‐8776
South Charlotte/Southpark areas
District 7
Warren Cooksey
warren@warrencooksey.com
704‐347‐0420
South Charlotte/1‐485 areas
Approximate representation areas listed. View map for more specific locations
http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/CityCouncil/Districts/Documents/09AllDistricts.pdf
Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

5.
Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)
Pat Cotham
Chair
At‐Large
704‐336‐3866
patricia.cotham@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
At‐Large=represents entire county
Kim Ratliff
Vice‐Chair
At‐Large
704‐336‐2641
kim.ratliff@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
Vice‐Chair=leads BOCC if Chair is away
At‐Large=represents entire county
Trevor Fuller
At Large
704‐724‐5831
trevor.fuller@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
At‐Large=represents entire county
More about Mecklenburg County government: http://www.slideshare.net/kidsvotingclt/youth‐civics‐meck
Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

6.
District 1
Karen Bentley
704‐432‐3997
karen.bentley@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
North Mecklenburg areas including Cornelius,
Davidson, Huntersville, University City and Mt Island
District 2
Vilma Leake
704‐336‐2088
vilma.leake@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
West and SW Charlotte and Mecklenburg
District 3
George Dunlap
704‐336‐4419
george.dunlap@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
North, Northeast and downtown Charlotte
District 4
Dumont Clarke
704‐331‐1051
dumontclarke@mvalaw.com
East Charlotte
District 5
Matthew Ridenhour
matthew.ridenhour@meckleburgcountync.gov
South Charlotte (north of highway 51) including
Southpark area
District 6
Bill James
704‐336‐2573
Wjames@carolina.rr.com
South Charlotte/Mecklenburg (south of highway 51)
including Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Ballantyne
Approximate representation areas listed. View map for more specific locations
http://maps.co.mecklenburg.nc.us/website/emapper/default.htm?action=showpolygons&layer=county
Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

7.
Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education (School Board)
Mary McCray
Chair
At‐Large
704‐281‐6074
maryt.mccray@cms.k12.nc.us
At‐Large=represents entire county
Tim Morgan
Vice‐Chair
At Large
704‐577‐3102
tim.morgan@cms.k12.nc.us
At‐Large=represents entire county
Vice‐Chair=leads if Chair’s away
Ericka Ellis‐Stewart
At‐Large
704‐412‐8565
ericka.ellis‐stewart@cms.k12.nc.us
At‐Large=represents entire county
More about Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools and Board of Education
http://www.slideshare.net/kidsvotingclt/youth‐6178117
Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

8.
District 1
Rhonda Lennon
704‐564‐3382
rhonda.lennon@cms.k12.nc.us
North Mecklenburg including Cornelius,
Davidson, Huntersville, Univ. City, Mt Island
District 2
Richard McElrath
704‐488‐5360
richard.mcelrath@cms.k12.nc.us
West and SW Charlotte and Mecklenburg
District 3
Joyce Waddell
704‐549‐4777
joyce.waddell@cms.k12.nc.us
North, Northeast and downtown Charlotte
District 4
Tom Tate
704‐502‐3093
tom.tate@cms.k12.nc.us
East Charlotte
District 5
Eric Davis
704‐651‐0217
ericc.davis@cms.k12.nc.us
South Charlotte (north of highway 51) including
Southpark area
District 6
Amelia Stinson‐Wesley
704‐889‐1803
a.stinson‐wesley@cms.k12.nc.us
South Charlotte/Mecklenburg (south of highway
51) including Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville,
Ballantyne
Approximate representation areas listed. View list of schools by school board district (click on district #1-6)
http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/boe/Pages/District1.aspx
Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

9.
Town of Mint Hill Mayor and Board of Commissioners
Ted Biggers
Mayor
Lloyd Austin
Mayor Pro‐Tem
Carl M. (Mickey) Ellington
Commissioner
Brenda McRae
Commissioner
Katrina (Tina) Ross
Commissioner
Contact information: http://www.minthill.com/Directory.aspx?DID=13
More information: http://www.slideshare.net/kidsvotingclt/youthcivicsminthill
Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org