RALEIGH — Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles will be resigning from office on June 30, according to a press release from a city spokesperson.
“Serving as Charlotte’s mayor has been the honor of my life,” Lyles said in the press release. “I am proud of our record navigating various challenges, strengthening our economy, investing in our neighborhoods, and building a foundation for Charlotte’s continued success during a time of rapid growth. Now, it is time for the next phase of my life, to spend more time with my grandchildren and for someone new to lead us forward.”
The 73-year-old Lyles’ decision to resign comes just six months after she was reelected to the post. The Charlotte City Council will be tasked with appointing another Democrat to fill the remainder of her two-year term. She first took office in 2017 as the city’s first black female mayor.
The press release touts Lyles’ 30-year career in Charlotte city government, highlighting “Charlotte’s economic growth and job creation during her time in office, and of enhancing city governments’ fiscal stability.”
“I am very proud of my record as mayor, but I also firmly believe that true leadership includes knowing when it is time to let the next generation of leaders take over,” Lyles said. “By leaving early, the voters will have more time to learn about their candidates. Our city is strong, our trajectory is positive, and now is the right moment for someone else to build on our progress from the past few years.”
The release also says Lyles believes the city is in “capable hands of a strong city manager and staff, which gives her great confidence in the decision to resign early in this term.”
Lyles did not specifically say why she was choosing to resign, only saying she wanted to spend more time with family.
“As in all things politics, I am sure there will be speculation as to why I am making this decision now,” she said. “Simply put, I am going to spend time with my grandchildren. Like many of us, I have missed some moments with them and intend to not miss anymore!”
Additionally, the release said Lyles “will not make any immediate endorsement of a potential successor.”
Lyles had drawn criticism over the past year for violent crime issues in Charlotte, in particular her handling of the murder of Iryna Zarutska on the city’s light rail system last August.
Lyles was criticized for her statement on the murder that ignored Zarutska, which read in part, “We will never arrest our way out (of) issues such homelessness and mental health. … Also, those who are unhoused are more frequently the victim of crimes and not the perpetrators.”
In February, Lyles and other city officials, including Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, were called to testify before the North Carolina House Oversight and Reform Committee on the topic of public safety in the city. That hearing lasted around six hours, most of which was spent grilling McFadden over his apparent failure to follow state laws requiring cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
