Jennifer Roberts | |
|---|---|
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| 58thMayor of Charlotte | |
| In office December 7, 2015 – December 4, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Dan Clodfelter |
| Succeeded by | Vi Lyles |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jennifer Watson (1960-04-18)April 18, 1960 (age 65) Raleigh, North Carolina, U.s. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Manley Roberts |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BA) University of Toronto (MA) Johns Hopkins University (MA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Jennifer Roberts (born April 18, 1960)[1] is an American politician, businesswoman and former diplomat who served as the58th mayor ofCharlotte, North Carolina. She waselected on November 3, 2015[2] having previously served four terms on theMecklenburg CountyBoard of Commissioners. In 2012, she was theDemocratic nominee for theUnited States House of Representatives inNorth Carolina's 9th congressional district.
Roberts graduated fromEast Mecklenburg High School in 1978, and went on to attend theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on aMorehead Scholarship. Roberts earned two master's degrees in international affairs fromJohns Hopkins University and from theUniversity of Toronto.[citation needed]
She worked as a diplomat for four years with theUnited States Department of State, serving in theDominican Republic as a consular officer and then as a political officer on the Mexico desk before returning to Charlotte.[citation needed]
During her years in Charlotte, Roberts has been director of the Mayor’s International Cabinet, a lending officer in international corporate banking atFirst Union, and executive director of the Charlotte World Affairs Council.[citation needed]
She is the first person to be elected to serve as both Chairman of the Mecklenburg County Commission and later as Mayor of Charlotte.
While Chair of the Mecklenburg County Commission (2006-2011), Roberts was instrumental in creating a public/private partnership to build a new shelter in Charlotte for survivors of domestic violence. During her tenure as Mayor of Charlotte she spearheaded the creation of Charlotte NEXT, an initiative dedicated to improving after school programs for at-risk teens.[3] During her tenure as Mayor, the City of Charlotte set a goal of funding 5,000 affordable housing units over 3 years and is currently (2018) on track to exceed that goal.
Roberts has been a life-long advocate for clean air and water and forenvironmental justice. While Chair of the Mecklenburg County Commission, she championed a Park and Rec Master Plan, supported energy reduction and conservation in County operations, and headed a Clean Air Works initiative to reduce carbon emissions in area businesses and the County’s carbon footprint. As mayor, she signed the Mayor’s Climate Pledge and introduced a Clean Energy Resolution for the City of Charlotte.
Roberts is a recipient of the Maya Angelou Women Who Lead award, the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Public Policy Leader of the Year award, and Equality North Carolina’s Ally of the Year award.[4] She and her husband Manley live in Charlotte. They have two children.
Roberts has served on the boards of ArtsTeach, the Centralina Council of Governments, the Charlotte Chamber, theGirl Scouts Hornets' Nest Council, Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful, and the Women’s Commission. She currently works as a business consultant and serves on numerous community boards and commissions, including the Corporate Climate Alliance, NC Climate Solutions Coalition, Meck Ed and Mecklenburg Ministries.[5]
Roberts is a volunteer on children’s issues, alleviating poverty and homelessness, and environmental protection.[6]
In 2012, Roberts ran for election to the U.S. House of Representatives to representNorth Carolina's 9th congressional district. Roberts won the nomination on the Democratic ticket after running unopposed in the primary. Roberts was looking to replace incumbent RepublicanSue Myrick, who retired in 2012. Roberts was defeated by former state senatorRobert Pittenger on November 6, 2012.[7][8] Despite her loss, the race was the most competitive that the 9th district had seen in over a quarter-century. The 9th had been one of the first districts in North Carolina to turn Republican; it and its predecessors have been in GOP hands since 1953.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert Pittenger | 194,537 | 51.78 | |
| Democratic | Jennifer Roberts | 171,503 | 45.65 | |
| Libertarian | Curtis Campbell | 9,650 | 2.57 | |
| Total votes | 375,690 | 100.0 | ||
The 2015 biennial Charlotte mayoral election took place on November 3, 2015. Primary elections were held on September 15, 2015, with primary runoffs held on October 6, as no candidate cleared the 40% threshold. Roberts defeated incumbentDan Clodfelter in the primary and faced Republican Edwin Peacock III in the general election. Roberts defeated Peacock with just over 52% of the vote.[10] She took office in December 2015.
Roberts lost in the September 12, 2017 Democratic primary toVi Lyles.[11] Lyles went on to win the general election against Republican Kenny Smith.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Mayor of Charlotte 2015–2017 | Succeeded by |