Will Holley Shares Insights in Charlotte City Council At-Large Candidate Questionnaire

Will Holley — Charlotte City Council At-Large Candidate

Observer Candidate Questionnaire Responses

1. What are the most important issues facing Charlotte, and how would you address them?

Charlotte is a growing city, but too many residents are being left behind. The most important issues we face are affordable housing, youth mental health and violence, and a lack of trust and transparency in city government.

I would address these challenges by advocating for zoning requirements that ensure at least 20% of all new residential developments are designated as affordable housing, so working families aren’t pushed out of the city they help build. I would partner with CMS Board of Education, local schools, mental health providers, and community organizations to expand access to mental health services. We must invest in proactive intervention programs that address mental health needs early, helping reduce youth violence and improve overall community safety. I also support transparency and engagement efforts like real-time budget dashboards and regular town halls. As public servants, we should go to the people and meet them where they are — not the other way around.

2. Did the city handle the CMPD Chief payout correctly? Why or why not?

No, the city did not handle this correctly. The public was excluded from a major financial decision involving law enforcement. Even if legal, the secrecy around the payout damaged trust. When public dollars are used, people deserve answers. As a City Council member, I’ll ensure decisions like this happen out in the open, with full transparency and respect for taxpayer money. The public should never be left in the dark.

3. How will you earn public trust in the wake of public controversies that roiled City Council this spring?

I believe trust isn’t given — it’s earned through consistency, transparency, and showing up. I’ll earn public trust by staying grounded in the same values that brought me to this campaign: integrity, accessibility, and accountability.

That means showing up in the community regularly, not just during election season, and not just uptown. It means being honest with people, even when the answers are complicated or unpopular, and explaining every vote and decision so residents understand exactly where I stand and why.

I don’t come from politics. I come from small business, mentorship, and grassroots work. The trust I’ve earned through my nonprofit work, as PTA President, and years of community service wasn’t built with titles, it was built by being there. And that’s what I’ll continue to do. I will be there. I will show up. I’ll hold office hours, send out monthly newsletters, and keep the people informed every step of the way. This seat belongs to the people, I’m just here to serve.

4. How will you work to improve transparency within city government?

Transparency starts with access and honesty. Too often, decisions are made behind closed doors, and residents are left to figure out how and why things happened after the fact. That’s not leadership, that’s avoidance.

I’ll work to improve transparency by creating a public, easy-to-read budget dashboard so people can track how city dollars are spent in real time. I’ll send out monthly newsletters with updates on decisions, upcoming votes, and community issues written in plain language, not political buzzwords. I’ll hold regular office hours and community listening sessions so residents can ask questions and hold me accountable. And I’ll push for city meetings to be held at times and locations that are more accessible to working families.

I’ll show up for you when you need me, not just when it’s convenient for me. The truth is, many people don’t even know the names of the people who represent them. I want people to know mine because I’m always going to be in the community, standing beside them, fighting for them, and listening to them. Transparency isn’t just a promise, it’s a practice. And I plan to live it out every day I’m in office.

5. Will you vote in favor of the referendum to raise the county's sales tax to fund transit? Why or why not?

Yes, I support the transit tax, and I believe many Charlotte residents would too if they had better access to clear, accurate information about what’s really in the plan.Right now, too many people are in the dark. That lack of education creates space for misinformation, which only slows down progress. I would love to see community forums, educational series, and easy-to-understand brochures that explain how this plan works,  because when people see it, I believe they’ll support it like I do.

This isn’t just a transportation plan,  it’s a community investment plan. It increases bus frequency in neighborhoods that have been overlooked for far too long. It builds better, safer, more accessible bus stops. And it even helps address food deserts by making it easier for residents to get to full-service grocery stores.

There’s something in this plan for everybody, and if we’re serious about equity, opportunity, and connecting our city, we need to get behind it.

Yes, I support the transit tax. Too many residents don’t have clear info, and that creates space for misinformation. I want to see more forums and materials that explain the plan. This is about more than transit — it’s about equity and access. It means more frequent service, safer stops, and helping families reach jobs and grocery stores. There’s something in this for everyone, and we need to get behind it.

6. Is there an area where you disagree with your party on local or state issues? Why?

I don’t believe in blindly following a party; I believe in doing what’s right for the people. And sometimes that means speaking up, even if it’s uncomfortable.

One area where I’ve been disappointed is how both parties have often failed to fully invest in re-entry programs and support for people returning home after incarceration. We talk about public safety, but we ignore one of the biggest parts of the solution: giving folks a real second chance, and that starts by tackling recidivism head-on.

That means providing job training and employment pipelines, mental health and substance use support, and transitional housing and wraparound services. Through my work with justice-impacted youth and adults, I’ve seen what’s possible when people are given the tools and support they need. If we want safer communities, we have to address the root causes, and that includes making sure people aren’t set up to fail once they’ve served their time. I’ll always stand on the side of redemption, restoration, and real opportunity.

I don’t follow any party blindly — I follow what’s right. Both parties have fallen short in supporting re-entry programs. We talk about public safety but ignore second chances. Reducing recidivism starts with real support: jobs, housing, and care. I’ve worked with justice-impacted youth and seen what’s possible. I’ll always fight for redemption, healing, and real opportunity for people trying to rebuild.

7. What separates you from your opponent(s)?

What separates me is simple: I’m not running for love of politics, I’m running because of love for my people.

I am grassroots personified. I didn’t come up through political circles. I came up organizing in barbershops, schools, church basements, and neighborhood meetings. I’ve mentored young men, supported families through crises, and stood in the gap when the government didn’t show up. I didn’t wait for a title to make a difference, I’ve already been doing the work.

I know what it feels like to look at your city leaders and wonder if they even see you. I know what it feels like to be overlooked, unheard, and counted out. That’s why I’m running not to add another name to the ballot, but to make sure every voice in Charlotte is counted in. While others may bring political ambition, I bring a track record of showing up, standing up, and speaking out, because this campaign isn’t about status, it’s about service.

I didn’t wait for a title to make change. I’m not your typical politician. I’m a small business owner, a mentor, a man who was told he couldn’t do this — but kept going anyway. I’ve built jobs, launched a nonprofit, and led from the community up. Others talk policy to solve the problems — I’ve lived the problems. I show up for the unheard. I don’t just speak for the people — I come from them.

8. What one professional or political accomplishment are you most proud of?

The role I’m most proud of is being selected to serve on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee (CRC).

The CRC is a 45-member board appointed by the mayor, City Council, and County Commissioners. Its mission is to advise city staff on human relations issues, help prevent discrimination, support violence prevention efforts, and strengthen trust between residents and law enforcement.

For me, serving on the CRC was not just an honor, it was vindication. I was counted out by many when I was appointed. But through this community role, I was given the opportunity to help interpret frustrations, advocate for equity, and shape policy that uplifts everyone. It showed me how real change starts when voices from the neighborhood are invited into the rooms where decisions are made. Through CRC subcommittee work, I’ve had the chance to break down barriers between people and government, facilitate honest, solution-focused community dialogues, and support violence prevention, fair housing, and other equity-driven initiatives.

In this role, I wasn’t a politician. I was a trusted community voice, a connector, problem-solver, and advocate. And that experience reflects everything my candidacy stands for: service over status, empathy over ego, and results rooted in relationships.

Being on the CRC reaffirmed my belief in bridging gaps between residents and elected officials, not from a distance, but from the ground up. And that’s exactly the approach I’m bringing to City Council.