Charlotte City Council names Braxton Winston as mayor pro-tem

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Charlotte City councilmember Braxton Winston was unanimously voted in as the city’s new mayor pro-tem.

The vote took place Tuesday night during the first meeting of Charlotte’s new City Council term and four new council members, James “Smuggie” Mitchell, Lawana Slack-Mayfield, Marjorie Molina and Dante Anderson were sworn in.

The unanimous vote was an unlikely one, as it’s the top vote-getter who traditionally wins the role.

At-large council member Dimple Ajmera, who gained the most votes this election, said she had an interest in the role but ultimately endorsed Winston.

“There is a time we must realize whether to lead or whether to help someone else lead,” she explained at the meeting.

“I do not want to put my personal ambition over city government,” she later added when answering questions from media outlets.

“This is not about Ms. Ajmera or myself,” said new Mayor Pro-Tem Winston. “This was about the Charlotte City Council figuring out what was best for us as a group on how to get our work done over these next few months.”

Winston, a Democrat, will replace Julie Eiselt as mayor pro-tem for Mayor Vi Lyles (D). Lyles won her third term in office in July. Eiselt elected not to serve again.

In 2017, Winston was named to city council as an at-large bid. Many Charlotte residents became familiar with Winston during the unrest that followed the Keith Lamont Scott shooting in September 2016. Winston was among the crowds protesting police injustice.

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