Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
The mayor of Raleigh is the mayor
of Raleigh
, the state capital of North Carolina
, in the United States
. Raleigh operates with council-manager government
, under which the mayor is elected separately from Raleigh City Council
, of which he is the eighth member.
Under Raleigh's original 1795 charter, the equivalent of a mayor the 'Intendant of Police' (a title borrowed from France
). The first person to hold the office was John Haywood
. He was elected by the city Board of Commissioners (who were themselves appointed by the North Carolina General Assembly
). Starting in 1803, intendants were elected annually by all free men owning land within the city limits, including free African-Americans.
The current mayor is Democrat
Charles Meeker
, who has been the mayor since 2001
, when he replaced Republican
Paul Coble
. The longest-serving mayor in Raleigh's history was Avery C. Upchurch
, who was in office for ten years between 1983 and 1993. Incumbent Meeker will match this if he sees out the rest of his current, fifth, term. Four mayors have served for eight years.
Elections are held every two years. A nonpartisan blanket primary is held in October. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the two candidates that received the most votes progress to the general election
run-off election
in November. In the most recent election
, for the first time, the election was nonpartisan
, in that the candidates did not have formal party affiliation denoted on the ballot. Incumbent Charles Meeker won 62% in the first round, making a run-off election unnecessary.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, the state capital of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Raleigh operates with council-manager government
Council-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
, under which the mayor is elected separately from Raleigh City Council
Raleigh City Council
Raleigh City Council is the governing body for the city of Raleigh, the state capital of North Carolina.Raleigh is governed by council-manager government. It is composed of eight members, including the Mayor of Raleigh. Five of the members are elected from the five districts that cover the city. ...
, of which he is the eighth member.
Under Raleigh's original 1795 charter, the equivalent of a mayor the 'Intendant of Police' (a title borrowed from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
). The first person to hold the office was John Haywood
John Haywood
John Haywood was an American politician, who was the longest-serving North Carolina State Treasurer .-Career:Haywood began public service in 1781 as clerk of the State Senate, and held this office for five years, after which...
. He was elected by the city Board of Commissioners (who were themselves appointed by the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
). Starting in 1803, intendants were elected annually by all free men owning land within the city limits, including free African-Americans.
The current mayor is Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Charles Meeker
Charles Meeker
Charles Carpenter Meeker is the Democratic mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. He was first elected in 2001 over Republican Paul Coble, and reelected for a fifth two-year term in 2009. A fifth term tied Meeker with Avery C. Upchurch as Raleigh's longest-serving mayor...
, who has been the mayor since 2001
Raleigh mayoral election, 2001
The Raleigh mayoral election of 2001 was held on 6 November 2001 to elect a Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina. It was won by Democrat Charles Meeker, who defeated incumbent Republican Paul Coble in the run-off. The general election followed a first-round primary on 9 October.-Results:-Footnotes:...
, when he replaced Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Paul Coble
Paul Coble
Paul Y. Coble served one term as Mayor of Raleigh from December 1999 to December 2001. In November 2006, Coble was elected to the Wake County Board of Commissioners and became Chairman of the board in December 2010. In 2011, Coble announced that he would run for the U.S...
. The longest-serving mayor in Raleigh's history was Avery C. Upchurch
Avery C. Upchurch
Avery C. Upchurch was Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina from 1983 to 1993. His term in office was the longest of any mayor of Raleigh in the 20th century and corresponded to a period of rapid growth of the city....
, who was in office for ten years between 1983 and 1993. Incumbent Meeker will match this if he sees out the rest of his current, fifth, term. Four mayors have served for eight years.
Elections are held every two years. A nonpartisan blanket primary is held in October. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the two candidates that received the most votes progress to the general election
General election (U.S.)
In election law within the United States, a general election is an election held pursuant to a periodic schedule, in which a candidate for the office that the election concerns will become the scheduled successor to that office, if that candidate receives the majority of votes cast...
run-off election
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
in November. In the most recent election
Raleigh mayoral election, 2009
The Raleigh mayoral election of 2009 was held on 6 October 2009 to elect a Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina. It was won by incumbent Charles Meeker, who defeated Larry D. Hudson, II in the first-round primary...
, for the first time, the election was nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
, in that the candidates did not have formal party affiliation denoted on the ballot. Incumbent Charles Meeker won 62% in the first round, making a run-off election unnecessary.