CHARLOTTE, NC WINS 2020 RNC CONVENTION BID (NON-PARTISAN DEMOCRAT MAYOR)

CHARLOTTE, NC WINS 2020 RNC CONVENTION BID (NON-PARTISAN DEMOCRAT MAYOR):

CHARLOTTE MAYOR VI LYLES (DEMOCRAT) WISELY CHOSE BUSINESS & JOBS OVER FOOLISH PARTISAN POLITICS.

CHARLOTTE VOTERS NEED TO FIRE ALL CLOSE-MINDED PARTISAN POLITICIANS SO THE CITY’S ECONOMY CAN FINALLY REBOUND.

NOW IT’S TIME FOR CHARLOTTE TO DEVELOP A ZOO & OTHER TOURIST ATTRACTIONS THAT WILL ENTERTAIN LARGE CROWDS FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK.

VI LYLES WOULD SOMEDAY MAKE A GREAT PROGRESSIVE 21st CENTURY GOVERNOR FOR NORTH CAROLINA.

CONGRATS


Post Sources: Charlotte Observer, Youtube


****** GOP picks Charlotte for 2020 convention. Now, the fundraising and organizing begin


Charlotte won its second national political convention in a decade Friday, kicking off two years of planning, fundraising and anticipation.

The Republican National Committee on Friday formally awarded Charlotte the 2020 party event, pushing Charlotte into a small group of cities that will have held both major party conventions.

The vote capped a dramatic week in which the Charlotte City Council agreed to host the convention Monday by a single vote. Four Democrats joined two Republicans in support. Five Democrats voted no.


“We could not be more excited,” North Carolina GOP Chair Robin Hayes said in a statement. “Today’s announcement is a testament to the strong leadership in Charlotte that has followed a long North Carolina tradition of putting the needs and opportunities of our people before politics.”

But politics was behind the contentiousness surrounding the council decision.

More than 100 people debated the convention publicly and passionately before Monday’s council vote. Through it all, Democratic Mayor Vi Lyles championed the event and urged people to put partisanship aside.

Asked Friday if she would have started the bidding process had she known the opposition it would spark, she said she would have. She said the city would have had the same debate, even if the outcome may have been different.

“I think we would have done exactly what we did,” she told reporters. “The outcome I can’t project.”

Friday’s RNC vote means Charlotte will host its second national political convention eight years after finding itself the site of Democrat Barack Obama’s nomination for a second term.

Lyles and council members who joined her in Austin said they’re confident that law enforcement officials can provide security for the convention and the city.

“We’ve got two years to plan for protests we know will happen,” said Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt, a Democrat.

Republican council member Ed Driggs agreed.

“We were very clear-headed about the political climate we’re in right now,” Driggs said. “We felt the benefits to the city outweigh the risks.”

Businessman Ned Curran co-chairs the host committee with Doug Lebda, the founder of Lending Tree, and attorney Walter Price. Former council member John Lassiter will be the host committee’s CEO and executive director.

Curran said the committee is “way ahead of schedule” in reaching its $70 million fundraising goal. In 2012 Democrats fell $10 million short of theirs. Duke shareholders footed about $6 million of that after the company was not repaid.

Lassiter told reporters the host committee already has raised “more than 10 percent” of what they need.

Other Republicans applauded the RNC’s selection.

“I think it’s going to be great,” said Saul Anunzis, Michigan’s former GOP chairman. “It’ll make sense politically for us.”

GOP National Chair Ronna McDaniel complimented not only Charlotte but Lyles.

“I love that it’s the Queen City and we have Mayor Vi Lyles — you are a queen,” McDaniel said. “We look forward to Charlotte being center stage when the Republican Party nominates Donald Trump and Mike Pence for a second term.”

“To be one of only a few American cities to host conventions from both political parties is a testament to the people of our state,” Pat McCrory, North Carolina’s former governor and Charlotte’s former mayor, said in a statement.

The convention is expected to involve not only uptown Charlotte but venues around the region.

“Every venue in the region is in play, and part of the attraction,” Curran said.

CHARLOTTE, NC ONE OF THREE FINAL CONTENDER CITIES FOR 2020 GOP CONVENTION BID

CHARLOTTE, NC ONE OF THREE FINAL CONTENDER CITIES FOR 2020 GOP CONVENTION BID:

IS CHARLOTTE READY FOR ANOTHER POLITICAL CONVENTION? (PREVIOUSLY HOSTED 2012 DNC CONVENTION)

WHAT ABOUT TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, A ZOO, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, SAFETY?

CHARLOTTE IS AESTHETICALLY BEAUTIFUL BUT VERY BORING.

IF CHARLOTTE WINS 2020 GOP BID I HOPE THEY BEEF UP THE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & SAFETY.


Post Sources: Charlotte Observer, WBTV, WCNC, Youtube


****** Charlotte's one of the final contenders for the 2020 RNC


The head of the state's Republican Party said Friday that he has been told the competition to host the 2020 Republican National Convention is down to about three cities, with Charlotte one of the strongest bids.

N.C. GOP executive director Dallas Woodhouse, who is attending the Republican National Committee meeting in Miami, said he has been told by numerous national Republicans that they were impressed by the city's Democratic leadership teaming up with statewide Republicans.

Woodhouse said he believed Las Vegas is a strong competitor.

CNN reported that Nevada GOP chairman Michael McDonald made a presentation this week to a site selection committee.

Woodhouse said Las Vegas appears to have placed a late bid to host the RNC.

Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the city of Las Vegas said they weren't aware of a bid.

A spokesperson for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said Thursday that Republicans asked the city to bid, but it had to decline because it "doesn't have the facilities to accommodate the event."

On Friday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said it was surprised by the story that Las Vegas was bidding.

It said it turned down the GOP with a letter earlier this year.

Las Vegas considered bidding for the 2016 RNC, but dropped out.

But the state Republican party appears to be moving forward with a bid, even if tourism officials aren't on board yet.

On Thursday, the San Antonio City Council decided in a closed session meeting not to bid.

"There's a reason that San Antonio has not pursued a political convention for the past 20 years and why so few cities seem interested in this convention," San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said, citing disruptions to traffic and neighborhoods.

As San Antonio council members prepared to consider a late bid, some Democratic activists said the city shouldn't seek the RNC.

They said the Trump administration's push for a border wall would damage the city's close ties with Mexico.

The bids for the RNC were originally due Feb. 28, but that deadline was pushed back.

In past years, cities have been vocal about wanting to land a political convention, which are said to be worth tens of millions in dollars in economic impact.

But this year only Charlotte and Las Vegas have said publicly they want it.

Charlotte hosted the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Woodhouse said he was told that as many as seven cities had expressed interested to the RNC, but some dropped out.

He doesn't know what the other city is, though he said he has heard Texas.

A tourism official in Dallas said the RNC approached the city about bidding, but the city declined.

A spokesperson for the Houston mayor's office declined to comment, but a City Council member said it had not been discussed.

"They were really impressed that a Democratic city and Democratic leaders have come together with Republicans to host the RNC," Woodhouse said.

He said the RNC will meet again in August. A decision could be made then, he said.