October 29, 2025 • 16 mins
Tune in here to this Wednesday's edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!
Breaking Brett Jensen kicks the show off by talking about the upcoming local elections and the key races shaping the Charlotte region. With Election Day just around the corner, he highlights competitive contests in Huntersville, Matthews, and Cornelius—races that could significantly impact local leadership. Brett is joined by Frank Gammon, a Republican candidate running for Huntersville Town Council, who shares his thoughts on taxes, growth, and voter engagement. Gammon expresses concern over rising tax rates and questions recent development decisions, emphasizing his opposition to additional sales taxes. He also calls for greater transparency and urges more residents to participate in municipal elections, which he says have a direct effect on daily life
Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
News Talk eleven ten and ninety nine three WBT. Brett
Jensen here with you on this rainy, miserable first week
Wednesday night, actually of breaking with Brett Jensen as we
go up until seven o'clock tonight. Actually, I take that back,
I take that back. We're going up until six thirty tonight.
We have a shortened show for you tonight. You know,
last night we didn't have a show. We got a
shortened show for you tonight because of more sports and
(00:22):
preemptive stuff and stuff like that. But we are going
up until six thirty and this is a very interesting
thirty minutes of show. So again, we are going up
until six thirty. All right, seven oh four or five,
seven eleven ten is the telephone number and the WBT
text line pard by Liberty Buick GMC and as always
followed me on exit, Brett Underscore Jensen for all the
latest and breaking news in and around the Charlotte area.
(00:44):
So elections of stuff's going on. Tuesday is election day.
We are doing live election coverage on Tuesday night. And
it's not just a Charlotte thing. There's a lot of
interesting things. Huntersville is very interesting. The mayor of Cornelius
is very interesting. What's gonna happen in Pineville is they
excuse me, Matthews is very interesting as well as the
school board.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
So we'll see what happens with all of that stuff.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
But with all that being said, you know, the Huntersville
stuff is going to be really something that I'm keeping
an eye on because two years ago Democrats came in
and swept i mean every single seat. The mayors raised
everything right well, Republicans believe that they have a good
chance to regain some of these seats. And one of
those Republicans running once again for town council is Frank Gammon,
(01:28):
and he joins us now. So first of all, Frank,
thank you for joining us tonight. And second of all,
how are things going out there so far?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
In early voting.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
I think they're going pretty good. There's been a pretty
steady flow of people. It's hard to gauge whether it's
you know, some numbers I'm getting or saying it's about
the same as it was number wise as the last
election in twenty twenty two, twenty three, which ended up
with ten two hundred something people voting. So we'll see
(01:58):
if he keeps up and what election day looks like.
And I've been happy with, you know, the supporters that
have come through here in the last few days, because
we we were behind a little bit. I think in
the first few days, I think we're catching up.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Speak with Frank Gamon, who's running for a Huntersville town
council and so Frank, you know, when you speak to
voters up there, and you know, either ones that agree
with you or disagree with you or aren't even sure
what to think.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
What are you hearing from the voters up there?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
I think they're the taxes that were raised here last time.
There's questions about that, and because of that, they're not
really I don't know how it's going to turn out
on the one cent piece, but they're not really in
favor of the one scent that I'm running across because
that's a Huntersville thing. I don't know if that translates
into other towns and growth. You know. Some of the
(02:53):
issues about the apartments that have been agreed here. This
board says they haven't had any apartments, but when they
did Burkedale and passed the hotel over there and the
other items, they put another one hundred and fifty apartments
in the town, so they have approved apartments. So those
are the type of things that residents I've talked to
(03:14):
have been concerned about when.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
They bring up questions about tax you know, the tax
hike or other things like what do you say to them?
Speaker 2 (03:21):
What is your platform on that stuff?
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Well, what I tell them is is that I personally,
I'm not in favor of the ones that sells tax
And the reason I'm not in favor of it is
number one is I don't want any kind of tax
on top of the residence of Huntersville. After having almost
a thirty percent increase in this year's taxes that the
board passed in twenty twenty four that went in effect
(03:43):
this year because when I had a voter come through
the day and one of the current board members and
I were standing there, they wanted to talk to us
and they were arguing they didn't they didn't raise the
taxes this year. And that person said, well, why is
my tax Why why am I paying more taxes this
year and did last year? They couldn't answer that question.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Speak with Frank Gammon, who's running for Huntersville Town Council.
All right, So Frank, between now and Tuesday, what's the
big game plan that you guys are trying to implement, Like,
what are you trying to do right now? What's the
game plan between now and Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Well, we've got we've got people out walking neighborhoods right
now delivering getting information out. We've got some digital ads
going out, we have a number of taxis going out
to the voters, and we also have a couple more
mailers going out and the words getting out to everyone.
When we say we're getting voters in there now that
(04:37):
understand what we're saying about vote for no more than four.
They understand what that means and what the impact of
that is. So because when you look at you go
do the machines, it will tell you vote for no
more than six, but you don't have to vote for anybody.
So we're telling them to vote for four so that
we have a better chance of getting intercourse. Understanding that
(04:59):
there will be two of our opponents that will get
on there. And that's fine because everyone needs a voice
because right now, I'm a conservative Republican and none of
us we have no voice in this town right now.
It's all one sided.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Well, Frank, I'm glad you brought up the Republicans. So,
how do you think the Republicans are going to do
this time? Is it going to be one seat, two seats?
You're going to get a lot of seats. Like, how
do you view.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
This election going for your Republican Party?
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Well, you know, we've we've done there. We number one.
Last time we came as individuals. They came as a group.
This Sam we came as a group also, so that
that has improved. I think our voter out, getting the
vote out, plus the communications we had with the public,
with other mailers in Texas before the before voting started
(05:47):
to get people to the polls.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Are you happy with how the early voting is turning
out up there in Huntersville?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
I'm never I'm never happy with the voting total because
there's you know what, we're probably pushing over fifty thousand
voters here and if we got a twenty percent turnout
a period would be unusual. Last time, I think we
got around sixteen percent out of approximately forty seven thousand voters.
The last election we had ten thousand, two hundred and
(06:14):
seventy some odd and you do the math on that,
you know around twenty sixteen to twenty percent of the
voters actually came. So I want more people to vote.
I mean, on my side, a lot of conservatives, and
that's true on the other side too. You know. An
example is I was a Republican judge in the last
(06:35):
presidential election. At one of the polls that a lady
came in. What took her back? And I said, do
you know how to use this machine? And she said,
I think so. The last time I used it was
four years ago. So it's getting people away from the
state and federal elections to understand the municipal election is
one of the most important elections that impacts their lives
(06:56):
with tax rates and what they received EVE and essential services,
and they're just their personal lives here. But everybody is
so you know, watching Fox, watching MSNBC, CNN, and newspapers
have died. If they're not listening to the radio like
your show, Brett, they're not they don't understand the local issues.
(07:19):
So that's that's the thing to get people to understand.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Speaking of Frank Gammon, who's running for Huntersville Town Council,
is there anything you'd like to say to the voters
before we let you go?
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Well, I want to say if you want to have
a voice in town hall. Vote If you want transparency
in this town, vote because if you don't vote, you're
going to get what you don't vote for. So please
come vote. You don't vote for me, well that's the
way it turns out. But I would love to see
a greater number of people in this town vote, and
I need to get If you want to have a
(07:51):
conservative voice in this town, certainly I encourage you get
out and vote, otherwise you're going to get what you
voted for or didn't vote for.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Frank Gammon, who's running for Huntersville Town Council, I do
really appreciate your time tonight.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Thank you breath for the time.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
All right, So, like I said earlier, it's gonna be
really interesting to see what happens in Huntersville, you know,
with the mayor race if that's gonna be won't lopsided
or not, But also what's going on with the town council,
because the town council right now is being accused of
all kinds of nefarious and underhanded and actually illegal type
stuff where violating opening record laws because they won't turn
(08:28):
over text messages that they've been accused of sending to
each other in big group threads, Like there's accusations that
they've got enough city Town Council members texting back and forth,
and if you have enough of them, that's considered a quorum,
and if there's a quorum, that means there's enough for
a meeting. Well, all meetings are supposed to be public
unless otherwise notified as a closed session. And so there's
(08:52):
a lot of things going on, and maybe they're waiting
to turn over the text messages until after the election,
you know, I don't know. It's there's a lot, a
lot of wildness going on up there, and a lot
of people believe that a lot of the members, many
of the members, if not all of the members, but
at least many of the members up there, are doing
things underhanded and trying to be all secret and stuff.
(09:12):
And so it'll be interesting to see if any of
these accusations are accurate, if and when they.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Actually release all the text messages.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
All right, when we come back, we're going to get
into a couple other things before we send you off
into the night early on this on this Wednesday night,
I should say, of breaking with Brett Jenson right now,
swinging over to the WBT Traffic Center with Pam Warner.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Welcome back to.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Breaking with Brett Jensen for a few more minutes until
six point thirty until we send you off into the night. Okay,
So Justin Sheeley I did an interview with him last week,
and he's running for school board down there in District six,
which is like, you know, the southern part of Mecklinburg
County goes I think believe in the Still Creek and
the Valentine.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
And like a lot of that area down and there.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Right Well, he's in a major dogfight against two other candidates,
including the two wins men, who are threatening to sue
each other and accusing each other of improprieties and being
on the take and like just all kinds of stuff.
Right well, So I want to replay this interview with
Justin Chile because of this. I do feel this to
be pretty important. So I want you to hear what
(10:14):
he has to say. Again, he's running for school board
in District six against two Democrat women. Really the first
true day of county wide early voting, so you know,
the first four hours is so, how's it been going.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
It's been pretty steady.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
I've heard that we've had actually better turnout than it
is expected, so that's been good. I've actually engaged some
of the voters as they're approaching the polls and had
some positive responses.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
When you're talking to the voters, do they even know
the names of the school board members or anything like that?
Do the because it is also and the other part
of that is it's an unaffiliated race, do people ask
if you're a Republican or Democrat?
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Absolutely answers yes to both of those questions. I think
that throughout this campaign we've been given a lot of
opportunity to engage to Eykulan voters, to candidate forums, meet
and greets. So surprisingly, yes, a lot of the voters
do know our names and they do ask our party affiliation.
It is a non partisan race, but that does matter
(11:12):
to a lot of voters, and they are asking that question.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
So when you say Republican or you know your opponent
says Democrat, what's.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Generally the reaction? Is it like oh, or you know, like,
what's the reaction?
Speaker 4 (11:24):
I've gotten some positive responses, but as you can imagine,
I've gotten some very negative responses to that. They hear
the word Republican and they go sorry, I can't vote
for you. They don't even give me an opportunity to
hear what I have to say.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
In terms of this particular race, you know, there's three
of you, and there's also three up in District one
in North Mecklenburg County, so that skews a lot of things.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
And so you know, what's been your.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Goal in terms of trying to get the word out
and everything else, because there are three of you in
this particular race.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
So my goal is to men to meet directly with
as many voters as possible to spread my message. Obviously,
with it being an partisan race, party politics do play
a role in that. So I have been trying to
engage my voter base as best I can because it
is an off your election with anticipated low voter turnout.
So I'm trying to make sure that the people that
I align with understand that there's an election that matters,
(12:16):
and I've been trying to reach those voters, but obviously
trying to engage those voters who may be disinterested and
let them know that there is an election and that
their vote matters.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
So speaking with.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Justin Chiley, who's running for a school board in District six,
so which is by the way south Charlotte, And what
are the other places he still Creek or what like?
Speaker 2 (12:33):
What's part of your district.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Still Creek, Pineville and Ballantine, but still Creek extending into
the Palisade unincorporated part of Charlotte up to the Buster
Boyd Bridge.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
What is the.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Biggest difference that you think between you you and your
two opponents.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
So the biggest difference is I'm new to politics. I'm
new to to speaking out in a public form. I
have one opponent who's been heavily involved in the city
of Charlotte throughout her professional career, and I have one
opponent who's retired and is a relative unknown in this race.
And so that's the biggest difference is We've got two
(13:12):
relatively unknown names that have been trying to make their
way into the city and the politic the political world,
and we have Anna London who's been actively involved for
the last fifteen years through her professional capacity. So I'm
just trying to show people that I'm new, but that
doesn't mean that I don't know what I'm doing, and
that I'm trying to get that message across that one
that I am a parent, that I'm concerned that I
(13:32):
have a vested interest in these schools and that I
want to make sure that our schools are great for
our children. And so that's the message I've been trying
to portray to differentiate myself.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Speaking with Justice Chilly.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
So, but is there also maybe an advantage because you're
not part of the system and you're bringing outside looks?
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Absolutely, I think so.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
I think a lot of parents are frustrated with CMS
schools and the quality of our schools, and so the
fact that I'm not beholden to any special interest or
inside or influence that would sway my vote or impact
my ability to govern on the board gives me an
advantage because I'm going to represent the constituents and the
(14:07):
families of District six, and I'm not beholding to anybody
else telling me how to vote or what I should
vote on.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
So today is the first day of early voting county wise.
So what does your schedule look like today? Are you
going to try and hit as many places as possible?
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (14:20):
So.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
I started my day at South County. I planned to
head to as many sites as I can cover today.
I've got voters at most of the precincts already, but
I do plan to hit as many sites as possible
to engage all the voters i can.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Annah London was famously handpicked by Rocky McGregor, and Rocky McGregor.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Used to be the top advisor for the city for
the superintendent, and he's started doing all.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
This, you know, as he was getting ready to go
out the door.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
So when people say that you're running against someone that
it was handpicked by Rocky McGregor, who was so close
to the superintendent, does that make you feel like maybe
the cards are stacked against you, or do you think
this is a fair race?
Speaker 4 (15:00):
You know, I think that it can certainly feel that
way that the cards are stacked against me because I'm
running against somebody with some name recognition and some power
behind her. But I think that voters are concerned about
the potential of insider influence and potential conflicts of interest
that may arise with that relationship. I'm running to give
(15:21):
a voice to those families that don't have that influence,
that wants somebody that's going to speak up for them
in the best interests of their children. And that's why
I decided to run, is because everything I do in
my practice in my professional life is to speak on
what's in the best interests of our children, to advocate
for them, and that's what I'm going to do if
I'm elected.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
So last question here with Justin Shelley running for the
school board District six. Okay, so what is it that
you that I didn't ask you about or is there
something that you would like to say to the voters.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
Yeah, I just want people to know that they have
a choice, right. It's not Democrat or Republican. It's a
common sense approach and that's what I'm going to bring
to the board. I am in this race as soon
to be foster parent, and everything I do is to
advocate for the best interests of our children. That's what
education is all about, That's what service on the board
is all about. And that's what I'm gonna bring to
the board.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Justine Shelley is running for school board in District six.
I really appreciate your time today.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Thank you again.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Justin Sheey running for school board there in District six.
And you know again this is a big, big race
and if he can pull it off, because these two
Democrat women are just sniping at each other, this will
be a big turn.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
This will be actually a very big deal.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
All right, everyone that's gonna do it for us tonight.
We're gonna do this all over again tomorrow with a
full show. Hopefully you can join us. My name is
Brett Jenson and you have been listening to Breaking with
Brett jenson
News Talk eleven ten and ninety nine three WBT. Brett
Jensen here with you on this rainy, miserable first week
Wednesday night, actually of breaking with Brett Jensen as we
go up until seven o'clock tonight. Actually, I take that back,
I take that back. We're going up until six thirty tonight.
We have a shortened show for you tonight. You know,
last night we didn't have a show. We got a
shortened show for you tonight because of more sports and
(00:22):
preemptive stuff and stuff like that. But we are going
up until six thirty and this is a very interesting
thirty minutes of show. So again, we are going up
until six thirty. All right, seven oh four or five,
seven eleven ten is the telephone number and the WBT
text line pard by Liberty Buick GMC and as always
followed me on exit, Brett Underscore Jensen for all the
latest and breaking news in and around the Charlotte area.
(00:44):
So elections of stuff's going on. Tuesday is election day.
We are doing live election coverage on Tuesday night. And
it's not just a Charlotte thing. There's a lot of
interesting things. Huntersville is very interesting. The mayor of Cornelius
is very interesting. What's gonna happen in Pineville is they
excuse me, Matthews is very interesting as well as the
school board.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
So we'll see what happens with all of that stuff.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
But with all that being said, you know, the Huntersville
stuff is going to be really something that I'm keeping
an eye on because two years ago Democrats came in
and swept i mean every single seat. The mayors raised
everything right well, Republicans believe that they have a good
chance to regain some of these seats. And one of
those Republicans running once again for town council is Frank Gammon,
(01:28):
and he joins us now. So first of all, Frank,
thank you for joining us tonight. And second of all,
how are things going out there so far?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
In early voting.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
I think they're going pretty good. There's been a pretty
steady flow of people. It's hard to gauge whether it's
you know, some numbers I'm getting or saying it's about
the same as it was number wise as the last
election in twenty twenty two, twenty three, which ended up
with ten two hundred something people voting. So we'll see
(01:58):
if he keeps up and what election day looks like.
And I've been happy with, you know, the supporters that
have come through here in the last few days, because
we we were behind a little bit. I think in
the first few days, I think we're catching up.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Speak with Frank Gamon, who's running for a Huntersville town
council and so Frank, you know, when you speak to
voters up there, and you know, either ones that agree
with you or disagree with you or aren't even sure
what to think.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
What are you hearing from the voters up there?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
I think they're the taxes that were raised here last time.
There's questions about that, and because of that, they're not
really I don't know how it's going to turn out
on the one cent piece, but they're not really in
favor of the one scent that I'm running across because
that's a Huntersville thing. I don't know if that translates
into other towns and growth. You know. Some of the
(02:53):
issues about the apartments that have been agreed here. This
board says they haven't had any apartments, but when they
did Burkedale and passed the hotel over there and the
other items, they put another one hundred and fifty apartments
in the town, so they have approved apartments. So those
are the type of things that residents I've talked to
(03:14):
have been concerned about when.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
They bring up questions about tax you know, the tax
hike or other things like what do you say to them?
Speaker 2 (03:21):
What is your platform on that stuff?
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Well, what I tell them is is that I personally,
I'm not in favor of the ones that sells tax
And the reason I'm not in favor of it is
number one is I don't want any kind of tax
on top of the residence of Huntersville. After having almost
a thirty percent increase in this year's taxes that the
board passed in twenty twenty four that went in effect
(03:43):
this year because when I had a voter come through
the day and one of the current board members and
I were standing there, they wanted to talk to us
and they were arguing they didn't they didn't raise the
taxes this year. And that person said, well, why is
my tax Why why am I paying more taxes this
year and did last year? They couldn't answer that question.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Speak with Frank Gammon, who's running for Huntersville Town Council.
All right, So Frank, between now and Tuesday, what's the
big game plan that you guys are trying to implement, Like,
what are you trying to do right now? What's the
game plan between now and Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Well, we've got we've got people out walking neighborhoods right
now delivering getting information out. We've got some digital ads
going out, we have a number of taxis going out
to the voters, and we also have a couple more
mailers going out and the words getting out to everyone.
When we say we're getting voters in there now that
(04:37):
understand what we're saying about vote for no more than four.
They understand what that means and what the impact of
that is. So because when you look at you go
do the machines, it will tell you vote for no
more than six, but you don't have to vote for anybody.
So we're telling them to vote for four so that
we have a better chance of getting intercourse. Understanding that
(04:59):
there will be two of our opponents that will get
on there. And that's fine because everyone needs a voice
because right now, I'm a conservative Republican and none of
us we have no voice in this town right now.
It's all one sided.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Well, Frank, I'm glad you brought up the Republicans. So,
how do you think the Republicans are going to do
this time? Is it going to be one seat, two seats?
You're going to get a lot of seats. Like, how
do you view.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
This election going for your Republican Party?
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Well, you know, we've we've done there. We number one.
Last time we came as individuals. They came as a group.
This Sam we came as a group also, so that
that has improved. I think our voter out, getting the
vote out, plus the communications we had with the public,
with other mailers in Texas before the before voting started
(05:47):
to get people to the polls.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Are you happy with how the early voting is turning
out up there in Huntersville?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
I'm never I'm never happy with the voting total because
there's you know what, we're probably pushing over fifty thousand
voters here and if we got a twenty percent turnout
a period would be unusual. Last time, I think we
got around sixteen percent out of approximately forty seven thousand voters.
The last election we had ten thousand, two hundred and
(06:14):
seventy some odd and you do the math on that,
you know around twenty sixteen to twenty percent of the
voters actually came. So I want more people to vote.
I mean, on my side, a lot of conservatives, and
that's true on the other side too. You know. An
example is I was a Republican judge in the last
(06:35):
presidential election. At one of the polls that a lady
came in. What took her back? And I said, do
you know how to use this machine? And she said,
I think so. The last time I used it was
four years ago. So it's getting people away from the
state and federal elections to understand the municipal election is
one of the most important elections that impacts their lives
(06:56):
with tax rates and what they received EVE and essential services,
and they're just their personal lives here. But everybody is
so you know, watching Fox, watching MSNBC, CNN, and newspapers
have died. If they're not listening to the radio like
your show, Brett, they're not they don't understand the local issues.
(07:19):
So that's that's the thing to get people to understand.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Speaking of Frank Gammon, who's running for Huntersville Town Council,
is there anything you'd like to say to the voters
before we let you go?
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Well, I want to say if you want to have
a voice in town hall. Vote If you want transparency
in this town, vote because if you don't vote, you're
going to get what you don't vote for. So please
come vote. You don't vote for me, well that's the
way it turns out. But I would love to see
a greater number of people in this town vote, and
I need to get If you want to have a
(07:51):
conservative voice in this town, certainly I encourage you get
out and vote, otherwise you're going to get what you
voted for or didn't vote for.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Frank Gammon, who's running for Huntersville Town Council, I do
really appreciate your time tonight.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Thank you breath for the time.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
All right, So, like I said earlier, it's gonna be
really interesting to see what happens in Huntersville, you know,
with the mayor race if that's gonna be won't lopsided
or not, But also what's going on with the town council,
because the town council right now is being accused of
all kinds of nefarious and underhanded and actually illegal type
stuff where violating opening record laws because they won't turn
(08:28):
over text messages that they've been accused of sending to
each other in big group threads, Like there's accusations that
they've got enough city Town Council members texting back and forth,
and if you have enough of them, that's considered a quorum,
and if there's a quorum, that means there's enough for
a meeting. Well, all meetings are supposed to be public
unless otherwise notified as a closed session. And so there's
(08:52):
a lot of things going on, and maybe they're waiting
to turn over the text messages until after the election,
you know, I don't know. It's there's a lot, a
lot of wildness going on up there, and a lot
of people believe that a lot of the members, many
of the members, if not all of the members, but
at least many of the members up there, are doing
things underhanded and trying to be all secret and stuff.
(09:12):
And so it'll be interesting to see if any of
these accusations are accurate, if and when they.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Actually release all the text messages.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
All right, when we come back, we're going to get
into a couple other things before we send you off
into the night early on this on this Wednesday night,
I should say, of breaking with Brett Jenson right now,
swinging over to the WBT Traffic Center with Pam Warner.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Welcome back to.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Breaking with Brett Jensen for a few more minutes until
six point thirty until we send you off into the night. Okay,
So Justin Sheeley I did an interview with him last week,
and he's running for school board down there in District six,
which is like, you know, the southern part of Mecklinburg
County goes I think believe in the Still Creek and
the Valentine.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
And like a lot of that area down and there.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Right Well, he's in a major dogfight against two other candidates,
including the two wins men, who are threatening to sue
each other and accusing each other of improprieties and being
on the take and like just all kinds of stuff.
Right well, So I want to replay this interview with
Justin Chile because of this. I do feel this to
be pretty important. So I want you to hear what
(10:14):
he has to say. Again, he's running for school board
in District six against two Democrat women. Really the first
true day of county wide early voting, so you know,
the first four hours is so, how's it been going.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
It's been pretty steady.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
I've heard that we've had actually better turnout than it
is expected, so that's been good. I've actually engaged some
of the voters as they're approaching the polls and had
some positive responses.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
When you're talking to the voters, do they even know
the names of the school board members or anything like that?
Do the because it is also and the other part
of that is it's an unaffiliated race, do people ask
if you're a Republican or Democrat?
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Absolutely answers yes to both of those questions. I think
that throughout this campaign we've been given a lot of
opportunity to engage to Eykulan voters, to candidate forums, meet
and greets. So surprisingly, yes, a lot of the voters
do know our names and they do ask our party affiliation.
It is a non partisan race, but that does matter
(11:12):
to a lot of voters, and they are asking that question.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
So when you say Republican or you know your opponent
says Democrat, what's.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Generally the reaction? Is it like oh, or you know, like,
what's the reaction?
Speaker 4 (11:24):
I've gotten some positive responses, but as you can imagine,
I've gotten some very negative responses to that. They hear
the word Republican and they go sorry, I can't vote
for you. They don't even give me an opportunity to
hear what I have to say.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
In terms of this particular race, you know, there's three
of you, and there's also three up in District one
in North Mecklenburg County, so that skews a lot of things.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
And so you know, what's been your.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Goal in terms of trying to get the word out
and everything else, because there are three of you in
this particular race.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
So my goal is to men to meet directly with
as many voters as possible to spread my message. Obviously,
with it being an partisan race, party politics do play
a role in that. So I have been trying to
engage my voter base as best I can because it
is an off your election with anticipated low voter turnout.
So I'm trying to make sure that the people that
I align with understand that there's an election that matters,
(12:16):
and I've been trying to reach those voters, but obviously
trying to engage those voters who may be disinterested and
let them know that there is an election and that
their vote matters.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
So speaking with.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Justin Chiley, who's running for a school board in District six,
so which is by the way south Charlotte, And what
are the other places he still Creek or what like?
Speaker 2 (12:33):
What's part of your district.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Still Creek, Pineville and Ballantine, but still Creek extending into
the Palisade unincorporated part of Charlotte up to the Buster
Boyd Bridge.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
What is the.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Biggest difference that you think between you you and your
two opponents.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
So the biggest difference is I'm new to politics. I'm
new to to speaking out in a public form. I
have one opponent who's been heavily involved in the city
of Charlotte throughout her professional career, and I have one
opponent who's retired and is a relative unknown in this race.
And so that's the biggest difference is We've got two
(13:12):
relatively unknown names that have been trying to make their
way into the city and the politic the political world,
and we have Anna London who's been actively involved for
the last fifteen years through her professional capacity. So I'm
just trying to show people that I'm new, but that
doesn't mean that I don't know what I'm doing, and
that I'm trying to get that message across that one
that I am a parent, that I'm concerned that I
(13:32):
have a vested interest in these schools and that I
want to make sure that our schools are great for
our children. And so that's the message I've been trying
to portray to differentiate myself.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Speaking with Justice Chilly.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
So, but is there also maybe an advantage because you're
not part of the system and you're bringing outside looks?
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Absolutely, I think so.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
I think a lot of parents are frustrated with CMS
schools and the quality of our schools, and so the
fact that I'm not beholden to any special interest or
inside or influence that would sway my vote or impact
my ability to govern on the board gives me an
advantage because I'm going to represent the constituents and the
(14:07):
families of District six, and I'm not beholding to anybody
else telling me how to vote or what I should
vote on.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
So today is the first day of early voting county wise.
So what does your schedule look like today? Are you
going to try and hit as many places as possible?
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (14:20):
So.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
I started my day at South County. I planned to
head to as many sites as I can cover today.
I've got voters at most of the precincts already, but
I do plan to hit as many sites as possible
to engage all the voters i can.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Annah London was famously handpicked by Rocky McGregor, and Rocky McGregor.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Used to be the top advisor for the city for
the superintendent, and he's started doing all.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
This, you know, as he was getting ready to go
out the door.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
So when people say that you're running against someone that
it was handpicked by Rocky McGregor, who was so close
to the superintendent, does that make you feel like maybe
the cards are stacked against you, or do you think
this is a fair race?
Speaker 4 (15:00):
You know, I think that it can certainly feel that
way that the cards are stacked against me because I'm
running against somebody with some name recognition and some power
behind her. But I think that voters are concerned about
the potential of insider influence and potential conflicts of interest
that may arise with that relationship. I'm running to give
(15:21):
a voice to those families that don't have that influence,
that wants somebody that's going to speak up for them
in the best interests of their children. And that's why
I decided to run, is because everything I do in
my practice in my professional life is to speak on
what's in the best interests of our children, to advocate
for them, and that's what I'm going to do if
I'm elected.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
So last question here with Justin Shelley running for the
school board District six. Okay, so what is it that
you that I didn't ask you about or is there
something that you would like to say to the voters.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
Yeah, I just want people to know that they have
a choice, right. It's not Democrat or Republican. It's a
common sense approach and that's what I'm going to bring
to the board. I am in this race as soon
to be foster parent, and everything I do is to
advocate for the best interests of our children. That's what
education is all about, That's what service on the board
is all about. And that's what I'm gonna bring to
the board.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Justine Shelley is running for school board in District six.
I really appreciate your time today.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Thank you again.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Justin Sheey running for school board there in District six.
And you know again this is a big, big race
and if he can pull it off, because these two
Democrat women are just sniping at each other, this will
be a big turn.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
This will be actually a very big deal.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
All right, everyone that's gonna do it for us tonight.
We're gonna do this all over again tomorrow with a
full show. Hopefully you can join us. My name is
Brett Jenson and you have been listening to Breaking with
Brett jenson
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