Fayetteville's longest-serving Black mayor, Mitch Colvin, announced he will not seek re-election this fall. Colvin expressed his desire to "continue working to make Fayetteville a better place by contributing to the community" and his excitement "to spend time with my family and working in my business," as per CBS17.
Colvin's tenure began in 2017, and since then he has emphasized "strategic decisions and investments" to secure Fayetteville's thriving future, advocating for Innovation Districts and improvements in infrastructure. However, his decision to step down means to definitely pass the baton to a new leadership that will carry forward his vision of reducing poverty, increasing housing affordability, and investing in streets, sidewalks, and stormwater systems, as highlighted in the same statement, as detailed by CBS17.
According to a news release from the LEPR Agency cited by WRAL, Colvin described his time as mayor as "the honor of my life" and voiced his gratitude for the support he received over the years. He also hinted at his ongoing commitment to the city's welfare, although he remained unclear about seeking any other office in government. The announcement comes ahead of the mayoral race's filing period which begins on July 7 and concludes on July 18.
Colvin’s leadership notably included a firm stance on youth violence, a significant issue in the city underscored by a shooting at the Dogwood Festival. He told ABC11 News, "I think we're in a critical moment that either we get control of this and take back our community, or we allow this to continue, and I don't think that's an acceptable outcome." This stance led to the recent implementation of a Youth Curfew, which has been in effect since May 27 but will not be enforced by police until July 9.
The primary election for Fayetteville's mayoral seat is on October 7, with the general election following on November 4. With Colvin's imminent departure from the office, the race is set to usher in a new era for Fayetteville, building upon or diverging from the current administration's policies and priorities.
