A Leader For A New Generation
County Commissioners are responsible for adopting the annual county budget, setting the property tax rate, and assessing and establishing priorities on the many community needs – especially those related to health, education, welfare, mental health, and the environment.
We have a great opportunity to make Mecklenburg County’s Budget work for our communities. We need commissioners our people can trust and who can commit to transparency. I'm here to make that happen.
It’s time for Mecklenburg County’s budget to work for us.
My community is what pushes me to help build a greater future for Mecklenburg County. My friends and neighbors inspire me every day to be the best version of myself and are truly representative of how special our county is.
I’ve worked and volunteered as an activist and organizer for the past six years in the justice space to build a safe, healthy future for all people. I believe that our tax dollars should work for us, that our money should go into services like education, public and mental health, affordable housing, and parks and rec. As the former co-coordinator of the Charlotte hub of the Sunrise Movement, former secretary of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP, and active member of the JVP Charlotte pod, I will fight every day to ensure we provide justice for all and create a thriving community in Mecklenburg County.
Meet Jessica
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Expand affordable and workforce housing to ensure stability, safety, and dignity for every family.
Prioritize anti-displacement strategies that keep long-time residents rooted in their communities.
Support community-driven development that prevents the displacement and erasure of Black, immigrant, and working-class communities.
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Expand county mental health crisis services, especially community-based support for teens and adults.
Strengthen preventative healthcare, reproductive care access, and mobile health services.
Coordinate schools, nonprofits, and public-health departments so families don’t have to navigate a maze alone.
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Support expanded, affordable public transit that connects people to jobs, schools, healthcare, and cultural life.
Improve sidewalks, bike lanes, lighting, and safe crossings in underinvested neighborhoods first.
Push for transit planning that centers disabled residents, low-income riders, and transit-dependent communities.
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Invest in youth programs and community-led safety strategies that address root causes, not symptoms.
Hold law enforcement accountable for transparency in interactions with county residents.
Ensure county agencies work to end intimidation, profiling, and fear-based tactics, restoring trust between public institutions and the people they serve.
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Protect air and water quality, preserve tree canopy, and expand accessible green space.
Champion renewable energy programs by taking advantage of funds available through the Inflation Reduction Act.
Ensure environmental justice: frontline Black and brown neighborhoods should not bear disproportionate pollution.
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Expand early-childhood education, youth workforce pipelines, and support for small local businesses.
Fund programs that dismantle racial wealth gaps and support first-time homebuyers.
Ensure county dollars lift families up — not bury them in paperwork and institutional barriers.
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Support liveable wages and access to proper resources for all teachers.
Address the lack of third spaces for our youth in Mecklenburg County to build community and offer educational opportunities outside of the traditional school settings.
Invest in school upgrades across the county, including in electric buses, solar panels, and more to ensure every student has access to the resources and structures they need to thrive.
Jessica’s Platform
Where Is District 1?
District 1 is one of Mecklenburg County’s most diverse and dynamic districts. It includes communities ranging from long-established historic areas to rapidly-expanding residential corridors. District 1 is home to many of the county's cultural, economic, and educational hubs, as well as vibrant neighborhoods where families, young professionals, students, seniors, and multigenerational households live side by side.
With a mixture of legacy residents and newcomers, the district reflects the broader story of Mecklenburg County’s growth and transformation.
This district's diversity is one of its greatest strengths. Residents represent a wide range of ages, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and cultures. While the community faces shared challenges of access to public transportation, rising housing costs, pressure on infrastructure, and environmental impacts, it also holds tremendous creativity and resilience.
District 1 is a space where people care deeply about their neighbors, public institutions, and building a county where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK IF YOU LIVE IN DISTRICT 1
Not in District 1? There are other ways to show your support!
I want to hear from you!
A county commissioner should be the megaphone for their constituents, so I want to hear from you!
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Submit your message on this page or send an email to: finkelformeck@gmail.com