Candidates in the hotly contested Mecklenburg County Commission District 5 race took time for early morning classroom meetings just days before the Nov. 8 election, addressing concerns posed by Gen Z voters at Queens University of Charlotte.
In two separate 8 a.m. classes, Democrat Laura Meier, a community advocate and former teacher, and Republican Matt Ridenhour, a risk manager and former Marine, answered student questions about the environment, mental health, school security, development and the current political environment.
Meier, the current commissioner, and Ridenhour, who lost his seat in 2020, disagree on guns, school safety, abortion rights, and development. But in their hour-long visits with students, they were strikingly similar on how to address many of the region’s challenges, including the need for civility, green spaces, and more accessible mental health services.
What strength do you believe you have over your opponent?
Meier: Compassion. “I’m driven by compassion for others. I care deeply, and I want to make a difference.’’
Ridenhour: Business perspective. “It’s a little more of a business way of looking at things, rather than just saying we need to put more money into the problem.’’
How should the country create more green spaces?
Meier: “Three years ago, we were allocated $6 million for land acquisition – $6 million – and in this past budget, $50 million. And it’s almost all spent already because we’re trying to buy up land for you and for the people to have green space. How important is green space? It affects everything. It affects mental health. … We’ve got to create equity across the county with green space.’’
Ridenhour: As a previous commissioner, “I freed up about $70 million in order to expand our parks and our greenway. … I used to bike to work. So I was a great advocate for our greenways not only as a place to go running and exercise and things like that, but as a transportation mode to get to and from the grocery store.”
What is your stance on development in the county?
Meier: “We need to have more land acquisition to combat all the development, which means just to keep it green, to keep it open, and open to the public.’’
Ridenhour: High prices result from slow permitting and inspections. The county should fast-track proven developers and builders who have a record of passing inspections. “More stock, more supply, drives down prices.’’
What is the best use of increased funding for mental health?
Meier: Supporting the new mental health facility founded by former Panther player Steve Smith and his family foundation. “We just invested $11 million into the Smith Family Behavioral Health Urgent Care.… I want to open more of those because it is for those who are underinsured, depressed, or on the brink of wanting to kill themselves. If you feel like you’re at the end of the road and there is no return, there’s nowhere to just walk in and get help.’’
Ridenhour: Destigmatizing the need for mental health care and making it more available. “We need to continue what Mecklenburg County has started, which is a program called ‘Bringing Mecklenburg County to You,’ where there are satellite offices where you sign up for services, and including mental health with that.”
Should we have more counselors of more police for safer schools?
Meier: Replace armed school police (called School Resource Officers) with mental health professionals in schools. “I believe we need to remove the SROs and replace them … with mental health professionals. … I just don’t think a gun is always the answer for safety.’’
Ridenhour: Both SROs and counselors are needed in schools. “There are times that you need somebody who is a law enforcement type figure in order to handle a situation, to de-escalate. … I think the answer is balance.’’
How do we improve the divisive nature of our political climate?
Meier: “We have to put our swords down, and we have to work together for the people.’’
Ridenhour: “Stop thinking of each other as the enemy. We can be people who disagree on solutions, but that doesn’t mean we are enemies of each other. … We should be, to some degree, working with each other in order to find the solutions.’’
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Queens University News Service
