Meet The Candidate: Leigh Altman For County Commissioner At-Large

CHARLOTTE, NC — In addition to voting for president and vice president of the United States in the Nov. 3 general election, voters in Mecklenburg County, will choose delegates for the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, the North Carolina General Assembly, county commission, as well as superior court and district court judges.

Leigh Altman is a 48-year-old attorney who is running for Mecklenburg County Commissioner At-Large.

As part of its coverage of the 2020 election, Patch has asked candidates in local races to fill out a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill the job they're running for.

Are you running for office in Charlotte? Contact Kimberly Johnson at kimberly.johnson@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Charlotte Patch.

Leigh Altman

Age (as of Election Day)

48

Town/City of Residence

Charlotte

Office Sought

Local offices (including countywide offices and school boards)

If you are running for local office, or in a district, please specify. (District 1, Commissioner at-large, etc.)

County Commissioner, At-Large

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

I am a mother of three CMS students.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Florida State College of Law | Tallahassee, FL
J.D. with Honors, May 1997
New College of Florida | Sarasota, FL
B.A. in Social Sciences, May 1994

Occupation

Officer and Board Member
Democratic Women of Mecklenburg County
2017 - 2019

Chair, Precinct 9
Mecklenburg County Democratic Party
2017 - 2020

Juvenile Defense Attorney Representative
Mecklenburg County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
2019 - Present

Neighborhood Revitalization Committee Member
Habitat for Humanity Charlotte
2019 - Present

Staff Attorney
Council for Children's Rights
Charlotte, NC
2013 - 2014

Senior Counsel
Higgins & Owens, PLLC
Charlotte, NC
2012

Guardian Ad Litem for Seniors & Persons with Disabilities
Charlotte, NC
2010 - 2011

Attorney
Law Office of Leigh B. Altman
Charlotte, NC
2010 - 2011

Gary Leshaw & Associates
Atlanta, GA
2003 - 2009

Assistant Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General of Georgia
Atlanta, GA
1997 - 2003

Lead attorney for Georgia's Commission on Equal Opportunity
Lead attorney for Georgia's Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs

Campaign website

LeighAltman.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Pipeline to Good Paying Jobs
Some of our kids are on a path to college, and that's wonderful. But 1 out of 4 CMS students don't go beyond a high school diploma. It is well-documented that if you're born poor in Charlotte, you're more likely to stay poor than in 50 similarly-sized US cities.
But it needn't be so. We have thousands of unfilled tech jobs in Charlotte, and it is said our deficit of trained tech talent contributed to Charlotte losing the Amazon HQ2 bid. We also have a strong demand for skilled tradespeople such as electricians and mechanics that must be filled by the next generation. Many of these jobs pay well and don't require the debt and delay of a traditional four-year degree.

Every young adult who graduates from our county's schools should have one-on-one career counseling to connect them with good-paying jobs in our region and necessary training and certifications to achieve them. No graduating senior should leave our school system without the benefit of a concrete plan for meaningful employment, paired with the necessary tools of financial literacy to protect early gains in the workforce and build household wealth. This priority is not only for young adults - we must scale up efforts to connect all residents who are ready to work with the requisite training to fill the employment needs of our region's employers.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

Yes, I support Black Lives Matter. The demonstrations give expression to the justifiable community distress and outrage at the cold and calculated murder of a man in broad daylight.

What are your thoughts on the campaign to "defund" the police?

I am not an advocate of diminishing law enforcement as it plays a critical role in pubic safety for all of us, including fragile neighborhoods. But I do want better law enforcement. I want a CMPD which is less militarized and better cross-resourced with experts in the health, social, and emotional needs of our residents. As a society, we have delegated the first response to those in distress to law enforcement even where a social worker or medical professional would be more appropriate. We need to change that.

What are your thoughts on the state and national response to the coronavirus pandemic? Do you favor such measures as limiting operation of non-essential businesses or restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a nationwide mask mandate?

We must follow the science and listen to our public health experts as we navigate our COVID policy response. I support Governor Cooper's handling of the pandemic and deeply wish we had similar leadership at the national level. Wearing masks is absolutely crucial.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I had a crowded field in the Primary and won one of the three At-Large seats. There are no Republican challengers in the fall.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Pre-K
We must set our residents up for success, and the links between pre-K programs and later academic success are well-documented. Increasing investments in universal access to pre-k and childcare ensures all our kids are ready to learn when they enter a formal school setting, not only the ones whose families can spend thousands on pre-k tuition. Equally important, this program also allows parents to stay in the workforce, earning household income for family stability and opportunity.

Mental Health in our Schools and Community
The county needs to ensure CMS has adequate funds for mental health support staff. There have been some investments, but we must do more to expand access to mental health support in our county schools.

Access to Women's Reproductive Health
Access to women's reproductive health is under assault across the nation. I will be a strong ally to our local providers to ensure that all women have access to the healthcare they need, regardless of income and immigration status.

Reducing Gun Violence in Mecklenburg
My boys were in 4th and 1st grade when Sandy Hook happened. I put them back on the school bus the next morning with trembling hands and not a day goes by that I watch them set out without fear in my heart. The same anxiety that plagues many parents about mass shooters such as cut down young lives at UNCC is repeated daily across neighborhoods in Charlotte. Our city's tragic spike in gun violence these last two years must be addressed.

I believe the county needs to support new initiatives that will promote safe gun storage, help our young adults work to resolve their disputes without employing guns, and educate our community about the role that toxic stress brought on by poverty and racism plays in the lives of so many of our residents. We must also find ways to reduce the proliferation of guns in our community. Together, can we can make our county safer for all.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As a lawyer I used my skills to fight for social justice including protecting our seniors and at-risk children and fighting against consumer fraud and discrimination. I am ready to work at the policy level for the issues which I have been committed to throughout my legal career.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

My number one priority is moving the needle to reduce poverty in Mecklenburg.

Why should voters trust you?

My whole career as a public-interest lawyer was centered on acting in the best interest of the public. I'm proud of my record which speaks for itself.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

Our needs are great, and there is not enough money as it is. We need to use data and metrics to ensure the programs we are funding are the most effective available to us so we know we are pursuing the greatest good with our resources.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?
No.

SEE ALSO:

• 2020 Election: Absentee Ballot Requests Surge In Mecklenburg
• 2020 Election: NC Absentee Ballot Requests Up 11 Times Over 2016