Final Statement

As my final statement, I want to say thank you to the people that voted for me,

For those who believed in me,  Thank you for your trust. The numbers are small, only 297 votes and 7.8% of the vote, but for me, each one of your votes is very valuable.


Now it's time to focus on the General election and help the Democratic Party win.

Until next time. Thank you for your Vote, Please vote Democrat

Art Cardenas

Congratulations to my opponent Patsy

Congratulations to my opponent 

Charlotte City Mayor Patsy Kinsey 

for winning the seat for City Council District 1

Election Day!, primaries in Charlotte

Busy day in Charlotte!, Last day of the Campaign, whoever wins Today gets the seat 

Thank you for your support, 

Tomorrow is Primary Election Day Sep/10

Finally the day has come, Primary Election Day is tomorrow Sep/10. whoever wins gets the seat, there are no replublicans or other party affiliations in this race.

To all my supporters,  let's do a final push tomorrow,  the race is not over until 7:30pm when the polls close.

Thank you all.  See you at the polls

~Art Cardenas
Running for Charlotte City Council District #1

Article in the Charlotte Observer about District #1

Charlotte Observer Newspaper Sep/7/2013
Districts 1 and 5: Kinsey, Autry face challengers

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/09/06/4292657/kinsey-autry-face-challengers.html

The Democratic primary for Charlotte City Council District 1 features an odd political alignment.

Patsy Kinsey, who has held the seat for 10 years, stepped down in July to become mayor after Anthony Foxx resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Kinsey isn’t running for mayor in this year’s election, and is instead seeking to regain her seat.

She is running against Art Cardenas, who works in information services for Carolinas Healthcare Systems. This is Cardenas’s first run for public office.

The primary is Tuesday. There are no other candidates in the race.

In her short stint as the city’s second female mayor, Kinsey has been one of the city’s lead voices in its efforts to keep control of Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The Republican-controlled General Assembly created a commission to run the airport, and Kinsey has pushed back vigorously against that effort.

Before being appointed mayor by her colleagues on City Council, Kinsey was a Foxx ally.

She was a steady supporter of building a streetcar extension, and she supported the capital improvement program in 2012 when it failed to pass and again this year when council approved it. She also worked with city staff members and council members to extend benefits to partners of same-sex couples. That change went into effect in January.

“I’m a strong neighborhood advocate,” Kinsey said. “I have supported and worked to keep our neighborhoods in District 1.”

One of Kinsey’s pet issues is historic preservation. She often speaks on the dais about the need for the city to save its old buildings.

“Being a native Charlottean, I am very bullish on our history,” Kinsey said. “I’m very proud I had a role in saving the Carolina Theatre. I feel the same way about the mills in NoDa.”

District 1 stretches from the Sedgefield neighborhood in the south, through uptown, and along Central Avenue.

Cardenas said he is running because “some of the decisions that have been taken by the council have not been too smart.”

He said the city needs a more comprehensive long-term transportation plan. He said transportation is the biggest issue facing District 1.

Cardenas said he isn’t in favor of raising the sales tax to pay for unfunded transit taxes, and he said the city should look at cutting current expenses to pay for projects. He said he would have voted against the streetcar because he favors an east-west light-rail line instead.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/09/06/4292657/kinsey-autry-face-challengers.html#storylink=cpy

Televised 2013 Election Debates - League of Women Voters — at WTVI-TV (Charlotte).

Televised 2013 Election Debates - League of Women Voters — at WTVI-TV (Charlotte).

My opponent was not available, the TV station would not let me speak without an opponent, so debate was cancel, and I did not get a chance to speak.

Good Pics and great debate for other candidates

Charlotte observer Article on elections

Charlotte Observer Articles on Elections

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/voter/

New Post Cards and Yard Signs

New Post Cards and Yard Signs

Candidates forum at Johnson C Smith University

Candidates forum at Johnson C Smith University

Excellent questions about Crime and Education

Host of event:  Don't tell us what you will do to us ... we bring you here to listen ...

Candidate Forum at Clinton Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church

Candidate Forum at Clinton Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church

Left: Beth Pickering, candidate for City Council At Large, Patrick Cannon: Candidate for Charlotte City Mayor, Center (me !), right Al Austin, Candidate for District #2, next Gary Mitchell, candidate for Charlotte City Mayor

Countdown for Charlotte City Council Primary Elections

Countdown for Charlotte City Council Primary Elections

Charlotte Post Interview Questions and Answers.

Charlotte Post Interview Questions and Answers.

http://asoft10289.accrisoft.com/charlottepost/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=E2013_CCCLndng&category=Elections%202013

Early voting locations for Charlotte Sept. 10 primary | CharlotteObserver.com

Early voting locations for Charlotte Sept. 10 primary | CharlotteObserver.com

Locations and hours:

1. Hal Marshall Annex: 618 N. College Street (first floor), Charlotte NC
Hours: Aug. 22 - Aug. 30 (weekdays only): 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 3 - Sept. 6: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sept. 7: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.


2. Main Library Branch (uptown): 310 N. Tryon St., Charlotte NC
Hours: Sept. 3 - Sept. 6: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Sept. 7: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Charlotte Mayor, city council candidates answer questionnaire on important issues | CharlotteObserver.com

Charlotte Mayor, city council candidates answer questionnaire on important issues | CharlotteObserver.com

Background checks on City Council candidates

Background checks on City Council candidates

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/08/16/4242460/decision-2013-background-checks.html

Talking to the crowd at The Historic Excelsior Club

Talking to the crowd at The Historic Excelsior Club

 

most candidates speaking

All candidates speaking,  Well... most of them
today at The Greater Charlotte Apartment Association

Differences in How I see City Council

Hello Everybody,

One of the questions I get the most,  what difference will I bring to City Council?
one of the main is:

Art Cardenas	Current City Council
Responsible City Council We love the Panthers, even if the lose their games, they bring income to the City. We want them to stay, but: Anybody asking for money from the City, they will have to disclose their financial statements.  and get a second review of the proposed expense budget, and see if the financial aid is a free gift or to be treated like a loan	City Council did not ask the Panthers to release their financial Statements before depleting the City funds for other projects.

This is not to target any individual or organization, but it's common sense in any financial aid.

Sincerely
Art Cardenas

Professional Bio

Here is my PROFESSIONAL Experience

Citibank-Banamex                            | Mexico City – Houston TX

Systems Analyst                                Feb/1989 – Mar/1998    - 9 years

Bank of America - NationsBank       | Charlotte, NC

Systems Engineer                              Mar/1998 – Nov/2002   -  5 years

Carolinas Healthcare System               | Charlotte, NC

DBA / BI Developer                         January 2003 – Present -  10 years

Education

IPN – UPIICSA (National Polytechnic Institute)

1988  Undegraduate in Computer Science – 4 years Bachelor’s Degree

ITESM (Monterrey Institute of Technology)

1991  Masters in Business Administration – Beginning, Not finished

Charlotte History

Resident in the Charlotte Area since 1998  (15 years)
US Citizen since 2007 (6 years)
member of the Democratic Party since 2007  (6 years)

you can email me at   ArtCityCouncil@gmail.com

Thanks 

Quick Personal Facts

As many people have asked me, here are some quick personal facts:

Resident in the Charlotte Area since 1998  (15 years)
US Citizen since 2007 (6 years)
member of the Democratic Party since 2007  (6 years)

you can email me at   ArtCityCouncil@gmail.com

Thanks

Mecklenburg Democratic Party, General Meeting

the general meeting from the democratic party was excellent,  here are some pictures

1st opportunity to debate opponents in public

Early voting begins August 22nd!  Hal Marshall Annex 8a-5pm

Additional Sites early voting begins September 3rd. see this calendar

http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/BOE/Documents/early%20voting%20calendar%20for%20sept.pdf

Vote early......it will only take 5 minutes!

City Candidate Info

I received today an email, with lots of detail to read,  Excellent reading material to spend time in the evenings.

8/2/2013 Eastland Mall project timeline, process and next steps

8/1/2013 Electronic candidates' briefing packet, Quality of Life Study, City Council Minutes

7/9/2013 Airport Authority - Mayor Kinsey letter to Rep. Ruth Samuelson

7/9/2013 Airport Authority - Resolution adopted June 10th

7/9/2013 Airport Authority - June 25th City Council Statement and Evaluation

other issues

• Capital spending
• Street Car
• Transit
• Same-Sex Benefits
• Construction Regulations
• Affordable Housing
• Airport Control
• Business Incentives
• Uptown Incentives
• Convention Center
• New Baseball Stadium
• Panthers Stadium

Official email: artcitycouncil@gmail.com

My official email is :

      artcitycouncil@gmail.com

I am reading the mailbox every single day and replying to valid requests
 
Thank you

Art Cardenas
running for Charlotte City Council District #1

I support equal rights for the Gay / Lesbian community

Hello everybody,

I am a straight guy, however I believe in the equal rights for the Gay / Lesbian community.

I support the Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee (MeckPAC)

Thank you

Art Cardenas

Best Button Ever

One of the best gifts I have received!, a custom made button for my campaign, very visible and stands out, I will wear it all the time like if it was made of gold, priceless

Campaign Materials

I order my first campaign materials, here are the previews

Postcards

Business Cards

 Car Magnets

Officially running for Charlotte City Council

It's Official,  I submitted my application last friday July 5th as candidate of the democratic party for Charlotte City Council District #1