To help inform voters in the Nov. 5, 2024, election, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The Charlotte Observer to help make this coverage possible.
Name: Jim Marascio
Birth date (month, day and year): 01/25/1971
Campaign website or social media page: marascio.com
Occupation: Technology services business owner
Education: Master of Business Administration, University of Maine; Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bryant University
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held)
No
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
City of Charlotte Privatization/Competition Advisory Committee, Nov 2016 - Mar 2023, Served as vice chair and chair
”Charlotte Moves” Mobility Task Force, Mar - Dec 2020
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, College of Computing and Informatics Dean’s Advisory Board, Oct 2023 - present
Society for Information Management, Charlotte chapter Board of Directors, Apr 2018 - May 2024, President, Vice President and Secretary
Charlotte Catholic High School Foundation Board, Jun 2018 - Jun 2021
What made you want to run for Mecklenburg County Commissioner?
My time on the City of Charlotte’s Privatization/Competition Advisory Committee and “Charlotte Moves” Mobility Task Force exposed me to budgets, operations and intergovernmental activities piquing my interest.
Recent property tax increases raised concern about how our tax dollars are spent. The current board of county commissioners consists of members of only one party. Everyone in Mecklenburg County should be represented and should know their taxes are being spent effectively and efficiently.
How will you make a difference with your platform?
I will add a level of accountability to the board. County funds should have target outcomes that are measured and required for continued funding.
The current board consists of nine Democrats and zero Republicans. This has a risk of backroom politics and that topics are avoided.
The issues we face are complex. Our elected officials should work across the aisle and with the other municipal governments. As a business owner, I’ve demonstrated an ability to collaborate and get things done.
Housing is an issue county-wide. What would you do to ensure county residents have access to affordable housing?
Housing is a complex issue. We must work with governments throughout the region to develop a strategy. We’ll never subsidize our way out of this challenge.
We must look at factors contributing to the issue. These include housing inventory, economic development, transportation, education and training and law enforcement policies encouraging illegal immigration to the region directly affecting our available housing inventory and other government service costs.
What are the three top priorities in Mecklenburg County and how would you address them?
1. Affordability
2. Safety
3. Education and training
None of these can be addressed by the county alone. We must work together with area municipal governments to align on strategy, appropriate funding and accountability for how those tax dollars are spent.
Too often we fund activity, rather than results. Programs that are producing should continue to be funded. Those that are not must be revisited to determine what needs to change or if they should be eliminated.
What separates you from your opponents and makes you the best choice for Mecklenburg County voters this election season?
I work well with others and will eliminate waste and budget abuse.
Susan Rodriguez McDowell has proven to be financially irresponsible. Against the county manager’s advice, she encouraged spending emergency funds for operational costs that will remain next year when those reserves are no longer available.
She’s known for not working well with other government officials. She recently criticized the state for granting money to her own Mint Hill constituents for park and senior center facilities.
CMPD saw an 8% increase in violent crimes as of July 2024. How do you plan to address and curb rising rates of violence?
As a county commissioner, I will work with my peers and the state to hold the sheriff’s office and district attorney accountable for allowing repeat offenders to return to the community. I’ll support local law enforcement, enabling them to do their jobs with minimal obstacles. And I’ll support Mecklenburg Health and Human Services and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in their roles in developing citizens who contribute to the community, rather than participating in criminal activities.
Last year, youth crime incidents spiked to the highest levels in Charlotte in at least the last five years, according to CMPD. In 2024, there has been a 300% rise in youth homicide suspects, according to CMPD. How do you plan to address and lower the rates of growing youth crime plaguing our communities?
We get what we tolerate. Recent changes to state law that affect how minors are held accountable for illegal actions have resulted in gangs and other criminals over the age of 18 encouraging minors to commit crimes. This was an unintended consequence of policy changes.
Rather than looking the other way and expecting the police to deal with the problem, I’ll work with local and state officials to determine what can be changed both in the law and court systems to address this.
More than 100 people move here a day. How can the county do better at preserving neighborhoods and balancing rapid growth in neighborhoods?
I moved here 24 years ago for the same opportunities that continue to bring new residents. My daughters were born and raised here. I want Mecklenburg County to be a place where they want to stay and raise their families.
Mecklenburg County covers a large area. I will work across the aisle and with the various governments in and around the county to balance growth with appropriate preservation. What’s optimal in one part of the county may not be best for another.
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