NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY

Former Charlotte City Council representative James Mitchell is considering a return to elected politics after stepping aside aside as president of R.J. Leeper Construction Company.

James Mitchell has answered to many titles.

Charlotte City Council member. Company president. Now, he’s a college trustee who wants to make another political comeback.

Mitchell, who left council in January to run R.J. Leeper Construction, intends to run again for elected office.  

“I am considering coming back and trying to serve our city in some public capacity,” he said. 

Mitchell did not specify when he would look to campaign again, but confirmed his focus rests on council rather than state or federal positions.
“If I run for public office, It would definitely be for Charlotte City Council,” he said.

Mitchell is no stranger to political comebacks. After losing the Democratic mayoral primary to Patrick Cannon in 2013, he was off council for two years before winning election to an at large seat in 2015.

Council and mayoral primary elections will be held in spring 2022.

Mitchell spent 20 years on Charlotte’s council, most recently as an at-large representative. He resigned in January when he realized his position as minority owner and president of R.J. Leeper Construction posed a conflict of interest. North Carolina statute 14-234 states a government official may not be involved in a contract on behalf of a public agency that he or she may derive a direct benefit from. An individual may own up to 10% of a company.

Mitchell owns 25%.

Mitchell’s newest position is membership on North Carolina Central University’s board of trustees. He received a call in December that he was on the shortlist to an appointment at his alma mater. His candidacy received unanimous support in April by the UNC System board of governors.

Mitchell, Cornell Slade, a risk management specialist, and Emily M. Dickens, chief of staff and head of government affairs at the Society of Human Resource Management, were appointed to four-year terms and sworn in on July 1. Mitchell’s focal points are athletics, student experience and boosting corporate support to increase research opportunities.

“I am used to someone calling me either councilman Mitchell, president Mitchell, but not trustee Mitchell,” he said. “I am going to have to get used to trustee Mitchell.”
Mitchell’s six months as R.J. Leeper president resulted in 12 projects worth $265.5 million and a backlog of potential projects worth $280 million. Mitchell declined to go into detail about why he left.

“It wasn’t a decision of mine, but I can’t go into details,” he said. “I resigned from City Council for this job.”

Mitchell ticked off a list of accomplishments during his time as president: Participation in the Mayor’s Youth Employment Program, creation of a mentor/protégé  program to help seven Black-owned businesses build and retain a robust workforce, made four hires and opened the company’s Wilmington office – the first located outside of Charlotte.

“It was a tremendous experience, one that I really cherish,” said Mitchell, who retains his ownership stake. “I remember being nervous when I first took over Jan. 4. I was like, ‘oh my God, be careful what you ask for. It’s finally here.’ I still own 25% of Leeper.  I’m excited about putting Leeper in the position that they could be successful for the next three to four years.”

Mitchell’s mentor, Ron Leeper, founded the company in 1993, to address the lack of Black representation in the construction industry, focusing on commercial  projects.

“Here was my mentor, who has developed me for over 30 years, first for political life and now for business,” Mitchell said. “Ron introduced construction to me around 2013. It was just a great opportunity for me.”

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