JD Mazuera Arias — The District 5 Organizer With Receipts
Who He Is
Juan Diego “JD” Mazuera Arias grew up in East Charlotte after immigrating from Pereira, Colombia as an infant. A former DACA recipient, he’s now a Queens University grad (Political Science) and NYU Wagner MPA, with stints at The Century Foundation and on Capitol Hill as a CHCI Public Policy Fellow. He currently works on global public-policy issues at Kyndryl. He chairs the Hispanic Democratic Caucus of Mecklenburg and founded the North Carolina Latino Political Caucus. If elected, he would be Charlotte’s first Hispanic and first openly gay Latino council member.
Sources: Enlace Latino, JD campaign bio, CHCI bio, Victory Fund
The Case He’s Making
JD’s bid is built on a simple premise: East Charlotte deserves the same urgency as everyone else. That shows up in a platform with five planks:
- Local economy: participatory budgeting, community benefits agreements, support for immigrant-owned small businesses. Platform
- Government that works: language access, a working-families advisory board, clearer meeting materials. Platform
- Safe streets: violence-interruption and youth investments alongside CMPD’s core work. Platform
- Housing we can afford: preservation, down-payment assistance, tenants’ rights—and a rent-stabilization pilot to study outcomes. Platform
- Freedom of movement: fix buses now (reliability, frequency, safe stops), build bikeways and microtransit hubs; rail when it truly serves the district. Platform
On The 1-Cent Transportation Tax
At a Black Political Caucus forum, JD opposed placing the 1-cent county sales tax on the ballot as drawn, arguing East Charlotte would see little near-term benefit while footing the bill—especially given the current project phasing. Coverage
Eastland, Memory, and Momentum
Ask him about Eastland Mall and you’ll get an economic history lecture and a deadline. JD calls the site a “cultural incubator” that languished for “fourteen years of nothing” and says District 5 can’t wait for ribbon-cuttings that never arrive. His remedy: transparent milestones and investment that shows up in bus reliability, neighborhood commerce, and public spaces residents actually use. Charlotte Observer feature
Résumé, Not Rhetoric
- CHCI Fellow (Aspen Latinos & Society; Office of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez): immigration policy pull-through. CHCI
- The Century Foundation: equity work across education, health, economy. CHCI
- Kyndryl: tech policy and cybersecurity regulation. CHCI
- Grassroots: co-founded Mecklenburg Unidos voter initiative; 150+ “coffee meetings” before launching; chairs the Hispanic Democratic Caucus of Mecklenburg. Campaign bio
Contrast: JD vs. Incumbent Marjorie Molina
Both candidates talk practical outcomes; they diverge on means. Molina supported the 1-cent sales tax, noting rail likely won’t reach parts of D5 but arguing system-wide investments still matter. JD says “fix the bus first” and tie taxes to credible, near-district deliverables. Molina voted with a coalition to block sending an airport wage standards proposal to committee; JD’s platform emphasizes raising standards for vulnerable workers through legal lanes.
Sources: Mass Transit forum summary, WFAE airport vote story
Voting Mechanics (because turnout wins primaries)
- Primary Day: Tuesday, Sept. 9 (6:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.).
- Early Voting: Aug. 21–Sept. 6.
- Photo ID: Required under NC law.
Start at the county’s site for locations, sample ballots, and rules: Mecklenburg BOE and NCSBE.
What To Watch If He Wins the Primary
- Can his “bus first” sequencing shift citywide transit debates away from renderings and toward reliability metrics? Platform
- Does Eastland finally get a timeline the district believes? Charlotte Observer
- Can participatory budgeting survive Charlotte’s institutional caution? Platform
Source Notes (selected)
— Campaign bio & platform: jd4clt.com / platform
— Profile & first-in-history context: Victory Fund
— Background/profile reporting: Enlace Latino NC
— Transit forum positions: Mass Transit, Yahoo recap
— Eastland context: Charlotte Observer
About the Author
Jack Beckett drinks coffee like it’s a civic duty, files at odd hours, and reads campaign PDFs so you don’t have to. If something here doesn’t add up, it won’t survive a second cup.
Explore more on The Charlotte Mercury — our reporting:
• News • Business • Housing • Politics
Election hub (with service tools, timelines, and explainers): “Poll Dance 2025; Join the Dance” → Election 2025
Fine print (because privacy is the point): Privacy Policy · About Us · Terms of Service · Media · Contact Us
Got notes, corrections, or gossip with receipts? Message us on Twix/Twitter/X: @QueenCityExp.
Creative Commons License
© 2025 The Charlotte Mercury / Strolling Ballantyne
This article, “JD Mazuera Arias, District 5: East Charlotte Organizer With a Detailed Plan on Housing, Safety, and Transit,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“JD Mazuera Arias, District 5: East Charlotte Organizer With a Detailed Plan on Housing, Safety, and Transit”
by Jack Beckett, The Charlotte Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)