District 7 Voter Guide: Ed Driggs Runs Unopposed, Issues Ballantyne Should Watch
The district at a glance
District 7 is located in the city’s southeastern area, along Highway 51, with suburban neighborhoods and retail hubs that surround Ballantyne. Charlotte NC See the city’s District 7 page for the printable map and details. Charlotte NC
Who is on the ballot
Republican Ed Driggs is running for re-election and, as of filing, faces no challenger in 2025.
What this seat decides
District members help set city policy and the annual budget, approve major economic-development and infrastructure agreements, and influence zoning and mobility policy through council committees. Charlotte NC
Candidate profile: Ed Driggs (Republican, incumbent)
Current roles
Driggs represents District 7 and chairs the Transportation, Planning and Development Committee. He also serves on Jobs and Economic Development. Charlotte NC+1
Background
City and campaign materials note a finance career and civic board service; constituents know him for weekly meetings and a focus on roads and sidewalks. Charlotte NCEd Driggs for Charlotte City Council
Key recent votes and positions
- Panthers stadium renovation: Council approved $650 million in hospitality-tax funding for Bank of America Stadium in a 7–3 vote on June 24, 2024. Driggs voted yes. WSOC TVBPR
- 2024 city budget: Driggs voted no on the budget that restored infrastructure funds while keeping a smaller tax-rate increase. WFAE
2025 issues to watch in District 7
1) The one-cent transportation sales tax
- What’s on the ballot: Mecklenburg commissioners voted 8–1 on Aug. 6 to place a countywide one-cent sales tax for transportation on the Nov. 4 ballot. WFAEWCNC
- Enabling legislation: Gov. Josh Stein signed the P.A.V.E. Act on July 1, 2025, authorizing the referendum. Summaries and local briefings outline a framework that enables a new county transit authority and dedicates revenues for transit and roads. WCNCTown of Davidson+1
- What it could mean for D7: More funding focus on arterial roads, first-last mile fixes, and longer horizon rail and bus upgrades that shape commute patterns from Ballantyne northward. (Interpretive note based on the above sources.)
2) The Red Line and north-south rail connections
The city finalized the purchase of Norfolk Southern’s O-Line in 2024, a step that cleared a long-standing barrier to proposed commuter rail. Delivery still depends on the funding plan that voters will consider. Charlotte NCWFAE
3) Growth, rezonings and neighborhood fit
As TPD chair, Driggs will remain central to how Charlotte executes its land-use rules and capital plan, especially along the Highway 51 spine and in South Charlotte hubs. Charlotte NC
Practical voting info
- Primary: No District 7 primary, since only one candidate filed. The citywide primary for other races is Sept. 9. Early voting for that primary is Aug. 21 to Sept. 6. https://www.wbtv.com
- General election: Nov. 4, 2025. Early voting for the general begins in October per county guidance. https://www.wbtv.com
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About the Author
Jack Beckett drinks coffee like it is a municipal service, then files FOIAs. He writes for The Charlotte Mercury, where we do slow journalism without the third-party trackers. You will find voter guides, zoning explainers, stadium math, and the occasional eye-twitch over meeting minutes at The Charlotte Mercury. Our core streams live here: News, Business, Housing, Politics. For the full election package, waltz into Poll Dance 2025; Join the Dance. Want to vent, correct, or pitch a tip, you can always message us on X, Twitter, or as we call it, Twix: x.com/queencityexp
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This article, “District 7 Voter Guide: Ed Driggs Runs Unopposed, Issues Ballantyne Should Watch,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“District 7 Voter Guide: Ed Driggs Runs Unopposed, Issues Ballantyne Should Watch”
by Jack Beckett, The Charlotte Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)