Former North Carolina Senator Dan Clodfelter officially became the new mayor of Charlotte Wednesday. His wife and one daughter stood with him in the city council chamber as he took the oath of office. Council members selected Clodfelter Monday to fill the vacated term of Patrick Cannon who resigned last month in the wake of federal corruption charges.
Clodfelter never mentioned his predecessor by name. He did refer to the day of Cannon's resignation saying that it will not cast a shadow on city leaders who have governed honestly in the past.
"No one day -- not March 26th or any other day -- could ever change the power of that history or diminish its force as we go forward," said Clodfelter. "And then I knew that March 26th is already in the past. And it is only the very tiniest part of the past. It will diminish as each day goes by."
Clodfelter represented Mecklenburg County in the state senate beginning in 1998. He resigned from that body Tuesday. In light of the political turmoil, Clodfelter called for action to help prevent such crimes in the future.
"Many of the members of council with whom I have already spoken and I suspect all with whom I haven't spoken share this view. I believe as they do that a comprehensive and independent review of the city's policies dealing with matters of ethics and improper influence is imperative," he said. "I agree with them and I suspect that you will see them take early action on that subject."
Clodfelter says he wants to bring stability to Charlotte. That is his highest priority right now. He is the third person to hold the office since Anthony Foxx left to become the nation's transportation secretary.