Charlotte City Council has selected attorney Robert Harrington to serve as the city’s next mayor following the sudden resignation of Mayor Vi Lyles.
Harrington was chosen after a multi-round voting process that narrowed a field of 114 applicants to a single candidate.
He will serve an 18-month term beginning July 1 and ending December 6, 2027.
Harrington emerged from a group of five finalists that included former council member Harold Cogdell, community leader Carrie Cook, Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell, and State Sen. Caleb Theodros.
In the first round of voting, Harrington received four votes while Cook received three. Because no candidate secured the six votes required, council members held a second ballot that ultimately gave Harrington the position.
Although Harrington has never held elected office, he brings extensive legal and civic leadership experience. He currently serves as president of the North Carolina Bar Association and previously led the Mecklenburg Bar Association.
A longtime business litigation attorney, Harrington has represented clients across industries including financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, education, and telecommunications.
He earned his law degree with high honors from Duke University and was named North Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s Lawyer of the Year in 2017.
The selection concludes a months-long process involving public forums, interviews, and council nominations. Beginning July 1, Harrington will lead North Carolina’s largest city through the remainder of the term until Charlotte’s next mayoral election.
