About Me
I’m an experienced businessman and entrepreneur, dedicated public servant, and powerful public speaker and media commentator, particularly on the topics of government and public affairs, race and discrimination, civic engagement, common-sense gun laws, affordable housing, and responsible, community-first development. My goal has always been to make Charlotte a better place for everyone to work, live, and play — and my career in business and politics has taken me through West Charlotte neighborhoods, Bank of America boardrooms, and legislative halls. It’s a journey over 30 years in the making, but it didn’t happen overnight.
From Charleston to Charlotte
I was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. My childhood was relatively simple — my parents worked hard to make sure my siblings and I had what we needed, and what we didn’t have in money, we had extra when it came to love and strength. I moved to Charlotte in 1981, when I moved to the city to attend Johnson C. Smith University on a tennis scholarship. Charlotte was the closest “big city” to Charleston, and it was where I saw my first set of skyscrapers. I saw a city on the move, and I felt at home instantly.
In Charlotte, I also saw a city where African-Americans were a part of civic engagement. Our voices were starting to be heard, our opinions were starting to matter. I was inspired by Harvey Gantt, who had served two terms on the Charlotte City Council before being elected to two terms as the first African-American mayor of the city.
I spent four years at Johnson C. Smith, and got my degree. I also met my college sweetheart, Kim, who later became my wife. We have two grown daughters, Cortney and Nicole, and we’ve lived in the same house — in Charlotte’s District 2 — for over 27 years.
A Professional Career Rooted in Service
After I graduated from Johnson C. Smith, I spent a year working with youth for a family services organization before I got an opportunity to work with the Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Councils. Over a ten-year tenure, I held almost every position at the 400-member non-profit organization, eventually rising to the role of Executive Director. I was proud — and appreciative — of my time at the Councils. I learned the importance of small businesses and the huge role they play in our region’s — and our city’s — economy.
With that knowledge, I went on to roles at Bank of America and TimeWarner Cable, where I ensured minority-owned and women-owned businesses in the city could be successful and that key community contacts could partner together for maximum impact.
In 2009, I returned to Johnson C. Smith in a professional capacity as the special assistant to then-President Ron Carter. My position with the University involved the redevelopment of the neighborhood, and I rolled up my sleeves and got to work, assembling a multi-sector task force that partnered to give the Historic West End its first facelift in nearly 40 years. Over a period of seven years, we worked to build additional housing for Johnson C. Smith, welcomed a new Arts Factory and Mosaic Village, created a public art light project for the overpass that connected the corridor, and secured $75 million of funding for a Lynx Gold Link streetcar extension. This $70 million dollar project was also done in partnership with the residents of the community — not to them. It was important to me to make sure that the people who live here feel pride in their neighborhood, and they were at the heart of the efforts.
The Pull Of Civic Engagement
On a parallel track to his professional career, my interest in civic engagement was growing. The first time I ran for office was 1995, when I ran for Charlotte City Council — and lost. The reason for my loss was simple — I was connected to the bigger Charlotte community, but not my own. I needed to understand the issues that were important to my constituents, and start making a difference and affecting change for my next-door neighbors.
Four years later, I ran for Charlotte City Council again — in District 4, as this was before Charlotte’s redistricting. I was elected to the Charlotte City Council in 1999 and served until 2005, where he helped to revitalize inner city communities and led the efforts to relocate the CIAA tournament to Charlotte. I was then elected to the North Carolina Senate in 2004 to represent District 40 (Mecklenburg County), where championed funds to build out the city’s light rail and legislation to tackle the rise of neighborhood gangs. I served in the Senate through 2014.
In 2015, I unexpectedly lost my sister, Cynthia Graham Hurd, in a tragedy that not only shook my hometown of Charleston, but the nation. Cynthia was one of the nine parishioners killed at Emanuel AME church in Charleston in June 2015. I responded by traveling the country speaking to communities about overcoming hatred. Along with my siblings, I founded the Cynthia Graham Hurd Center for Literacy & Civic Engagement to honor my sister, with the goal to advocate for the expansion of literacy and civic engagement through programming and events. Over the past few years, we’ve been able to lead several reading-focused events in Charlotte and Charleston, in addition to community conversations on gun violence, racial injustice, and the nation’s political landscape. To further honor Cynthia — who was my first tennis coach — I also began the Charlotte Amateur Tennis Tournament, a passion project that raises funds to continue the Foundation’s mission.
Continuing the Work
In 2019, I ran for — and was elected to — the Charlotte City Council after an almost 15-year hiatus, representing District 2. I currently chair the Great Neighborhood Committee, which is focused on creating affordable housing opportunities and providing opportunities for District 2 residents, as well as the Workforce & Business Development Committee and the city’s COVID-19 Task Force. In 2020, I also became the Executive Director for Beds for Kids, a wonderful Charlotte-area nonprofit that provides beds and essential furniture to children and families in need.
When I look at my experiences, I don’t see bullet points on a resume. I see a person rooted in community, public service, and making an impact. These tenets of my life are as essential to me as breathing — and I look forward to continuing to put in the work to make meaningful change.