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INSIDE ▼ Rock legends booked for 2026 PAGE 1B
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Friday, December 5, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 49
thecharlotteweekly.com
@southcltweekly
Rodriguez-McDowell seeks reelection to county seat CHARLOTTE – Mecklenburg County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell announced Nov. 24 that she will seek a fifth term as District 6 representative.
“It has been my honor and privilege to be the voice for District 6,” Rodriguez-McDowell said. “With the continued support of D6 voters, I will keep working tirelessly to defend our values, promote fairness and ensure that every resident’s
voice is heard.” District 6 includes Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, as well as the Ballantyne, south Charlotte and lower Steele Creek areas of Charlotte. The seat will appear on the ballot for the 2026 midterm elections. Rodriguez-McDowell will tout steady, transparent and responsive leadership during her 2026 campaign as well as strong working relationships with local, state and
federal officials. Since 2021, Rodriguez-McDowell has chaired the county’s Economic Development Committee, where she has championed small-business growth, helped attract thousands of jobs and supported millions in new investment while working to keep property taxes stable. As a founding member of the Environmental Stewardship Committee, she has prioritized long-term sustainability and environmental
protection. She has supported the purchase of thousands of acres for new parks and nature preserves. On the Intergovernmental Committee, Rodriguez-McDowell helped shape the county’s legislative agenda and strengthen partnerships with other government bodies. As a liaison to the Child Fatality Review Team, she has championed multigenerational efforts to support and protect children and families. Rodriguez-McDowell is also
active in the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and National Association of Counties. Running for office
The Mecklenburg County Board of Elections holds filing for the 2026 midterm elections from Dec. 1 to 19. The election will take place Nov. 3, 2026. Visit vote.mecknc.gov for details.
Church gives Data shows SouthPark among emergency food relief to communities top visitor destinations
Volunteers sort food donations at Nourish Up, a network of food pantries in Mecklenburg County, on Nov. 20. Following recent government funding cuts, a grant from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is helping Nourish Up strengthen its food assistance programs for families facing food insecurity in Charlotte.
Photo courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints By Morgan Jepson Contributor
Visits to SouthPark increase 20% in December compared to other months on average, according to SouthPark Community Partners. The district’s retailers, restaurants and service providers will host 50-plus events and specials during the holiday season. Photos courtesy of SouthPark Community Partners
CHARLOTTE – SouthPark Community Partners has released data showing how SouthPark is packed with shopping and dining options.
SouthPark’s one-square-mile commercial core is Charlotte's second-most popular visitor destination, according to the organization, attracting 18 million non-work visits in 2025. Shopping is Charlotte’s top visitor activity. SouthPark is fueled by 421 consumer-facing shops, restaurants and service providers, including 140 market-exclusive retailers and 100 local concepts. With this concentration of activity, SouthPark boasts a 0.5% retail vacancy rate across 2.5 million square feet of existing retail space. More than 25 new businesses have opened within the district’s 11 distinct shopping centers this year, including market-exclusive Reformation and soon-to-open ZARA. SouthPark Community Partners said the district will continue to evolve into a mixed-use urban destination with more than $1 billion of new development in the pipeline. See the SouthPark Snapshot at southparkclt.org/snapshot for more data and insights. Visit southparkclt.org/holidays for more information about the holiday season in SouthPark.
SouthPark is home to 421 consumer-facing shops, restaurants and service providers, including 92 restaurants and bars, 55 lunch spots, 21 coffee shops and 200 retailers.
Harris Teeter leader earns BusinessWoman of the Year CHARLOTTE – Queens University of Charlotte named Tammy DeBoer, president of Harris Teeter, as the 2025 Queens Tammy DeBoer University Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year.
Now in its 40th year, the award celebrates female leaders who have made significant contributions to the Charlotte region through outstanding leadership and achievement. DeBoer oversees the strategic growth and development of the over $9 billion Harris Teeter division of Kroger. Under her leadership, the organization has achieved four consecutive years of record sales, successfully completed a significant brand refresh, driven a cultural transformation and secured substantial capital
Tammy DeBoer (middle) receives the Queens University Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year award from Acting President Jesse Cureton and 2024 honoree Kristi Coleman. Photo courtesy of
Queens University of Charlotte
investments for both short and long-term expansion across its 260-plus stores spanning seven states and Washington, D.C. “Tammy exemplifies the kind of impactful leadership we strive to cultivate in our
graduates,” said Jesse Cureton, acting president of Queens University. “Her work in driving innovation and growth while dedicating time to community and industry boards makes her a truly inspirational choice as our 2025 Queens University Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year.” DeBoer’s career in retail spans over 30 years, encompassing executive management, operations, merchandising, marketing, brand strategy, and complex mergers and acquisitions. Before joining Harris Teeter in 2020, she was the executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Family Dollar, a subsidiary of Dollar Tree Inc. There, she navigated the company through its merger with Dollar Tree. She also spent 19 years at Delhaize (Food Lion and Bloom) in various roles critical to the company’s Story continues, see TEETER page 3A
CHARLOTTE – In response to increasing demand for food assistance, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has provided additional emergency funding to 60 food pantries across the Southeastern United States, with the potential for assistance to additional locations.
This support will help relieve shortages and provide meals for more than 300,000 individuals and families facing food insecurity. Receiving organizations such as Nourish Up are on the front lines of helping those in need. Many have experienced recent stock shortages and heightened demand as families struggle with reduced benefits and rising food costs. “With this extraordinary generosity, Nourish Up can continue the vital work of lifting the Charlotte community through food,” said Tina Postel, CEO of Nourish Up. “In more than 50 years, we have never had to turn a family away because we didn’t have enough food. We are seeing record numbers and we are responding. This support propels us forward with the strength to keep saying ‘yes’ to our neighbors in need.” This initiative builds on the Church’s ongoing humanitarian efforts to care for the poor and hungry. In 2024 alone, more than 32 million pounds of food were donated through community and interfaith organizations across the United States. “As followers of Jesus Christ, we are invited to care for those in need,” said Elder Craig C. Christensen, United States Southeast Area President of the Church. “When we lift the weary, feed the hungry and comfort those who suffer, we reflect the pure light of the Savior. In doing so, we become instruments in His hands to heal hearts and help others feel the joy and peace that come from a merciful Redeemer who remembers each one of us.” “Our community has shown up for us in truly remarkable ways, and we are in a strong place right now,” Postel continued. “Our greatest need moving forward is that people do not forget us when life goes ‘back to normal.’ The need for volunteers and financial support is year-round; continued engagement ensures that we can keep showing up for our neighbors every day.” More information regarding community support is available at https://nourishup.org Morgan Jepson is a social media specialist with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.