The Charlotte City Council heard from more than 20 interim mayor applicants during a candidate forum Monday. A small handful of finalists will advance to public interviews Thursday, with a final decision set for next week.
Leading candidates touched on several common themes, including affordability, infrastructure and repairing relationships with state legislators.
Candidates also say the interim mayor must return order to meetings, which have become increasingly discordant as the public interrupts proceedings and occasionally hurls pointed insults at council members. Mayor Vi Lyles, who plans to resign as soon as an appointment is made, rarely intervenes when discussion goes awry and often loses track of motions…