James Mitchell Jr., a Democrat, was elected at large in 2022. He has previously served on City Council as the District 2 member and at large.
Mitchell graduated from the following leadership programs: Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership, Leadership Charlotte and Focus on Leadership.
In 2011, Mitchell served as the president of the National League of Cities, only the second elected official from North Carolina to serve as the president in the organization's 92 years. He was also the recipient of the Democratic Municipal Official of the Year award.
A Charlotte native, Mitchell is a graduate of West Charlotte High School. He received his B.B.A in information systems from North Carolina Central University where he pledged the Tau Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.
He is married to former NASA astronaut Joan Higginbotham and is the proud father of his two blessings, Kayla and Nicole. They are members of East Stonewall AME Zion church.
Councilmember Mitchell was involved in the following Charlotte community leadership organizations prior to serving on the city council:
- Focus on Leadership, president
- Save-the-Seed mentoring organization, president
- Black Data Processing Association, president
- Young Democrats of Mecklenburg County, president
- Black Political Caucus, vice president.