Patsy Kinsey

Patsy Kinsey is a Charlotte native. A civic leader and elected official, she served as a Mecklenburg County Commissioner from 1990- 1994. She was then elected as a member of the Charlotte City Council from District 1 for five consecutive terms, from 2003 until the Council elected her as Mayor on July 1, 2013. She served out the remainder of the term of former Mayor Anthony Foxx, after his resignation to become the US Secretary of Transportation.  

Her civic leadership service included serving as chair of the board of the YWCA of the Central Carolinas, chair of the Charlotte Symphony and the Mecklenburg Historical Society. Patsy was a founder of Citizens for Preservation Inc., which in the 1970’s was focused on the revitalization of uptown’s Fourth Ward. Her advocacy included the arts and historic preservation, as well as immigration challenges and LGBTQ rights.  She was the first Charlotte Mayor to issue a “Charlotte Pride Weekend” proclamation.  During her time as Mayor, she also brought insightful leadership when state legislators attempted to assign the Charlotte Douglas International Airport to a regional authority. Woman of the Year 2013.