"If the issue is the economy, then why aren't we focusing on the economy?" Peacock told The Associated Press.
The city also faces serious economic challenges.
The owner of a financial investment company, Peacock, 43,
Aaron Gordon Jersey, made an unsuccessful bid last year for the Republican nomination in the 9th Congressional District. But the former city councilman impressed voters by campaigning as a moderate; he opposed a statewide amendment last year that banned same-sex marriage.
But if he wins, Peacock said it will prove that a "business-minded, pragmatic, centrist Republican can win" in a Democratic city because he's reaching out to Democrats, Latinos, African-Americans.
GOP lawmakers have tried to wrest control of the city-run airport — the nation's sixth busiest — from Charlotte officials and replace it with a 13-member authority. The city has filed a lawsuit to prevent the takeover, and both candidates support keeping Charlotte Douglas Airport in city hands.
Cannon or Peacock will replace Anthony Foxx,
Bob Uecker Jersey, who was appointed by President Barack Obama as U.S. Transportation Secretary.
Still, the candidates say the city of 760,000 is at a crossroads — with challenges ahead, including job creation. And the two would rather talk about that future than engage in attacks.
"I wasn't going to do that," he said, pointing to one of his campaign commercials that promotes unity. "If a good idea comes from Democrats or Republicans, who cares? I'm running for mayor to provide the leadership, to get us moving . forward," Peacock says in the ad.
For the most part, however, they've been touting ways to improve the local economy, which voters call the most pressing issue.
While the city manager runs daily operations, the mayor helps set policy, and whoever wins Tuesday's election will face tough decisions.
Republicans took control of the state Legislature in 2010 for the first time since Reconstruction and cemented full control of state government with the election of McCrory in November. In just nine months,
Wholesale Jerseys China, lawmakers implemented a conservative platform. The General Assembly refused to expand Medicaid, cut unemployment benefits and abolished the earned-income tax credit, which serves low- to middle-income people.
Both candidates talk about improving the city by diversifying its economy — Charlotte is home to Duke Energy, the nation's largest utility by number of customers, and US Airways has a hub at the airport — and do so without ripping into the other guy.
Debbie Lake, 31, is a teacher and says she's tired of politicians "fighting all the time" and will vote for Peacock. "You want politicians working together to solve problems,
Wholesale Shoes Australia Online, to get things done," she said.
For Peacock: "I have said time and time again, I think we're living off past glory."
And he noted that Republicans have won in Charlotte before: Pat McCrory, a Republican, spent 14 years as mayor before being elected governor in 2012.
"I think the reason you don't see politics being played in Charlotte the way you see it played in other cities is that it's simply not the Charlotte way. And it's certainly not my way," Cannon said in an interview.
Peacock criticized Cannon for a city deal to provide $87.5 million for upgrades to the Carolina Panthers' stadium in exchange for a commitment to stay in Charlotte at least another six years. Peacock said public trust was violated because the package was negotiated behind closed doors. But Cannon said he didn't take part in negotiations because he asked to be recused; his parking company has a contract with the Panthers.
Instead, Democrat Patrick Cannon and Republican Edwin Peacock have tried to stay focused on the critical issues facing Charlotte, the election remaining a low-key affair in a city that has become one of the nation's leading banking and energy centers.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — In North Carolina's largest city, the mayoral race has seen no mudslinging. No blistering attack ads like those in state and national races in which divisive partisanship has become normal.
It doesn't mean the candidates haven't sparred in debates,
Antonio Blakeney Jersey.
He knows he's at a disadvantage — 50 percent of Charlotte's 550,000 registered voters are Democrats. About 23 percent are Republicans, the rest unaffiliated.
"It's been tough around here the last f