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Supporters of a Mecklenburg County proposal to raise sales taxes have turned to not one, not two, but three political consulting firms to help build support for a referendum this fall. The firms are mapping strategy for the newly formed Partnership for a Better Mecklenburg. The campaign will be supported by private contributions. Executives from the Arts

Former Mecklenburg Commissioner Darrel Williams will chair a new organization created to convince voters to support a quarter-cent sales tax for the arts. The group, Partnership for a better Mecklenburg Committee, will be filing its paperwork soon to the Mecklenburg Board of Elections, according to a news release. Williams will be leading three different consultants.

The campaign for Mecklenburg County’s quarter-cent sales tax referendum has turned to a longtime business and political leader as its chair. Charlotte architect Darrel Williams, a founding partner in Neighboring Concepts and former Mecklenburg commissioner, is chair of the Partnership for a Better Mecklenburg Committee, which is backing the Nov. 5 referendum. The committee is

Darrel Williams, chair of Partnership for a Better Mecklenburg. Photo courtesy of Brad Crone

With 12 weeks until Mecklenburg County voters decide on a sales tax referendum to fund arts and culture groups, expand parks and greenways and fund teacher supplements, the campaign to get out the “yes” vote is taking shape. A former Mecklenburg County commissioner will serve as chairman of the pro-referendum group, and three political consulting