It took a tie, a mayor, and a tiny bit of drama, but Edwin Peacock III is back on Charlotte City Council—this time representing District 6. The vote? A 5-5 deadlock. The tiebreaker? Mayor Vi Lyles, who leaned on precedent and possibly patience, casting her deciding vote in favor of the guy with name recognition and, critically, an attendance record.
The Tie Heard Around SouthPark
Peacock, a former at-large council member and two-time mayoral runner-up, was chosen to fill the vacant seat left by Tariq Bokhari, who recently exited city politics to pursue, presumably, fintech and freedom. His wife, Krista Bokhari, was also in the running. She had the support of five councilmembers—including Ed Driggs, her husband’s close ally—but couldn’t break past the tie.
Mayor Lyles, as she did in 2021 during a similarly deadlocked appointment, stepped in. This time, she chose Peacock over Bokhari, saying the council had made it clear “what the opportunities are.”
Peacock, suited and swearing-in-ready, took the oath that same evening.
Who Voted for Whom (And Why It Matters)
Those supporting Peacock included Mayor Pro Tem Dante Anderson, Malcolm Graham, LaWana Slack-Mayfield, James Mitchell, and Marjorie Molina. Krista Bokhari was backed by Dimple Ajmera, Tiawana Brown, Ed Driggs, Renee Johnson, and Victoria Watlington.
The split wasn’t strictly partisan—it was, as most things on council are these days, a mix of familiarity, optics, and political math. Peacock had history. Bokhari had momentum. In the end, the only person with a vote that counted more than once was the mayor.
District 6: Home of Shrubs, Shops, and Subtext
District 6 includes some of Charlotte’s most moneyed ZIP codes—Myers Park, SouthPark, and neighborhoods where sidewalk debates double as sports. It’s also a district contending with zoning conflicts, rising housing costs, and the occasional fight over tree ordinances.
Peacock promised to be a short-term steward. He says he will not run in the November election, making this appointment less of a comeback tour and more of a clean-up job.
What About the Other Four?
In case you forgot—and you did—four other people applied for the seat: Jack Moorman, Laurie Overcash, Richard Pearsall, and Brian Waple. None of them appeared at the council meeting to speak or defend their application. It was the political version of getting ghosted by your own campaign.
Bokhari’s Future? TBD
Krista Bokhari, in a brief statement, said she was disappointed but grateful. She’s backed by powerful GOP voices, including House Speaker Destin Hall, and has made it clear she’s not leaving public life anytime soon. Whether that means another run—or something higher up the food chain—is still unclear.
As for Peacock, he’s back in the saddle, at least until the leaves start turning. And all he had to do was show up.
Nell Thomas
Nell Thomas covers politics and power lunches for Strolling Ballantyne and The Charlotte Mercury. She files most of her stories from the Einstein Bros. Bagels on Conlan Circle in Ballantyne (13736 Conlan Cir, open daily 6–2), where the turkey sausage egg white sandwich is the breakfast of reporters who missed dinner.
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This article, “Edwin Peacock Wins Council Seat, Thanks to One Mayor and Zero Yard Signs,” by Nell Thomas is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“Edwin Peacock Wins Council Seat, Thanks to One Mayor and Zero Yard Signs”
by Nell Thomas, Strolling Ballantyne (CC BY-ND 4.0)
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