Monroe, NCVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Monroe Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 7

council seats up

2 contests

7 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Every Monroe voter picks one mayor and up to three council members; the council seats are at-large.

2 notes on these statements

Mayor Robert Burns announced in October 2025 that he will not run for re-election. Enquirer Journal

Abigail Pepper is on the ballot as an unaffiliated candidate after gathering petition signatures. Enquirer Journal

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

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Next date

Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.)

Fri, Oct 9, 2026

In 4 daysAll key dates

What the next council decides

Growth and development

Where it standsMonroe's population has grown about 25% in five years, and council put a temporary pause on new developer agreements in September 2025.

What's on the tableThe next council votes on rezonings, annexations and developer agreements for new housing.

  • The city reported that Monroe's population has grown 25% in the last five years. Enquirer Journal
  • In September 2025 council approved a temporary moratorium on developer agreements until the city's policy is updated. Enquirer Journal

Budget and property taxes

Where it standsCouncil set the fiscal 2025-26 tax rate at 44 cents per $100 after property values rose, and raised its outside agency funding cap in June 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council adopts the annual budget, sets the property tax rate and decides how much to give outside agencies.

I-77 South toll lane project

Where it standsCouncil voted 6-1 in June 2026 to reaffirm its support after the regional transportation board rescinded its own.

What's on the tableThe next council sets Monroe's position on the project at the regional transportation planning organization.

Park and facility rentals

Where it standsCouncil approved a facility rental policy for parks and community centers 5-2 in April 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council can keep, change or repeal the rental policy and decides which events city facilities host.

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. How should Monroe handle new housing development?

  2. 2. How should the council treat the property tax rate?

  3. 3. Should the city raise its cap on funding for outside agencies, such as nonprofits?

  4. 4. Should Monroe keep backing the I-77 South toll lane project?

  5. 5. Should city parks and community centers be available for private and nonprofit rentals?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

The seat math

1 stay (not up this year): Franco McGee4 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

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