Launching The Southern Group Charlotte | Former FTA Acting Administrator & Charlotte City Councilman | Entrepreneur & Fortune 500 Operator

Joined April 2009
839 Photos and videos
One of the leading candidates for Charlotte mayor joined the podcast. Harold Cogdell discusses his background, public service career, and why he's seeking the role. Full episode available now. @Larken @HaroldCogdellJr
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Well… we just had Harold Cogdell on the pod to discuss why he is interested in being Charlotte’s next mayor, and how he will approach things. Really interested episode… dropping soon. @Larken @HaroldCogdellJr
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How do elected officials know they're truly representing the majority? We asked Renee Johnson that question. Her answer touched on leadership, listening, reelection, and the challenges of serving through COVID. @Larken
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Barring anyone new applying for interim Mayor in the last hour - I only see 5 names that could potentially get the position, and 3 that are most likely to win.  James Mitchell, Harold Cogdell, Michael Evans, Carrie Cook, and Caleb Theodros.  I find it difficult to believe council will go with an internal pick, and while Cogdell is a great choice, he has some party baggage that folks will be reminded of.  That leaves Theodros vs Evans vs Cook.  Also hearing a last min name may be entering the chat.
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🚨 Today is the last day to apply for Charlotte's interim mayor position. We asked Renee Johnson:
• Will she apply?
• Should Larken apply?
• What does Charlotte need in its next mayor? Here's what she had to say. @Larken
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Ahead of tonight's data center moratorium vote, we asked Councilwoman Renee Johnson a question: Does Charlotte know there's an imminent threat to health and safety? Her answer: "I don't know." She says that's what the moratorium is intended to help determine. @Larken
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After we asked Renee Johnson why she led the effort that killed the I-77 South toll lane project, she handed us blank contracts and asked us to sign them. Her point: Charlotte was being asked to approve a deal before knowing all the details. @Larken
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Dimple named her daughter Charlotte. The next logical question: are her other kids named Mecklenburg, Freedom Park, and Eastland Mall? 😂 This conversation went completely off the rails in a hilarious way we all enjoyed. @Larken @DimpleAjmera
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I just want to know who was on the other side of that “drop OJ isatoners in the meeting” bet. We used to do that in council back in the day. So good.
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"The mayor is a head coach, not a point guard." Larken Egleston shares his take on what Charlotte should be looking for in its next interim mayor and why leadership may be more about managing a team than being the star of the show. @Larken @DimpleAjmera
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"We need time to do our homework." Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera explains why she supports Charlotte's proposed 150-day data center moratorium and what she hopes the city accomplishes during the pause. @Larken @DimpleAjmera
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Nobody was talking about data centers in Charlotte a few years ago. Now they're one of the city's biggest political fights. Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera explains what changed and why residents are raising concerns. @Larken @DimpleAjmera
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Is Dimple Ajmera running for mayor in 2027? We asked her point blank. Her response touches on family, sacrifice, public service, and whether she sees a future in Charlotte's top job. Watch and decide for yourself. @Larken @DimpleAjmera
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“Who is going to be the best person to lead Charlotte for the next 18 months?” Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera shares what she believes the city needs most from its interim mayor: someone who can lower the political temperature and bring stability to City Hall. #Charlotte #CLTCC #Mayor #Politics @Larken @DimpleAjmera
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After last nights wild public hearing… is there a better guest for episode 17 of the pod than @DimpleAjmera? I think not. Coming very soon. @Larken
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“Show me your flip phone.” Councilwoman Dante Anderson explains why the Charlotte data center debate should focus on good projects vs bad ones — not blanket opposition. #Charlotte #DataCenters #AI #CharlottePolitics @Larken @DanteAnderson
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Tariq Scott Bokhari retweeted
This has to be one of the wildest times in Charlotte politics in recent memory right? Mayor's leaving, 77 toll lane project exit, and potential data center moratorium. @Larken and @FinTechInnov8r help us break it all down. youtube.com/watch?v=Ft96NbBp…
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What Should You Expect to Hear at Tonight’s Charlotte Data Center Moratorium Hearing? Tune in to Episode 16 before tonight’s public hearing (which should be around 6:30pm) to see what Councilwoman Dante Anderson expects, and how she thinks about this broader topic. @Larken @DanteAnderson
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The prediction for Charlotte’s next Mayor (made last Thursday 👀) We break down the rumors, political strategy, and behind-the-scenes dynamics already emerging around the upcoming mayoral appointment. #Charlotte #CharlottePolitics #Mayor #NorthCarolina @Larken @DanteAnderson
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This is pretty wild. And while more details need to be confirmed, it’s enough to question where info and calls to action are coming from. This wouldn’t be the first time.
We uncovered something far bigger than I ever expected. After seeing coordinated false attacks against the Utah data center project, we brought in an advanced data science team to trace where the content was coming from and the results were shocking. What we found led back to organized networks, political activist groups, and funding trails tied to massive international entities. We dug through IRS 990 filings, tracked IP data from around the world, and uncovered what appears to be a coordinated campaign targeting energy and data center projects across multiple regions. I shared 90 pages of evidence with federal law enforcement and raised concerns directly with contacts at the White House. This isn’t speculation. The filings, funding records, dates, and connections are documented. There’s a coordinated PR war happening around energy infrastructure and data centers, and we’re not going to ignore it.
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