Patrick Cannon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patrick Cannon
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| 56th Mayor of Charlotte | |
| In office December 2, 2013 – March 26, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Patsy Kinsey |
| Succeeded by | Michael Barnes (as Mayor Pro Tempore/Acting Mayor) |
| City Council At-Large Member | |
| In office January 2001 – December 2005 January 2010 – December 2013 |
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| City Council Member for District 3 of Charlotte | |
| In office January 1994 – January 2001 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | November 27, 1966 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Trenna Cannon |
| Children | One daughter, One son |
| Residence | South Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Alma mater | North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University |
| High School | South Mecklenburg High School |
Patrick DeAngelo Cannon was born on November 27, 1966. He is an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party. He served on the Charlotte City Council for many years. In November 2013, he was elected as the 56th Mayor of Charlotte. However, he resigned from his position in March 2014 due to legal issues related to his public service.
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Patrick Cannon's Early Life and Education
Patrick Cannon studied communications at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. He focused on business marketing during his studies. He also received a special certificate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government.
Serving Charlotte City Council
Cannon began his political career when he was elected to the Charlotte City Council in 1993. He was only 26 years old when he was sworn in. This made him the youngest council member in Charlotte's history at that time.
He first represented District 3, which is on the west side of the city. Later, in 2001, he was elected to an at-large seat. This means he represented the whole city, not just one district. He left the council in 2005 but was reelected in 2009.
Becoming Mayor of Charlotte
In 2013, Patrick Cannon decided to run for mayor. The previous mayor, Anthony Foxx, chose not to run again. On November 5, 2013, Cannon won the election and became the mayor of Charlotte. He received about 53 percent of the votes.
He officially became mayor on December 2, 2013. The ceremony took place at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. When he was elected mayor, he was also serving as the Mayor Pro Tempore on the Charlotte City Council.
Legal Challenges and Resignation
On March 26, 2014, Patrick Cannon faced serious legal issues. These issues were related to his actions while serving in public office. He was accused of misusing his position. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had been looking into these matters since 2010.
Cannon was released on bond after his first court appearance that day. He resigned as mayor of Charlotte shortly after.
Admitting Guilt and Sentencing
On June 3, 2014, Patrick Cannon admitted he was guilty of a charge related to misusing his public position. He made a public statement saying he was sorry for his actions and for breaking the public's trust. He also said he loved Charlotte and regretted hurting the city.
On October 14, 2014, Cannon was sentenced to 44 months in prison. He began serving his sentence at a minimum-security facility in West Virginia. He was released from prison on September 15, 2016, after serving 22 months.
After his release, he was monitored for two years. This helped him transition back to everyday life.
Later Legal Admission
On October 30, 2014, while he was under house arrest, Cannon tried to vote early. This vote did not count. He later admitted that he had tried to vote when he was not allowed to. This happened on March 16, 2016, but it did not add more time to his prison sentence.
Attempted Return to Politics
On March 4, 2022, Patrick Cannon announced he wanted to return to politics. He filed to run for an at-large seat on the Charlotte City Council again. He stated he wanted a "new beginning" and a chance to make a positive impact.
However, in the Charlotte Democratic Primaries held on May 17, 2022, Cannon finished last. He received only 12 percent of the votes for the at-large City Council seat.
