Justin M. Lewter (Mayor of Kannapolis, North Carolina, candidate 2025)
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Justin M. Lewter is running for election for Mayor of Kannapolis in North Carolina. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.[source]
Lewter completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Justin M. Lewter provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 8, 2025:
- Birth date: July 6, 1971
- Birth place: Queens, NY, New York
- High school: High School of Art & Design
- Bachelor's: Lincoln University, PA, 1993
- Graduate: Queens University of Charlotte, 2011
- Gender: Male
- Religion: Christianity
- Profession: Nonprofit Consultant
- Incumbent officeholder: No
- Campaign slogan: Reimagining Kannapolis
- Campaign website
- Campaign Instagram
Elections
General election
The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.
General election for Mayor of Kannapolis
Darrell Hinnant, Justin M. Lewter, and Doug Wilson are running in the general election for Mayor of Kannapolis on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
| Darrell Hinnant (Nonpartisan) | ||
Justin M. Lewter (Nonpartisan)  | ||
| Doug Wilson (Nonpartisan) | ||
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Endorsements
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Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Justin M. Lewter completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lewter's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am a husband of 29 years, father of four, and a servant-leader running for office to elevate working-class voices. My life is built on service. The son of a police officer and probation officer from Queens, my career began in nonprofits and higher education, navigating public-private partnerships and raising millions as a fundraiser and grant writer.
I now blend this with small business ownership, running a firearms sales and personal defense instruction company. My education and three decades of civic work from working with at-risk youth to organizing with the Black Political Caucus and Black Men Vote Coalition have prepared me to fight for those who feel unheard. I offer a real choice for change, leveraging my unique experience to ensure our community works for everyone.
It is from this unique intersection of all my life’s roles—husband and father, nonprofit fundraiser, author and educator, small business owner, historian, man of faith, and community organizer—that my current purpose has emerged: I am running for elected office for the first time on the grounding principle that we can reimagine Kannapolis.- I am running for elected office out of a desire to elevate the needs of working class people into the political discourse. I believe we deserve real options on the ballot. I want residents to have the opportunity to choose between candidates that represent the status quo and a candidate that offers change. I believe I am best qualified to represent the segment of our city that to this point has gone unheard, disrespected and disregarded.
- At its core, my campaign is to promote the understanding that working people are credibly qualified to govern. My background in business and nonprofit management, building public-private partnerships, has prepared me to lead the city in its growth. What will differentiate me from other candidates is my ability to incorporate the genuine needs and concerns of the public into our city’s growth and development. Our city has gone through a significant transition over the last two decades. What it has lacked is a commitment to meet the needs of residents regardless of their income status. I’m here to lead that change.
- I believe we deserve a city where every resident can Live, Work and Play. Right now we have to choose two out of three. Far too many residents are forced to leave the city to find employment that offers wages that meet the increasing demands of the economy. For most, if you live and work in this city you cannot afford to recreate here. I believe a strategic approach to bringing in businesses that offer higher wages, training and skill development will improve the quality of life for more residents, encourage people to raise families here and bring us closer to a modern 21st century city.
I believe housing is a fundamental right. To combat rising costs, I will fight to stop corporate equity firms from buying residential properties, a practice that artificially inflates home values and property taxes, harming homeowners (particularly those on a fixed income) and disrupting communities. I support rent stabilization policies and will strengthen emergency rental assistance to prevent evictions and foreclosures. My goal is to ensure accessible housing for everyone, including providing temporary shelter for our unhoused neighbors.
Integrity, empathy and accountability. All candidates for public office must have these fundamental characteristics to govern. There are a host of strengths, skills and talents one may possess to demonstrate why they are most suited to hold political office. But without these particular character traits in the candidate it won't be long before they commit questionable practices or make political choices for their own self interest or do more harm than good.
These are the principles my campaign, my candidacy and my administration will abide by if I am elected Mayor of Kannapolis. I will always operate with integrity with my constituents. As an independent candidate my loyalty is to the public and no particular party. I believe the city should serve the needs of all of its residents, my policy positions will reflect the empathy necessary to hold to that principle. Above all accountability: as an elected official we have a duty to show our work and own our wins and losses.
These are the principles my campaign, my candidacy and my administration will abide by if I am elected Mayor of Kannapolis. I will always operate with integrity with my constituents. As an independent candidate my loyalty is to the public and no particular party. I believe the city should serve the needs of all of its residents, my policy positions will reflect the empathy necessary to hold to that principle. Above all accountability: as an elected official we have a duty to show our work and own our wins and losses.
Any elected official's first duty is to upholding the professional standard of public office. You are a representative of the city and should always present oneself in that light. As an elected official carrying out your duties should always be in the best interest of your constituents. City government should not be an obstacle to the daily lives of the city residents or take positions that benefit special interests over their constituents. As an elected official you have a responsibility to operate with integrity, empathy and accountability. You should govern with a focus on transparency and fair play. Prioritizing the needs of the public good over the demands of private business and special interests should be your legacy.
I remember pulling into work at the Scout office in Greensboro in 2001 hearing on the radio that a plane struck one of the twin towers. I remember walking into the office and asking the receptionist to turn the television on. I think I was the first person to be aware of what was going on in our office. I watched the next plane strike and immediately called my wife. Then I started calling family back in NYC. I was 30 years old.
My first job I was 10 years old. I was as an assistant Paperboy to my older brother. After getting up at 5:30a every morning for a week to deliver papers throughout our 13 story apartment building and only earning $8, I quit.
I am a cancer survivor and as a result I live with Chronic Kindney disease.
To me being mayor means being the city's biggest cheerleader, ambassador and advocate. As the city's lead administrator, I want my legacy to be that in every decision, every action, I prioritized the needs of the people. That even in tough decisions, and crucial moments my integrity was not questioned, my empathy was real and I remained openly accountable.
Setting policy. As the mayor, I want to work closely with city council and the city manager to set clear goals and direction for the city and its administrators. I want new discussions around budget priorities. I want clear and concise reporting and explanations for decisions made and actions taken on behalf of the city. I want to ensure that any business taking place is being done with the best interest of the city.
I love the parks, the general sense of safety and the overall esprit de corps the city has - its sense of community.
The demand the growing population has on our infrastructure. We need long term strategies that require thinking outside traditional ideas about population growth patterns. We need to look at our energy grid and water and sewer systems; our housing for low to moderate income earners, and the business opportunities to employ them.
Carolina Forward; Black Political Caucus of Cabarrus County; Down Home North Carolina( Cabarrus & Rowan county chapters); Cabarrus County Democratic Party
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
