Tiawana Deling Brown

Tiawana Deling Brown (Democratic Party) (also known as Tia) was a member of the Charlotte City Council in North Carolina, representing District 3. She assumed office on December 4, 2023. She left office on December 1, 2025.

Deling Brown (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Charlotte City Council to represent District 3 in North Carolina. She lost in the Democratic primary on September 9, 2025.

Deling Brown completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Tiawana Deling Brown was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She graduated from Myers Park High School and attended Johnson C. Smith University. Her career experience includes working as a business owner.

Brown has been affiliated with the following organizations:

• Black Political Caucus
• NAACP
• Urban League
• National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls
• JLUSA
• African American Political Caucus

Elections

2025

See also: City elections in Charlotte, North Carolina (2025)

General election

General election for Charlotte City Council District 3

Joi Mayo defeated James H. Bowers and Robin Emmons in the general election for Charlotte City Council District 3 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Joi Mayo (D)	73.6	10,019
		James H. Bowers (R)	16.3	2,215
	Submit photo	Robin Emmons (Independent)	10.1	1,382

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 13,616
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Charlotte City Council District 3

Joi Mayo defeated incumbent Tiawana Deling Brown, Warren F. Turner, and Montravias King in the Democratic primary for Charlotte City Council District 3 on September 9, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Joi Mayo	49.5	2,409
		Tiawana Deling Brown	25.1	1,223
		Warren F. Turner	22.0	1,071
		Montravias King	3.4	167

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,870
= 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.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. James H. Bowers advanced from the Republican primary for Charlotte City Council District 3.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Deling Brown in this election.

2023

See also: City elections in Charlotte, North Carolina (2023)

General election

General election for Charlotte City Council District 3

Tiawana Deling Brown defeated James H. Bowers in the general election for Charlotte City Council District 3 on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tiawana Deling Brown (D)	78.5	6,264
		James H. Bowers (R)	21.2	1,690
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	21

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,975
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Charlotte City Council District 3

Tiawana Deling Brown defeated Warren F. Turner and Melinda Lilly in the Democratic primary for Charlotte City Council District 3 on September 12, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tiawana Deling Brown	60.1	1,812
		Warren F. Turner	29.5	891
	Submit photo	Melinda Lilly	10.4	314

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,017
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. James H. Bowers advanced from the Republican primary for Charlotte City Council District 3.

Endorsements

To view Deling Brown's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Deling Brown in this election.

2022

See also: City elections in Charlotte, North Carolina (2022)

General election

General election for Charlotte City Council District 3

Incumbent Victoria Watlington defeated James H. Bowers in the general election for Charlotte City Council District 3 on July 26, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Victoria Watlington (D)	77.2	5,008
		James H. Bowers (R)	22.7	1,471
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	10

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,489
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Charlotte City Council District 3

Incumbent Victoria Watlington defeated Tiawana Deling Brown in the Democratic primary for Charlotte City Council District 3 on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Victoria Watlington	53.6	3,489
		Tiawana Deling Brown	46.4	3,015

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,504
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. James H. Bowers advanced from the Republican primary for Charlotte City Council District 3.

Campaign themes

2023

Tiawana Deling Brown completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Deling Brown's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Tiawana Brown. Born and raised in Charlotte,NC by hard working single mother. I have lived in District 3 my entire life. I am the mother of two adult daughters. Antoinette & Tijema. My youngest was born while I was incarcerated I have overcome the barriers of the federal prison system, generational poverty & domestic violence. After a very close race last year-I am back. I am a small business owner and non-profit President.I bring complete transparency, accountability and accessibility. My agenda is people, constituents and the community. I bring my professional skills and experience of more than 20 years. Serving on non-profit boards, managing budgets , advocating and supporting grassroots organizations. I am the authentic change that our District needs. All my life I’ve had to fight and I will use the same strength to fight for the Constituents and community in my District and on City Council.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Safer Communities - Reimagined communities/ people and community led programs to reduce crime. Programs to involve children to keep them off the streets & engaging them in positive programs
• True Affordable Housing- adding more funding to the 50 million that is already allocated in the current budget.
• Workforce Development - more jobs for community. Raise wages for workers to show affordable and living wages.

Community Question Featured local question

Did the COVID-19 pandemic change your approach to local policy issues? If so, please give us an example. If not, why?

N/a
Pandemic was a first for all of us. To that end we all are experienced and expected to act accordingly in the event we cross a similar path in the future.

Community Question Featured local question

Do you believe crime rates are changing? Where do you get your crime rate data from? Would you make any changes to existing public safety policy?

Yes. We are better in crime rate when compared to similar cities. Quality of life Explorer is updated with data needed to access crimes & rate.
We should constantly look at ways to improve public safety and it should be a goal that we are always striving to improve.

Community Question Featured local question

Do you think the downtown area is healthy? What is your definition of a healthy downtown? What changes, if any, would you like to make?

No. Too much traffic- we have to create alternate transportation into downtown Charlotte Downtown. The less traffic we have the more healthier it becomes.

Community Question Featured local question

How important is it to involve residents in the government’s decision-making process? What plans do you have regarding resident involvement in this process?

Very important.

My plans will be to continue working for the community and constituents.
Implementing community engagement Town Hall meetings as often as needed.

To continue to be transparent, accountable and accessible.

Community Question Featured local question

How should record requests from the public be handled? Do you have any policies around transparency and accountability you want to enact?

Record request for the most part are accessible to the public/ should there be a time when a request can’t be honored we must be transparent and be held accountable no exceptions.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you address crime and public safety? Do you have a different stance than current city council policy?

Safer Communities began with involvement of those that are closest to the community and problems. They will have the ability to provide answers and service with solutions. As it relates to city council policy. We will keep what’s working and remove what is not.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you balance the needs and desires of existing business and housing communities with new development? Would you take gentrification and displacement into consideration when planning neighborhood development?

Answered already in the survey

Community Question Featured local question

How would you set priorities and develop plans in a way that will reflect community values and goals?

I will continue to prioritize the needs of the community. Set daily, weekly and daily goals. To include ways that are in alignment with the values that I have. Transparency. Accountability & being Accessible.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's current approach to public safety? Would you take any different positions?

Whenever we speak on safety and the approach to public safety we have to include the individuals that are being affected. They are closest to the problem and will have the solutions.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's environmental health? Would you make any changes to current policy?

Continue to monitor environmental health & adapt and make change’s as needed.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding infrastructure?

The UDO -Unified Development Ordinance
To continue to provide support and understanding to the community and Constituents as we continue deal with the rapid development and growth in our communities.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding the police department? Would you make any changes from current policy?

There is always room for improvement as it relates to police reform.

Community Question Featured local question

What policies would you have implemented in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic? Why did you select those policies?

I would have implemented policies that would have been more restrictive and responsive to the community needs.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Racial Equality for everyone.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Community Advocacy and supporting the needs of the community and the constituents.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my mother. I always admired her strength and courage. She overcame adversity and provided a life of love and determination.

She showed my sister and I- that weeping endures but for one night. Joy will come in the morning.

And with hard work you can achieve all of your goals.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I haven’t published a book so there is not one available yet.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Voting Record

Community Engagement
Community Service
Transparency
Accountability
Accessibility

Understand Policy

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Community Agenda. Led by the people for the people. Strong Communication Skills. Self Starter. Non profit President & small business owner. Hard worker in my community for 3 decades.
Lived in my District my entire live. I’m accountable & accessible. Professional skills include , business and workforce development. Committed to providing strategic budget planning and management.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Commitment to stay engaged with the constituents and to address the needs of the community by staying transparent at all time.
Holding community leaders & colleagues accountable.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I will leave a legacy of being Transparent. Hardworking and Community driven.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Rodney King Riots 1992
I was 19 years of age

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was with Marriott Hotels. I was employed with them for 7 years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Becoming Ms. Burton - it is filled with inspiration for formerly incarcerated women and people. Truth & Transparency throughout the entire book.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

SuperWoman

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Who run the World by Beyoncé

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Overcoming the stigmas of my incarceration of 30 years ago.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

I don’t know of any. Should I discover any. I will be transparent with communication to the community & the constituents.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

No.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Transparency

Accountability
Dependable
Hardworking
Accessible
Public Service
Community Advocacy

Understand Policy and be able to read, write and communicate

Tell us your favorite joke.

I don’t have one but I love to laugh. It’s good for the heart.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Black Political Caucus (BPC)

Metrolina Labor Council
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry L.McFadden
Emma S. Allen -State Farm Insurance Agent

Complete list of endorsements on my website

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.

Note: Community Questions were submitted by the public and chosen for inclusion by a volunteer advisory board. The chosen questions were modified by staff to adhere to Ballotpedia’s neutrality standards. To learn more about Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Expansion Project, click here.

2022

Tiawana Deling Brown did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

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