Mitch Colvin

Mitch Colvin
Born	Template:Birth year and age
Birthplace	Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, mortician, businessman
Known for	Serving as Mayor of Fayetteville, North Carolina; bringing minor league baseball to Fayetteville
Education	Fayetteville State University

Mitch Colvin (born 1973) is an American politician, businessman, and mortician who has served as the Mayor of Fayetteville, North Carolina, since December 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Colvin rose through Fayetteville's municipal government after serving two consecutive terms on the Fayetteville City Council from 2013 to 2017, during which time he also held the position of mayor pro tem. His tenure as mayor has been marked by efforts to spur economic development in downtown Fayetteville, including a prominent role in negotiating a deal to bring minor league baseball to the city. A graduate of Fayetteville State University, Colvin has maintained a career as a mortician and businessman alongside his public service. He was appointed to the North Carolina Governor's Crime Commission in 2017 by Governor Roy Cooper and has won three consecutive mayoral elections, running unopposed in 2019 and securing re-election in both 2017 and 2022 by substantial margins.

Early Life

Mitch Colvin was born in 1973 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, a city located in Cumberland County in the southeastern part of the state. Fayetteville is the sixth-largest city in North Carolina and is adjacent to Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty), one of the largest military installations in the world. The city's character and economy have long been shaped by the military presence, and Colvin grew up in this environment.

Colvin has maintained deep roots in Fayetteville throughout his life, building both his professional career and political involvement within the community where he was raised. His decision to pursue a career as a mortician and businessman in Fayetteville reflected a commitment to his hometown that would later extend into public service. Details regarding his parents, siblings, and specific childhood experiences have not been extensively documented in public sources.

Education

Colvin attended Fayetteville State University, a historically Black public university located in Fayetteville and part of the University of North Carolina system. Fayetteville State University, founded in 1867, is one of the oldest public institutions of higher education in North Carolina. Colvin's education at the university connected him further to the civic and cultural life of his hometown. Specific details about his degree program, graduation year, and any additional educational credentials have not been widely reported in available public sources.

Career

Professional Career

Outside of politics, Mitch Colvin has worked as a mortician and businessman in Fayetteville. His professional career in the funeral services industry provided him with a business background and connections within the local community that would later inform his political career. Funeral directors often hold positions of trust and visibility within their communities, particularly in the American South, and Colvin's role as a mortician established him as a known figure in Fayetteville prior to his entry into elected office.

Fayetteville City Council (2013–2017)

Colvin began his career in elected politics when he won a seat on the Fayetteville City Council, on which he served for two consecutive terms from 2013 to 2017. During his time on the council, Colvin rose to the position of mayor pro tem, a role that placed him as the second-ranking member of the city government and positioned him as a key figure in municipal governance.

One of Colvin's most prominent roles during his time on the city council was serving as chair of the Baseball Committee. In this capacity, he was instrumental in negotiations to bring a minor league baseball team to downtown Fayetteville. The effort centered on attracting a minor league affiliate of the Houston Astros to the city. The opportunity arose after the Astros' previous minor league affiliate, the Bakersfield Blaze, had dissolved. Colvin and the Baseball Committee worked to negotiate a deal that would establish a new team in Fayetteville, culminating in the creation of the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, a Carolina League affiliate of the Houston Astros. The arrival of the Woodpeckers represented a significant economic development initiative for downtown Fayetteville, bringing with it the construction of a new baseball stadium and the associated economic activity of a professional sports franchise.

Governor's Crime Commission

In May 2017, while still serving as mayor pro tem, Colvin was appointed by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to the Governor's Crime Commission. The Governor's Crime Commission is a body tasked with advising the governor on criminal justice policy and overseeing the distribution of federal and state funds related to crime prevention and law enforcement. Colvin began his work on the commission during its June 2017 quarterly meeting. The appointment reflected both Colvin's standing within the Democratic Party in North Carolina and his engagement with public safety issues in Fayetteville, a city that has grappled with crime-related challenges common to mid-sized urban areas in the state.

2017 Mayoral Election

In July 2017, Colvin filed as a candidate for the office of Mayor of Fayetteville, seeking to unseat the incumbent Republican mayor, Nat Robertson. The municipal primary election was held in October 2017, and Colvin led all candidates with approximately 45% of the vote, a strong showing that demonstrated broad support across the city's electorate.

The primary results set up a general election runoff between Colvin and Robertson in November 2017. Robertson, a Republican, was seeking a third term as mayor of Fayetteville. The general election campaign focused on issues of economic development, public safety, and the future direction of Fayetteville's municipal government. On election night, Colvin defeated Robertson decisively, capturing 59% of the vote to Robertson's 41%. The result represented a significant shift in Fayetteville's political leadership, with Colvin becoming the city's new mayor.

Colvin was sworn in as Mayor of Fayetteville on December 4, 2017, succeeding Nat Robertson.

First Term as Mayor (2017–2019)

Upon taking office, Colvin assumed leadership of a city with a population of approximately 210,000 residents, making Fayetteville one of the largest cities in North Carolina. As mayor, Colvin continued to focus on economic development initiatives, including the ongoing efforts to bring minor league baseball to the city. The Fayetteville Woodpeckers project, which Colvin had championed during his time on the city council, moved forward during his first term as mayor.

Colvin's first term also involved governance of a city with a diverse population and economy closely linked to the military through the adjacent Fort Bragg installation. The relationship between Fayetteville and the military community has long been a central element of the city's governance and economic planning.

2019 Mayoral Election

In the November 2019 mayoral election, Colvin ran for re-election and was the only candidate on the ballot. Running unopposed, he received approximately 95% of the vote, a reflection of the absence of organized opposition to his continued leadership of the city. The lack of a challenger in the 2019 race was notable for a city the size of Fayetteville and suggested that Colvin had consolidated political support during his first term.

Second Term as Mayor (2019–2022)

Colvin's second term as mayor encompassed a period of significant challenges for municipalities across the United States, including the economic and public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in early 2020. As mayor of one of North Carolina's largest cities, Colvin was responsible for overseeing the city's response to the pandemic and its effects on the local economy and community.

During this period, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers were established and began play, fulfilling the vision that Colvin had championed since his time as chair of the Baseball Committee on the city council. The team's arrival in Fayetteville, along with the construction of Segra Stadium in the downtown area, represented a tangible achievement of the economic development strategy Colvin had long advocated.

2022 Mayoral Election

Colvin sought a third term as mayor in 2022 and won re-election with 62% of the vote, once again demonstrating strong electoral support within the city. The 2022 election result confirmed Colvin's continued hold on the mayor's office and his status as the dominant political figure in Fayetteville municipal politics. His three consecutive electoral victories — in 2017, 2019, and 2022 — established a sustained period of political leadership for the city.

Third Term as Mayor (2022–present)

Colvin has continued to serve as Mayor of Fayetteville following his 2022 re-election. As the leader of one of North Carolina's most prominent cities, Colvin has overseen municipal governance during a period of continued growth and development in the Fayetteville metropolitan area. The city's proximity to Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) continues to shape its economic landscape and the policy priorities of its municipal government.

Political Positions and Affiliations

Colvin is a member of the Democratic Party. His political career has been conducted within the framework of Fayetteville's nonpartisan municipal elections, though his party affiliation has been publicly known throughout his career. His appointment to the Governor's Crime Commission by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper in 2017 reflected his alignment with the state party.

Fayetteville's municipal elections are officially nonpartisan under North Carolina law, meaning that candidates do not appear on the ballot with party labels. However, party affiliations are generally well known to voters and political observers, and Colvin has been identified as a Democrat throughout his political career.

Recognition

Colvin's appointment to the North Carolina Governor's Crime Commission by Governor Roy Cooper in May 2017 represented a notable recognition of his public service and involvement in criminal justice issues at the state level. The appointment came while Colvin was still serving as mayor pro tem on the Fayetteville City Council, prior to his election as mayor.

His leadership of the Baseball Committee and the successful negotiation to bring the Fayetteville Woodpeckers to the city has been cited as one of the most visible achievements associated with his political career. The establishment of a minor league baseball franchise in downtown Fayetteville represented a significant economic development accomplishment for the city's leadership.

Colvin's three consecutive electoral victories — defeating an incumbent Republican mayor in 2017, running unopposed in 2019, and winning re-election with a substantial margin in 2022 — reflect a sustained level of political support within the Fayetteville electorate.

Legacy

As of his third term in office, Mitch Colvin has established himself as one of the most consequential mayors in recent Fayetteville history. His tenure has spanned a period of significant change for the city, including the arrival of professional baseball, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the renaming of the adjacent military installation from Fort Bragg to Fort Liberty.

Colvin's role in bringing the Fayetteville Woodpeckers to the city stands as a concrete legacy of his leadership. The project, which he championed from his early days on the city council through his tenure as mayor, resulted in the construction of a new downtown stadium and the establishment of a professional sports franchise that has contributed to the revitalization of Fayetteville's city center.

His political trajectory — from city council member to mayor pro tem to mayor over the course of a decade — represents an arc of local political engagement rooted in long-standing community ties. As a graduate of Fayetteville State University and a lifelong resident of the city, Colvin's career in public office has been characterized by deep local connections and a focus on Fayetteville's economic development and governance.

The longevity of his time in Fayetteville's municipal leadership, encompassing both his city council service and his three terms as mayor, has given Colvin a significant role in shaping the direction of one of North Carolina's largest cities during a period of growth and transformation in the early 21st century.