Vilma D Leake

Current office and 2026 campaign

Vilma D. Leake is the long-serving Democratic commissioner for Mecklenburg County Commission District 2, which covers southwestern Mecklenburg County. First elected to the commission in 2008 and re-elected repeatedly, she won her most recent term in 2024 with 74 percent of the vote and is seeking re-election in 2026.

Throughout her tenure, Leake has advocated for policies addressing the legacy of segregation and protecting vulnerable residents — particularly children and the elderly. She has championed minority business owners through her Small Business Consortium and consistently prioritized equity-centered governance.

Background and education

Leake earned a bachelor's degree from Livingstone College and a master's degree from the University of Buffalo. She holds a principalship certification from UNC-Chapel Hill and has completed all coursework toward a doctorate at the University of San Francisco.

Career

Leake worked as a teacher before entering public life. She was elected to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education in 1997 and served 11 years on that body, including as vice chair of the CMS Policy Committee. She was first elected to the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners in 2008, accumulating nearly 30 consecutive years in public office across the two bodies. She is also a motivational speaker.

Leake has been active with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Black Political Caucus of Phi Lambda Theta, the NC Association of Educators, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Association of Educators, Business and Professional Women, the Charlotte Juvenile Services Board, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Executive Human Relations Board, the National Council of Negro Women Board of Directors, and Jack and Jill of America. In 2024, she received the Frederick Douglass Award from the NC Association of Black County Officials, the organization's highest honor.

Sources