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Former local NAACP leader criticizes Charlotte chapter president over interim mayor comments.Former local NAACP leader criticizes Charlotte chapter president over interim mayor comments Terry Belk says Corine Mack’s social media post about race and mayoral selection was unnecessarily divisive CHARLOTTE, N.C.(WBTV) - A former NAACP leader is calling on the current president of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg chapter to dial back her rhetoric on who should be Charlotte’s next mayor.Chapter President Corine Mack made headlines with a social media post on the organization’s page saying it was “seriously disturbing for white folks to be lobbying to be interim mayor” after Vi Lyles announced she would be resigning.Mack stood by those comments in an interview with WBTV earlier this week.“It should be the best, the most qualified black person,” Mack said.Terry Belk, the former political action chair of the local NAACP chapter, said he wanted to speak out against the words from the current president he thought were unnecessarily divisive.“This is a fight that didn’t need to happen.This is a controversy that really didn’t need to happen at all.We have so much on our plate to do, right?” Belk said.While Belk was critical of Mack’s comments, he was complimentary of her leadership.“I think she’s probably one of the most qualified person to ever hold that office,” Belk said.“I was shocked.I had to listen to it again.I’m going like, ‘Really?Did our president really say that?’ That statement needs to be dialed back because the NAACP is open to everyone, and this mayor’s position should be open to everyone.” Belk said he has concerns about the organization’s credibility after statements like the one Mack made.“We don’t need the NAACP being proselytized, and we don’t need the credibility of the NAACP to be damaged,” Belk said.Belk has a long history with the local NAACP chapter that includes a fight over segregation and bussing at CMS and advocating for the police citizen’s review board.Belk has gained national recognition for his fight against medical debt.In response to Belk’s criticism, Mack told WBTV that he has the right to his opinions, but her focus is on gerrymandering and congressional redistricting happening across the country that are threatening black voters and elected officials.“Black representation is being stripped nationwide and I would hope that people of color, and black people specifically, would have a louder voice on that issue and not who city council should appoint,” Mack told WBTV.Belk said he has the same concern when it comes to Congressional redistricting that’s taking place across the country.“This is not just a black fight, but I think black and people of color are going to suffer disproportionately because of these latest rulings,”: Belk said referring to the SCOTUS decision on the Voting Rights Act.“So, the NAACP right now is needed more than ever, and we need to have credibility, and the office needs to have dignity,” Belk said.The North Carolina NAACP chapter came out with a statement saying they support the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Chapter but it fell short of the same call to action about the race of who is appointed mayor instead noting what matters is whether decisions made by those in power strengthen or harm the lived experiences of Black residents.Copyright 2026 WBTV.All rights reserved.