John Aneralla formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District / Photos by Jason Benavides

Dec. 6. By Dave Yochum. Outgoing Huntersville Mayor John Aneralla will formally announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination for North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District at a press conference at 2 pm today.

The three-term mayor officially steps down as mayor at tonight’s Town Board meeting.

A new chapter

“The end of my service as mayor of Huntersville will just be the beginning of a new chapter in my service to the conservative cause. I’ve answered the call to step up and serve many times, and over the last few weeks, I’ve been asked to step up again,” he said in a message.

Aneralla chose not to run for a fourth term as mayor.

John Aneralla’s daughter, Amanda, and wife, Nancy, at his press conference

The new 13th

The newly created 13th Congressional District is the result of the 2020 US Census population data.

US Rep. Madison Cawthorn and former Mecklenburg County Commissioner Karen Bentley have also announced plans to run in the 13th, which includes north and west Mecklenburg County, as well as Gaston, Cleveland, Rutherford, Polk, McDowell and Burke counties.Tyler Lee, a Charlotte real estate investor, has also announced that he will run.

Cawthorn is a nationally known conservative firebrand who currently represents North Carolina’s 11th congressional district.

Early opponent of tolls

Aneralla, 59, is known for conservative yet independent leadership that includes coming out early against I-77 toll lanes when other GOP leaders were in favor.

Aneralla, a figure in North Carolina politics for a quarter century, is an investment advisor. He founded Bulldog Asset Management in 2004. He is also a member of the Investment Advisory Committee for the North Carolina State Teachers & Local Government Pension Board.