June 15. Just 17 hours after Cornelius Mayor Chuck Travis muscled through a 5-0 no-confidence vote at Cornelius Town Hall, a former mayor of Cornelius will lead a press conference at 11 am today in Raleigh with another NC senator.

Sen. David L. Curtis (R-Lincoln) and Sen. Jeff Tarte (R-Mecklenburg) will hold a press conference  regarding HB 954, the legislation that would terminate the 50-year contract with Cintra.

A wide variety of elected officials from Davidson, Mooresville, Huntersville and Cornelius will provide back-up visuals as anti-toll legislators inch further away from old-line, pro-toll GOP powers.

Bill Russell, CEO of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, will attend, as well as John Hettwer, leader of the I-77 Business Plan, a high-level anti-toll strategy group that meets weekly at the chamber. Among the members of the I-77 Business Plan are NC Rep. John Bradford, a former member of the Cornelius Town Board.

The board voted 5-0 last night to ask Mayor Travis to step down, but he vowed to complete his term. Travis, without informing his board, met with Sen. Philip Berger in Raleigh to argue against HB954, resulting in the vote of no confidence last night, as well as today’s press conference. Cornelius Commissioners Dave Gilroy and Woody Washam and Huntersville Mayor John Aneralla are also attending to show their support of HB 954.