Cyndee Patterson, president of the Lee Institute, is one of three people appointed last month by Mayor Anthony Foxx to help sway voters behind a package of city bonds.

If approved Nov. 2, the city would borrow $203.6 million for streets, neighborhood improvements and affordable housing.

With the economy still sagging and some voters in a generally foul mood, Patterson is predicting a close call. She sat with Qcitymetro.com recently for a Q&A to talk about the bond campaign and why she believes they are important to Charlotte’s future.

Her answers were edited for brevity and clarity.

Click here to visit the "Vote Yes" website.

Q. What’s your job as co-chair?
It’s really to go to weekly planning meetings, hear what’s going on and decide, if there is something bubbling up in the community, how to frame it. The three co-chairs (the others are Bishop Claude Alexander of the Park Church and Howard Bissell III of the Bissell Companies) are what I would call the community’s emotional intelligence, because we come from different places in the community. There are different resistance points out there. So it’s our job to make sure the message is clear.

Q. What resistance points do you sense in the African American community?
There is a resistance point in all the communities: People don’t understand the difference between the city and county and how they budget for debt. So in their minds, the county has had all these problems. They don’t understand that the city is really in a good position to issue bonds. I think it’s important for people to understand that the city has always had a dedicated piece of property tax that goes to debt service. And they have capacity in that right now. Also, the city can issue bonds more cheaply right now because of low interest rates, and you can build projects more cheaply. So it’s like a win-win-win. It creates jobs, lowers costs on projects and the city has capacity to do it.

Q. Do you think voter mood will affect the outcome?
Voters are in a bad, bad mood, and it’s about the economy. There is anger at the inability of (politicians) to work together. I think we have to say to voters, ‘Look at the projects; they are widely dispersed across the community.’ You may not have a project in your community this bond issue, but you did the one before. and you’ll have one in the future. This is about making sure that, in these important times, Charlotte does not get behind in taking care of the community.

These projects are important. The road projects. And the housing projects could not be more needed. We have working people who don’t have homes right now. They have jobs but they don’t have a place to live because they don’t make enough money. These are people who work in the hospitality industry, firemen, in banking. It’s pretty hard for a child to do well in school when their family is at risk.

Q. What does your polling show?
There has been some polling, but I haven’t seen it. The mayor said early results showed the transportation bonds and the neighborhood-improvement bonds look pretty good. And housing, at that time, didn’t look bad but we needed to make sure people understand what it’s about.

Q. Just so voters will be clear; these are three separate votes, correct?
Yes, it’s three separate votes. I went yesterday and there they were...three separate. But I don’t want anyone to take a dodge on any of these bonds. Let’s take care of ourselves. This is taking care of us in every way. These projects matter.

Q. Have you ever voted against bonds?
Never.

Q. Why not?
I don’t think bonds in Charlotte get on a referendum if they have not been well reviewed by staff and by elected officials. I believe in taking care of your own -- cleaning up your neighborhood -- I believe in those things. My core values are the ones I grew up with, and they say you take care of your family; you take care of your community.

Q. How nervous are you about this one?
I’m a little nervous. I’m not panicky. I’d rather be a little nervous and a little anxious and do my best on anything than assume it's going to work out. I’m the kind of person who would polish a pearl.

Q. What will be key to the outcome?
Making sure the people understand that the city has the capacity without a tax increase. And making sure people are clear on the housing bonds, how badly people need them.

My concern about the election in general is that a lot of folks who voted last time will stay home. There was such a high engagement last time, and I was thrilled. Not because of the partisan side of it. I was thrilled that people became engaged and realized that they had an opportunity to have a voice. A lot of people may feel they’re not happy now with how that turned out. That’s not my issue. My issue is: You had a voice; keep having it.

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