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MAYOR FOXX WON'T SEEK RE-ELECTION: Mayor Anthony Foxx will not seek reelection, according to a report on WSOC. In the TV interview, Foxx did not say what he will do when he leaves the mayor's office. Foxx has been reported to be a candidate for U.S. Department of Transportation secretary, but there is no word on when that decision will be made or whether Foxx will be President Obama's choice for the cabinet post. Check charlotteobserver.com for updates.

A MIXED MESSAGE: Gov. Pat McCrory's budget slashed $200,000 from the N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development -- but he will attend the group's luncheon today at noon in Pinehurst. The move could signal the governor is willing to reconsider the cuts in his budget -- particularly these which drew loud complaints from minority lawmakers in the first legislative budget hearing. Legislative Black Caucus leaders called his cuts to a handful of minority groups "insensitive" and suggested he is trying to erase them from the budget.

***Thanks for reading the Dome Morning Memo, the source for North Carolina political news and analysis. Send news and tips from anything we missed in this chaotic week to dome@newsobserver.com. ***

UPDATED: IS IT MAYOR PAT OR GOVERNOR PAT? Gov. Pat McCrory told two city of Charlotte staff members this week that state money for the light-rail extension to UNC Charlotte could be at risk if the city builds a controversial streetcar, according to a memo sent Thursday. Without the N.C. Department of Transportation’s $250 million grant, the $1.1 billion Lynx Blue Line extension can’t be built. As Charlotte mayor, McCrory, a Republican, championed light rail, which was one of his signature accomplishments. But he vehemently disagrees with using city property tax dollars to build a streetcar, and used the meeting in Raleigh to relay a message to City Council, according to the memo.

FOXX 'OUTRAGED' OVER WHAT HE CALLS A THREAT: “It’s particularly alarming that he would choose to deliver messages to city staff, particularly messages that contain threats," said Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, a Democrat and potential challenger to McCrory in 2016. “He is governor of the state, and there are a host of issues – tax reform, health care. Why the governor would choose to place focus on a transit project, particularly one contained in a transit plan that he voted to implement makes no sense,” Foxx said.

***This is the Dome Morning Memo a tipsheet on N.C. politics. Click "Read More" for other headlines and news.***

UPDATED: Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx won't run for governor, ending several days of speculation as to whether he would seek the Democratic nomination in the wake of Gov. Bev Perdue's surprise decision not to seek reelection, the Charlotte Observer is reporting.

“Over the past few days I have given serious consideration to a run for governor of North Carolina," Foxx said in a statement. "Given the unusual circumstances and short time, such a run would have required more focus on a statewide campaign than on my young family and many local issues of importance to me and so many Charlotte residents. Therefore, I have decided to forgo a statewide race this election cycle, and will continue my efforts to build a brighter future for our city."

Democratic Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx received an interesting question during a Web chat hosted by The Charlotte Observer on Thursday.

"Would you consider challenging (Gov.) Beverly Perdue in a primary next year?" one person asked. 

"I am happy being the mayor of Charlotte," Foxx replied.

Later in the chat, another questioner pressed him again: "Would you promise not to run against (Perdue) in the primary?"

Foxx replied: "Until you asked the question, I had never given the matter a second of thought. So, no."

The ambiguous answers left the door open for Republicans to question his motivations. Afterall, Foxx is way ahead (58-32 percent) in a recent PPP poll but raising crazy sums of campaign cash, hiring top notch national consultants and spending big on television advertising. And privately, Democrats say that Foxx, a co-chairman of the DNC Convention host committee, is the only politician who could really challenge Perdue for the party's gubernatorial nomination.

But Foxx campaign spokesman Michael Halle tells Dome there's no equivocation on the mayor's part.

"No," Halle said when asked if the mayor may challenge Perdue. "Absolutely not." Asked again, for good measure, Halle said: "He will not be challenging Bev Perdue."