Today, the Raleigh Board of Elections will be holding Major and City Council elections. Polls will remain open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Voting sites vary upon district.
Raleigh’s growth and newly founded restrictions on food and drinks service on sidewalk patios downtown have been some of the hottest issues on the campaign trail, making this year’s election one of the most competitive in years.
NC State’s campus falls primary under districts D and E, opening student ballots to five district candidates in addition to four individuals running at large and two candidates running for major.
Same-day registration will not be available. Registered voters will be asked at the polls if they have a North Carolina driver’s license or other government photo ID, but they do not need to show one to vote a regular ballot until 2016.
The following information about this year’s candidates was pulled from the Raleigh 2015 Voter Guide. More information regarding the election, candidates and polling sites can be found here.
Raleigh Mayor:
Nancy McFarlane
Experience:
Has served eight years on the City Council, four of which were served as mayor.
Endorsements:
The News & Observer, Sierra Club, Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association, Raleigh Police Protective Association, INDY Week, AFL-CIO, Wake County Democratic Party, Equality NC, the Wake Voter Education Coalition and past Mayors Charles Meeker, Smedes York and Tom Bradshaw.
Affordable Housing:
Plans to continue the success of Affordable Housing Bonds and partnerships with organizations such as DHIC and other non-profits.
Jobs:
Has added more positions to summer programs and is working more closely with existing businesses to provide training and entry-level positions.
Public Transportation:
Plans to work with Wake County to assure the passage of the Wake County Transportation Bond in 2016.
Bob Weltzin
Experience:
Army reservist and chiropractor who has practiced in the Raleigh area for over a decade.
Endorsements:
Wake County Republican Party
Affordable Housing:
Says that affordable housing is a crucial component of Raleigh’s ability to attract talented young people and plans to stop the Unified Development Ordinance.
Jobs:
Plans to encourage the expansion of businesses and opposes policies like patio curfews and ending free parking.
Public Transportation:
Plans to implement policies that allow more agile services like Uber and Lyft to provide citizens with competitively priced transportation.
City Council (At Large):
Mary-Ann Baldwin
Experience:
Has served four terms on City Council and currently serves as Chair of Law & Public Safety Committee and on the Go Triangle board.
Endorsements:
Keep Raleigh Vibrant, NC AFL-CIO, Teamsters and Raleigh Police.
Affordable Housing:
Plans to develop and approve strategic plan for affordable housing, align housing and transit policies and ensure that current and future bond monies are adequate to meet needs.
Jobs:
Wants to see Digital Connectors expand and wants the new Small Business & Technology Center focus on job training programs.
Public Transportation:
Says Raleigh must re-envision current service, develop a 10-15 minute service on more routes and invest in Bus Rapid Transit to encourage redevelopment and affordable housing.
Craig S. Ralph
Experience:
Lifelong resident of Raleigh and has 43 years of real estate development experience.
Endorsements:
Sheriff Donnie Harrison; Dr. James West, Wake County Commissioner; Matt Overbee, Wake County Soil & Water Commissioner
Affordable Housing:
Plans to restrict the city’s available land to be used for affordable housing units. Is also forming a nonprofit group for the purpose of developing affordable housing.
Jobs:
Plans on seeking opportunities for new companies to locate in Raleigh and create jobs.
Public Transportation:
Plans to fund the transportation plan approved in 2010 and plans to be the top advocate for transit on the council.
Russ Stephenson
Experience:
10-year resident of the Raleigh area.
Endorsements:
Wake County Democratic Party, Raleigh Police Protective Association, Raleigh Firefighters Association, Sierra Club, Equality NC, AFL-CIO and RWCA.
Affordable Housing:
Supports strengthening neighborhoods while keeping Raleigh competitive in the future and promoting high quality growth that also protects neighborhoods.
Jobs:
Believes Raleigh should incentivize businesses and institutions to hire and train local talent and that restarting Raleigh’s business incubator is an important opportunity to promote small business startups.
Public Transportation:
Plans on passing the Wake transit referendum in 2016 and believes that doing so will fund an efficient, reliable public transit system.
Matt Tomasulo
Experience:
City designer/planner, NC State/UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus and the driving force behind Walk [Your City].
Endorsements:
Keep Raleigh Vibrant; Ashley Christensen of AC Restaurants; Jed Gant of NewRaleigh; Steve Schuster + Thomas Sayre of Clearscapes.
Affordable Housing:
Believes Raleigh should balance supply/demand of housing better and test out land trusts.
Jobs:
Believes Raleigh should provide support for existing job training programs, run by nonprofits, that focus on recidivism, green-collar jobs and vocational schooling.
Public Transportation:
Wants to see Raleigh continue to support Wake’s transit plan/Triangle Transit with strategic investment in smaller scale infrastructure that fosters access to transit.
City Council (District D):
Kay C. Crowder
Experience:
District D Native, city council member of the Comprehensive Planning Committee and the Budget and Economic Development Committee.
Endorsements:
Bonner Gaylord, Raleigh District E Councilor; Yevonne Brannon, former Wake County Commissioner and District D resident; Jessica Holmes, Wake County Commissioner.
Affordable Housing:
Supports the $20 million affordable housing plan currently being refined by the City Council.
Jobs:
Supports Wake County’s goal of raising the high school graduation rate from 83 percent to 95 percent by 2020 and the City Council’s efforts to revitalize the nonprofit Raleigh Business & Technology Center.
Public Transportation:
Wants to improve bus service, promote ridership and believes that every bus stop needs a shelter with sidewalks and crosswalks.
Ashton Mae Smith
Experience:
Raised in Raleigh, NC State alumna, daughter of a small business owner and board chair for the City of Raleigh Museum.
Endorsements:
Keep Raleigh Vibrant, Mark Templeton, CEO, Citrix; Niall Hanely, owner, Hibernian Co.; Ann-Cabell Baum Andersen, owner, Glenwood Agency.
Affordable Housing:
Believes Raleigh should focus on affordable housing near transit and wants to find innovative solutions to create quality housing in all districts.
Jobs:
Wants to lower the barrier of entry to start a business. Also wants to leverage the talent and programs at local universities for public projects.
Public Transportation:
Wants to promote excellent user experience by including complete sidewalks, safe pedestrian crossings, bike lanes and covered stops.
City Council (District E):
DeAntony Collins
Experience:
Raleigh resident since 2002, Shaw University alumnus.
Endorsements:
Triangle Labor Council and NC AFL-CIO
Affordable Housing:
Wants to see affordable housing expanded.
Jobs:
Wants to see increased support for skills training and professional development.
Public Transportation:
Believes Raleigh should promote increased transit coverage with smarter bus routes, integrated sidewalks and bike lanes, along with more park and ride stations and covered bus stop shelters.
Bonner Gaylord
Experience:
Raleigh native, UNC-CH alumnus, General Manager of North Hills and District E City Councilor.
Endorsements:
Equality NC, Sierra Club, Triangle Labor Council and the Raleigh Police Protective Association.
Affordable Housing:
Supports Larry Jarvis’ 10-part plan to promote affordable housing.
Jobs:
Supports Raleigh’s business incubator and wants to highlight the success of the non-tech businesses in Raleigh.
Public Transportation:
Believes Raleigh should encourage growth to concentrate in urban areas. Wants to see Raleigh invest in a more robust transportation system and add buses to cut wait and ridership time.
Edie Jeffrey
Experience:
Raleigh native and Five Points Citizens Advisory Council for over 15 years.
Affordable Housing:
Believes it is important for housing to be available for all level incomes in proximity that allows folks to reach their jobs.
Jobs:
Supports mentoring programs and would support bringing mentoring programs into Raleigh recreational facilities to work with the city’s unemployed or underemployed youth.
Public Transportation:
Supports and wants to promote the work of Wake Transit. Believes that Raleigh and Wake County should explore the use of vehicles other than large buses and light rail.
