Raleigh Magazine reached out to the 2022 Raleigh city council candidates for how—if elected—they plan to tackle such key issues impacting our city as development, affordable housing, transportation, city safety and handling population growth. Here are Raleigh’s city council stances.

DISTRICT A

Mary Black-Branch

See elevator pitch.

Whitney Hill

Development
I am pro-growth, but not at the expense of the citizens at large. We need to get corporations and developers to pay their share as we grow so the tax burden for development does not fall on the taxpayer. We also need to respect the concerns of residents about zoning changes near their properties. There needs to be traffic plans in place that will support new development as we grow.
Affordable housing
As the Raleigh Area grows, we need to keep up with housing at all economic levels so that people do not get pushed out. Zoning policies and building permits are ways that we can do this.
Transportation
I believe zoning strategies that fall in line with bus routes are a good thing, but at the same time, not everyone is going to ride a bus. We need to make sure that as we put in high-rises Downtown, parking is still available.
City safety
Services of the police, firefighters and EMTs are the first priority of a city. These items should be looked at first in the budgeting process and not held hostage to a tax rate increase at the end. We should pay our responders top dollar in Wake County to keep the best people and not lose them to neighboring cities.
Handling population growth
We have an opportunity to build more high-rises for people to live in with restaurants, stores and places to work in properly zoned areas. Young adults are attracted to this style of living, and it helps to eliminate traffic. The fact that many who are moving into the area are in information industries working from home will help keep the growth in traffic down. I would like for us to continue with strategic placement of bus routes.

Catherine (Cat) Lawson

Development
More, but smarter. Raleigh’s growth is a good thing that comes with real tradeoffs. We need more development that increases housing capacity and promotes density in the right areas—like where density already exists and along primary transit corridors—while preserving our communal green spaces and public resources. It’s a tough balancing act that will require council’s focus.
Affordable housing
We need more housing at all economic levels, but particularly for entry-level and “missing middle” markets. Sometimes, that will mean building density in the right places, like where density exists and areas with easy access to traffic corridors and public transit routes (both planned and existing). Overall, the best research on housing affordability shows increased supply is the best long-term solution. I’m confident we can meet that need in a way that addresses immediate hardships while prioritizing long-term solutions.
Transportation
The reality is that most folks in Raleigh will continue to drive for years to come. We have a responsibility to maintain transportation infrastructure while working ahead of population growth to lessen traffic. That requires improving existing bus service routes and building more sheltered bus stops while we also invest in longer-term options like commuter rail. We can lessen transportation dependency by reducing the distance residents must travel for essential services, which will require council to identify opportunities for mixed-use and commercial development that are accessible to neighborhoods and transit stops.
City safety
We need to offer competitive pay and benefits to fill the 160+ vacancies in the police and fire departments so we can hire the best first responders available and retain our top performers. We should also continue investing in comprehensive social training with independent, community-based oversight. Recently, Raleigh launched a partnered unit of police officers and social workers, appointed an LGBTQ+ community liaison, and initiated community-led de-escalation training—all of which are good steps toward a public safety approach based in trust and partnership. Each of these programs needs continued attention and support from the city council so they can be expanded and built on over the next few years.
Handling population growth
Raleigh is growing, and although we don’t get a say in whether we grow, we have a say in how we grow. We need to create more opportunities for low-income and middle-income housing by allowing greater density along key transit corridors. At the same time, we need to make sure our public transit and core infrastructure (like stormwater management and road maintenance) are ready to handle the challenges of increased use and our changing climate.

DISTRICT B

Minu Lee

Development
Raleigh needs to work toward dense, walkable neighborhoods where appropriate. I believe we need to listen to the experts and the community in implementing aspects of urban planning concepts such as new urbanism, smart growth and green design.
Affordable housing
We need to increase funding in our community, specifically toward the creation of more dense, affordable housing. Most importantly, Raleigh needs to work toward more community land trusts and work to improve partnerships with local developers to ensure an increase of affordable housing units in each new development project.
Transportation
I believe city council must emphasize the importance of multimodal transportation in reducing traffic congestion and improving our environment. The City of Raleigh must make efforts to reduce the dependency on personal vehicles by investing in and incentivizing the expansion of other transportation means (BRTs, commuter rail, expanding Raleigh’s greenway system, etc.).
City safety
The police are necessary to a functioning and safe society. However, their reform is essential. I strongly believe in order to ensure the safety of our city’s residents, we must first work to ensure our police officers are one of the best in the nation by improving training, increasing pay/benefits and ensuring our officers are representative of our population.
Handling population growth
Raleigh is a popular place for people to work, play and settle down. It is in that same spirit we should be accommodating to such growth and ensure we continue to grow in a responsible manner that takes into consideration the needs of all of our residents—current and future.

Jakob Lorberblatt

Development
Development is unavoidable at this time due to the number of people and companies who want to move here. This is a good problem to have. … From here our concerns need to be that it happens in a responsible manner, preserving the historical areas where they exist and making sure that green space is preserved during the process. I want to make sure the qualities that make Raleigh so attractive remain as it grows. I believe in planned, community-reviewed development.
Affordable housing
Affordable housing is a multifaceted issue. For home ownership I would like to include density such as townhouses or other entry-level options be provided in all new large developments. For new rentals, some portion must be made available to people of more limited income.
Transportation
I would like Raleigh to be both walkable and safe to cycle, which is also critical to access bus and other mass transit options. If you do not have a sidewalk to the bus stop, it’s difficult to walk to the bus stop. Beyond this we need to expand our bus routes past the spoke system we currently operate on. If you work in North Raleigh and live in Northeast Raleigh it might take hours to commute.
City safety
I would like to improve the safety of our city as we grow. This involves better, well-lit safe pedestrian conduits through heavily trafficked areas, and maintaining that our police are fully staffed and trained appropriately.
Handling population growth
Population growth is inevitable, so the real question is how to manage it responsibly, taking careful consideration into all factors. Growth has widespread effects and complications and can’t be mitigated with a single solution. We need to keep our minds open to finding the right answers.

Megan Patton

Development
We need strong leadership on the city council to ensure development happens in a way that puts our residents first—a way that challenges developers to include affordability in their development plans and to more mindfully use space (i.e. redevelop surface parking lots before clearcutting forested lots, etc.). To that end, we can’t view development as either/or. Our city is growing and new neighbors are coming. If we want to have a city that is livable for existing residents and new neighbors, we must ensure everyone has a place to live.
Affordable housing
We must continue to build affordable housing units equipped to provide permanent supportive housing to our most vulnerable neighbors, and also ensure, wherever possible, development projects earmark some units for affordable housing. We need to continue to add density where it makes sense while pushing housing like granny flats and townhomes for residents, rather than short-term rentals. We must reduce barriers to home ownership by doubling down on home-buyers assistance programs, and we must find relief for longtime residents who are burdened by rising property taxes.
Transportation
In addition to new projects that combine living, working, shopping, etc. and reduce the need for transportation, we must accelerate plans for projects like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and the Greater Triangle Commuter Rail (GTCR). This would be a huge step toward ensuring reliable and convenient transit in strategic areas that would allow nondriving folks to reach their jobs, grocery stores and medical services. Alongside reducing the costs associated with ridesharing and improving quality of life, it would decrease traffic density so folks who still need to drive benefit from clearer roads and smoother travel.
City safety
Nobody should live in fear that a day at school, a trip to a grocery store, or a visit to one’s house of worship will become fatal. No one should be afraid that accessing health care will lead them to being confronted by protesters. We need collaboration across levels of government to ensure all Raleigh residents are free of violence as they go about their lives; greater investments in people, communities, wages, and housing would be a big step toward getting there.
Handling population growth
Estimates predict Raleigh will grow to 600,000 people over the next decade. In order to house all the folks coming in search of the new opportunities promised by businesses like Apple and Meta, we’re going to need more housing than we currently have. And, in order to offer a high quality of life to folks who already live here, we’re going to need a combination of strategies to serve our neighbors across the income spectrum, including investment in affordability, infrastructure and sustainability.

Frank Pierce

Development and population growth
These two work hand-in-hand with each other. Raleigh has over 60 people a day moving here, with 15 moving just to District B. So, we need to plan for smart development and set ourselves up for a bright future. We do not want to make the same mistakes as Atlanta or others. We need to have proper environmental studies on all future development, as well as building for the blue-collar and public service personnel.
Affordable housing
Raleigh has a housing crisis for our blue-collar and public service personnel. We need to use all the resources available for us. These include federal and state grants, as well as public-private partnerships that help produce a more equitable city. This will take work to accomplish, and [I] plan on working on it from day one to have a city for all.
Transportation
Mass transit services fall short on providing enough for our growing city, especially in District B. We need to have a broader and better approach for improving it for all our residents. This starts with better policy and more understanding of the community at large, not just what we see.
City Safety
Public safety threats in Raleigh are increasing. We are understaffed in both the police and fire services. We need to increase starting wages and offer better benefits for our new officers and firefighters. Staffing levels must increase so that response times are not constantly increasing. We are the capital city—we need to lead by example.

DISTRICT C

Corey Branch

Development
We must continue to work with the community and developers for smart growth and where we develop. We must ensure to keep green space and have green space included with development. Overall, it comes down to location and how the development complements the community.
Affordable housing
We have to address this challenge in a number of ways, which include land banking by the city for new affordable housing as we did in Renaissance Park, or purchasing existing property to redevelop as we have done on New Bern Avenue. The city has purchased a hotel to help with long-term and transitional housing, and partnered with Community Alternatives for Supportive Abodes (CASA) to manage the property. I want to find more landlords who are willing to accept HUD vouchers. Currently, there are Requests of Proposal out to develop affordable housing on city-owned land downtown that I support and want to see move forward.
Transportation
As a member of the Go Triangle board of directors, we look at regional transit every meeting. The development of a commuter rail system along with Bus Rapid Transit extending to Garner, Cary and, one day, Knightdale will be vital in reducing the need for personal vehicles. Increasing cross-town routes, bus services to surrounding Raleigh communities and having commuter rail are my visions for improved public transport with affordable housing along the corridors.
City safety
Public safety is not just a policing issue, it is a community issue. I would start with improving mental health services and making it easier for people who need assistance to receive it. I would work with our schools to find ways to support families and children with challenges. I’m also working with people to help our youth explore science, technology, engineering, arts and math fields so they can see opportunities to better them and their family lives. In reimagining public safety, I will continue to work to have police be a part of the community, as well as be involved in community activities—in and out of uniform.
Handling population growth
As people move to the area, how we address housing affordability and transportation is key to handling the population growth. From 2000 to 2020, the population has almost doubled, so building up in some areas of our community with different housing types is critical to handling the population growth.

Frank Fields

Frank uses the simplistic yet impactful acronym R.E.A.L. to describe how he plans to foster growth in District C:
Research – Frank wants to use research-based evidence to identify opportunities for improvement in District C.
Equity – Frank wants to ensure intentionality in providing equitable and sustainable outcomes, resources and representation to all residents of District C.
Accountability – Frank believes community members and community leaders alike should be held accountable for actions, ideas and input, with the focus being communication between all parties.
Leadership- Frank believes that the leadership of the community—not just the politicians—is integral to the success and vibrancy of District C. Community organizers, religious leaders, law enforcement, business leaders, and state and local government should continually network as a cohesive unit for District C to reach its desired targets.

Wanda Hunter

See elevator pitch.

DISTRICT D

Rob Baumgart

Development
I have personally found success in this district and surrounding towns by researching local properties, reviewing long-range plans, observing the roads/utilities and making thoughtful long-term investments based upon my own personal hunches, combined with the advice from those who have succeeded before me. It’s fascinating to review a 30-year plan and live in an area long enough to see it become reality. As a council member, I will continue to seek out information provided to us by leading professionals; trust our city staff; provide sound recommendations; listen to our leaders at Dix Park, NC State and CAMPO; and vote with long-range planning in mind in order to keep this city a desirable place to call home.
Affordable housing
My background as an investor and property manager has provided me with unique insight into the importance of affordable housing. The housing market in Raleigh seems to be soaring at the moment, which means that many of our neighbors simply can no longer afford to live in the city. However, as a council member, I will champion Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), support cottage court developments and work to provide more supply in our backyards, resulting in economically driven affordable housing. Increased supply of housing will put downward pressure on prices, making Raleigh a more affordable place for all our citizens.
Transportation
As a council member, I will engage partners and look to them when solving our community’s growing pains in order to make sure that none are left behind. Connecting our now healthy downtown core to Dix Park to the University and future Downtown South with easy and accessible public transportation would be a concerted effort of mine as the Bus Rapid Transit takes shape and new highways south and east of us open and bring even more people into our community. As a council member, one project I will be exploring is the development of a Raleigh Aerial Cableway (a gondola in Raleigh’s skyline). I will partner with leaders across the political aisle, like Joseph Huberman, to bring exciting ideas like this to life.
City safety
I have partnered with Ship Outreach and its amazing ministry led by Pastor Chris Jones. He is intimately aware of our city’s safety and the perception of safety in our communities, and rather than pointing to statistics highlighting poor policing, I join him in being an avid supporter of providing additional training for our Raleigh police officers. As a council member, I will support policies that help retain our talented officers and firefighters through competitive pay and fair hiring practices. If we treat them well, they’ll continue to keep us safe.
Handling population growth
It’s all about thoughtful planning. I believe we need to own our city’s stellar reputation and allow for increased population density along our already planned Bus Rapid Transit corridors. As a council member, I will champion Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and work to provide more housing in our backyards, which will keep our city healthy and vibrant, even as we cross the half-million citizen mark… and beyond!

Dr. Jane Harrison

Development
I advocate for smart, balanced growth with robust community engagement. I reestablished the West Raleigh Community Advocacy Council (CAC) and helped neighbors provide input on issues that affect them directly. Economic development should be community-centered, and city decisions must recognize the voices of the most affected groups, including historically marginalized communities and neighbors adjacent to a development. We need forums like CACs and neighborhood associations to convene across the city, sharing information and developing leadership capacity to bring the best ideas forward.
Affordable housing
As the city grows, we can’t leave people behind. I support policies like property tax relief for low-income homeowners and community benefit agreements for new developments that require affordable housing. I am an active member of the ONE Wake coalition, a group of 40+ faith-based organizations that advocates for affordable housing, living wage jobs and quality education throughout Wake County. I understand market forces and recognize we have the power to shape them.
Transportation
We must invest in reliable public transportation, including a commuter rail across the Triangle. As a bicycle commuter, I see firsthand the need for safe streets and greenway expansion for pedestrians and bicyclists. Traffic congestion will only get worse, and we must make transformational investments to reduce fossil fuel dependence and provide efficient, nonvehicular options for how we get around.
City safety
I want Raleigh’s economic growth to benefit everyone. When our community has health care, education, housing and meaningful employment, desperation doesn’t come into play. I am encouraged by RPD’s development of the ACORNS program to provide mental health and social services to those in need. Our first responders—911 operators, fire department, police officers—need the tools, respect and pay to be successful. I will advocate for additional training opportunities on mental health, de-escalation, adolescent brain development, use of force and innovative approaches to reduce violence, overcriminalization and mass incarceration in our community.
Handling population growth
Our future starts today. We need to take the long view to care for our growing community and the environment. Investments in stormwater and wastewater infrastructure, alternative transportation, and protection of our green space and waterways are critical as we grow. We must densify in a thoughtful manner and build a city that takes care of its current residents and the next generation.

Todd Kennedy

Development
Today we face considerable growth pressure with 17 people deciding to call Raleigh home every day. The question is not ‘will we change and grow?’ but ‘will we make better choices to grow in a thoughtful, well-planned way?’—one that is inclusive, accounts for the critical need for infrastructure to support new growth, and improves our quality of life while we grow. Further, by focusing a large portion of new growth into the downtown core and along or close to future transit lines, we will facilitate the long-term success of Bus Rapid Transit and commuter rail.
Affordable housing
The city has made progress on a number of fronts, but despite those efforts, the housing crisis has gotten worse. In addition to the need for more market rate housing to put downward pressure on rising costs and rents, we have a great need for more affordable housing for low- to moderate-income residents in our city. We should strengthen the affordable housing partnerships with our nonprofit partners such as the Raleigh Area Land Trust, expand the preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing, better leverage density bonuses and public benefits during rezoning, and have greater collaboration with our regional and state partners in the search for solutions.
Transportation
On infrastructure, I will advocate for better public transit, including a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that has robust ridership, viable mobility options at stops and well-planned corridors for density. More options for people to get around is good for everyone, including residents who want to drive a car. In addition, residents deserve a road network that is well maintained and is not clogged with traffic, along with sidewalks and bike lanes.
City safety
Public safety is one of the most important functions of our city government. While we welcome the changes in the police department in the last couple of years, we know more work needs to be done, including putting in place a new descalation policy, which is currently under development. But, also, the city is faced with increases in violent crime, including gun crime, and we have an unsettling number of vacancies in the police department. We should address pay issues within the department, expand the ACORNS crisis intervention unit citywide, and build and strengthen partnerships with organizations working on violence prevention strategies.
Handling population growth
See answer to development topic above.

Jenn Truman

Development
An equitable and sustainable future depends on building differently than we have for the past half-century. We need to continue the work started by this council and encourage incremental and innovative building types that will shape Raleigh into a better place for all its residents. We can preserve our parks, natural systems and trees by building denser housing and supporting development of missing middle housing and multistory mixed-use buildings along transit corridors. As things change, we need to remember every Raleigh resident deserves a place to live, work and play.
Affordable housing
When it comes to housing, we need a multifaceted policy approach in Raleigh. I plan to encourage and approve projects that build market-rate housing where it’s needed most, Downtown and along transit corridors. I also plan to incentivize the inclusion of subsidized affordable housing in larger developments in order to create mixed-income, thriving neighborhoods.
Transportation
Getting around on a bus or bike is hard right now, but it shouldn’t be. A vibrant, healthy and equitable Raleigh depends on supporting residents who walk, bike and ride the bus as part of their everyday life. In our district, we should work to improve the walk score for neighborhoods and promote connectivity between neighborhoods and commercial districts. To support a thriving density, I will continue to advocate for a robust transit system and plan to incentivize building mixed-use projects with walkable retail and amenities that center community and support small businesses.
City safety
Raleigh residents should feel safe living and traveling within our city. Safety is more than a conversation about policing, it’s also about adequate sidewalks, lighting, bike lanes and the enforcement of basic building codes. Safety includes the Raleigh Police Department; first responders; and all essential city employees, from solid waste to water and more, all of whom deserve fair and competitive pay. I’m committed to having the hard conversations that will find the balance between paying police officers and first responders quality pay for the work they do and holding police officers accountable when harm is done to community members. Because, as a city, we must acknowledge that the presence of police officers does not always ensure the same level of public safety for Black and Brown residents.
Handling population growth
With dozens of new residents each day, we have critical decisions to make on how to equitably and sustainably provide housing, quality of life, and opportunity to welcome new neighbors and support current residents. As a leader, I am optimistic we can continue to welcome growth in our city and share the prosperity that comes with it across all Raleigh neighborhoods. I’m running to return the conversation to how we want to build our city’s future, which will never be a simple yes or no answer. Growth is coming, and as we decide how things change, we need to remember every Raleigh resident deserves a place to live, work and play.

DISTRICT E

Christina Jones

Development
More development is necessary in our growing city. I believe there is a middle ground to density and development that works at including all income levels in that growth rate while prioritizing our aging infrastructure needs.
Affordable housing
Affordable housing needs to be the first priority moving forward. Demanding stronger community benefits in new projects and approving more developments which directly impact 50% and 30% AMI will help the city uplift all residents instead of only the wealthy.
Transportation
Raleigh must take action to show our city workers we value their positions. Better pay and working conditions for transit workers will help us grow our vision to have thriving transit corridors throughout the city.
City safety
Allowing for so many police officers and firefighters to leave the city due to pay concerns is a big failure on our part. Honoring the dedication and commitment to the job from our long-term safety employees protects residents in crisis and is imperative to building community in our area.
Handling population growth
Raleigh is a place for everyone, and we need to make way for new residents. However, we can’t forget to upgrade our infrastructure so we are in a position to be prepared for that growth.

David Knight

Development
Development is a good and essential need of a city if it’s done in a smart and sustainable way. We need to continue to refine the city’s development code to ensure it reflects our community’s values. For example, I have charged city staff with giving us options for strengthening our tree conservation rules. We also need to continue to invest in parks and open space so we will continue to have natural spaces for all to enjoy as we grow.
Affordable housing
Housing affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing our community, and subsidized affordable housing is one of the strategies we must continue to use to ensure everyone in our community can afford to live here. I supported the 2020 Affordable Housing bond, which Raleigh voters overwhelmingly approved, and I supported the city’s spending plan for the bond proceeds, as I believe it rightly funds the various ways we must tackle this complex issue. There is no single solution to address our affordable housing needs, and I believe the city is taking the right approach to this issue, along with Wake County and our community partners.
Transportation
My goal for improving Raleigh’s transportation network is to ensure people have reliable, well-managed choices for how they move about our city. We need to continue to invest in our bike and pedestrian infrastructure and allow more mixed-use developments across Raleigh so that people can walk or bike to work, school or anywhere else they want to go. We are also at a critical point for the future of our region with regards to transit, and I support fully implementing the Wake Transit Plan and making transit more user-friendly, accessible and reliable for everyone.
City safety
Everyone should feel safe in their homes and in public places throughout our city, and city leaders should be responsive to the safety concerns of our community. I was happy to advocate for the Raleigh Police Department’s first parks and greenway unit, which focuses on patrolling our parks, community centers and greenway trails. I have worked with our Transportation Department to make our roadways safer by reducing speed limits on city streets and by expanding our network of sidewalks. I support our first responders and will ensure they are paid accordingly, and have the resources and training needed to do their jobs safely and effectively.
Handling population growth
I think we have to be pragmatic about Raleigh’s future growth. Cities that are not growing are places where few people want to live, but if you build a community with a highly desirable quality of life, excellent health care and schools, and a strong economy, then longtime residents not only want to stay, but new residents will seek to live there as well. Some will say Raleigh’s growth should stop or be pushed to the fringes—as if growth is a bad thing or as if all newcomers should make their homes in the suburbs. I will not support policies that reflect that mentality toward growth, because heavy commuting patterns make cities undesirable for everyone, as urban sprawl leads to unhealthy air quality, congested roads, and loss of tree canopy and open space.

MAYORAL

Mary-Ann Baldwin

Development
Raleigh needs to develop more density in key areas of our city and along transit corridors. Creating walkable communities is good for our environment; healthier; and will help us accommodate our growing population. Creating more housing supply will also help reduce the cost of renting and/or purchasing a home.
Affordable housing
Housing affordability and choice has been the top priority of the Raleigh City Council since we began our term of service in 2019. Since then, we worked to pass an $80 million housing bond; eliminated exclusionary zoning by allowing for the construction of ‘missing middle’ housing; and allowed construction of accessory dwelling units, cottage courts and tiny homes. We have more work to do to reach our goal of building 5,700 affordable housing units by 2026, but we’re well on our way with 3,910 units constructed or in the pre-development phase.
Transportation
When I served on the city council, I was the city’s representative to GoTriangle, our regional transit authority. We worked to create the Wake Transit Plan, which was approved and funded by voters in 2016. We shifted our bus service to focus on frequency. We are developing plans for bus rapid transit on New Bern Avenue, Western Boulevard, South Wilmington Street and Capital Boulevard, with plans to start construction on New Bern early in 2023. And we must move forward on commuter rail to reduce congestion and address climate change. This must be a top priority for elected leaders over the next decade.
City safety
We have a four-prong plan to address gun violence. We recently held our first gun buyback program. We are also working on a safe storage of weapons education campaign with the State Department of Public Safety. We are focused on data-driven policing. And we are working to get people with mental health and other issues the care they need through our ACORNs unit, which is comprised of police and social workers. We raised police salaries by 5% this year, with a commitment to raise salaries another 5% during the next budget year. This is necessary to keep quality officers on our team.
Handling population growth
Raleigh is growing from a small city to a big city due to our great quality of life, educational system and diversity of jobs—and with that comes change. As we grow, we need to find balance, continue to invest in infrastructure, welcome our new neighbors and respect those already here. Growth means we are a desirable city. And that’s good news. The goal is to stay that way.

DaQuanta Copeland

Development
Raleigh has more people than housing, so responsible development is required. We have the responsibility to maintain our greenlands, environment, roads and true affordable housing according to the liveable wage in the city.
Affordable housing
We need affordable housing according to the liveable wage in Raleigh. Developing housing the people of Raleigh cannot obtain nor sustain is not fair, nor will it help with the housing crisis we are all facing.
Transportation
Creating a commuter rail that connects the Tri area and beyond will open the job market for many residents. Also establishing true accessible shared transit will lower the fatality of auto accidents, as well as protect the air quality in our city.
City safety
The city should create and support mentoring programs, educational or trade programs, and mental illness that will help identify the crime issues and instill value back into the lives of those who feel as though they are not valued, which is the reason they have no value for others.
Handling population growth
As mayor, I will uplift our natives, support our planters and embrace our newcomers. Raleigh has always been a great city to live in, so we must responsibly keep up with resources for housing, environmental, economically, socially and mentally [sic].

Terrance Ruth

Development
New development plans have become a defining factor of the city’s comprehensive plan, as opposed to the other way around. I don’t want to see copies of the same-looking buildings all around our skyline. Raleigh has a character that calls for preserving and amplifying, not eliminating.
Affordable Housing
A friend recently told me we should just be honest and call it, ‘attainable housing’ because of Raleigh’s distance from affordability. After residents’ involvement in the rezoning process was reduced through city text change, we continued to witness rapid displacement. Underinvested neighborhoods are rezoned, rebuilt and repriced. Historical areas saw longtime neighbors wondering if one another will sell off their property to the highest bidder. The focus of our housing policy should shift from incentivizing small concentrations of people to prioritizing responsible growth that champions wage workers, teachers, firefighters and other public servants making too little to even live in the town they work tirelessly to support.
Transportation
With development and density not guiding our transit accommodation, we are building a city that brings unnecessary traffic, and wear and tear on our vehicles. Meanwhile, GoRaleigh is a critical form of transit for thousands of residents throughout the city every day—yet large portions of our city are forced to deal with bussing limitations and consistent issues with getting to and from work. For many, a faulty mass transit system means lost time at work and at home. We should be focusing on expanding Raleigh’s bus network into our low- and middle-income neighborhoods, as well as expanding bus routes and limiting bus changes with more ‘park-and-ride’ options. Cars are not our only option for transit in this city, and we should answer the calls of residents who utilize and rely on Raleigh’s mass transit system.
City Safety
Raleigh should be utilizing its communities to discover, understand and solve the issues surrounding crime in our city. Glenwood South is often used as an example. So in the spirit of community involvement, I asked the management of several establishments what they notice on weeknights and weekends—day and night. I learned I was the first to have done this. By approaching our safety concerns not only with data, but with input from those in the community involved, we have a fuller picture to rectify the problem. That means focusing on new approaches that center community input, crime reduction and address mental health, and consequently restores trust in our law enforcement.
Handling Population Growth
Raleigh’s rapid growth has been encouraged through several attractions. Among the top sit our attractive food and beverage industry and rich entertainment and arts. With their strong influence on newcomers’ decision, I believe responsible growth includes commercial and residential spaces with rent manageable by small business owners, industry workers, entertainers and artists. It appears the talent and passion that maintains and furthers those markets are on their way out with the next round of rent increases. Without addressing the costs of dwelling, our growth will be met with unpreparedness and a dwindling sense of community.

AT-LARGE

Stormie Forte

Development
I want to make sure the city’s infrastructure will be able to keep pace with the amount of growth occurring.
Affordable Housing
Access to affordable housing, especially for those in disenfranchised communities, is the most important issue we need to address. We must also tackle the issues leading to an increase in homelessness and panhandling we are witnessing. Many of our neighbors in this situation are also experiencing other challenges, including mental health issues. I will work with our partners at the county to assist with expansion of wraparound services to help transition people from the streets to stable housing.
Transportation
I will be working to find ways to make our transit system more efficient. We are fortunate to have many large companies coming into the area. We need a thriving transit system that will quickly get people to their destinations.
City Safety
No response provided
Handling Population Growth
I will continue to partner with grassroots organizations and larger businesses to promote growth and economic development for Raleigh’s small businesses.

Jonathan Melton

Development/Handling population growth
I’ve combined these two issues because, in my opinion, they are directly related. People want to move to Raleigh, and young people growing up here tend to want to stick around when they become adults. That’s due to the significant public investment made by generations of leaders in our research universities like NC State, our K-12 school system, and our best-in-the-nation parks and greenway systems. We can’t change the fact that people want to live in Raleigh, so we must embrace and plan for this growth, including providing more housing and more types of housing in all areas of the city by legalizing a diversity of housing supply. Commonly referred to as ‘missing middle’ housing, citywide reforms to both our zoning laws and building codes encourage the construction of ADUs, duplexes, cottage courts and other housing types that were illegal under previous city councils. This won’t immediately solve our housing crisis, but it will open up more parts of the city to development to absorb the growth that would otherwise result in additional sprawl or displacement of vulnerable residents and communities. We should also direct the most dense, tall developments in our urban areas.
Affordable housing
There’s a difference between housing affordability and affordable housing. Most new residents need housing that is abundant and attainable at an affordable price; strategies I’ve outlined above that increase supply over time will help stabilize costs of market rate housing. Affordable housing requires subsidies and public and private partnerships. In Raleigh, we have a 1 cent sales tax that generates millions per year for production of affordable housing—as well as the Affordable Housing Bond which passed in 2020—but we must continue to work to find new strategies to increase affordable housing, such as offering city-owned land for production of affordable housing through partnerships with local nonprofit housing providers.
Transportation
For decades, poor land-use planning divided uses (houses separated from employment and retail), and divided our community by race and economic class. Prior policymakers burdened our residents with increasing housing costs and car dependency, which increases the cost of living and contributes to climate change. In addition to better zoning and land-use strategies, we must continue to invest in public transit and multimodal transportation to reduce car dependency. Voters approved the Wake County Transit Plan in 2016, which will increase the frequency of our existing bus routes and increase bus stop amenities, while also funding Bus Rapid Transit (light rail on wheels). We should also plan for and implement commuter rail to better connect our region. Finally, you shouldn’t need a car to get around Raleigh, and increasing safety for bicyclists, cyclists, scooters and wheelchair users must be a priority as well.
City safety
We need a well-trained, well-funded police department, while also looking to implement alternative response methods in certain situations. Officers should be able to afford to live in the communities they serve, which will help build trust and relationships. We should also redirect certain responsibilities away from the police department and toward trained mental health professionals and social workers while also providing oversight and transparency to the community. I think a combination of these strategies will help improve public safety. I have great confidence in our police chief, and I believe we are on the right path.

James Bledsoe

Development
I would like homeowners to be able to build by-right on their own land. If it doesn’t infringe on your neighbor, build whatever you want on YOUR land. I also want to deregulate the housing market to allow builders to meet demand without having to get permission from the city council. That means removing the height cap and allowing higher density along the BRT corridor.
Affordable housing
I want the market to provide through deregulation. The initial success of ‘affordable housing’ is followed by serious decline and, ultimately, demands for additional public funds to cover more subsidized housing. I want there to be greater housing affordability by allowing a greater housing market, reducing spending and cutting taxes so the cost of living can be reduced. That will show up in rent first and then to homeowners.
Transportation
As our current council keeps pushing for a bikecentric city, I feel they have forgotten about car owners and the disabled. It’s great we are getting greater public transportation—it’s going to open a lot of potential. However, businesses have lost valuable storefront parking during the pandemic to bike lanes without their input. I want greater access to transportation for everyone, but not everyone can take the bus or ride a bike. … There needs to be someone on council that remembers that portion of the population.
City safety
This is the forefront of my platform. The City of Raleigh projects crime and response times will increase in 2023. This corroborates the increase in violent crime in ’21 and ’22, and how murder is already set to outpace last year’s record. My plan is to cut the city budget of frivolous spending by $3 to $5 million and reallocate those funds to our first responders. The city has 300 vacancies between RFD and RPD. There is also no reason that a Sheetz cashier should earn more than a Raleigh firefighter.
Handling population growth
The population is going to keep growing. The best way to handle this issue is to deregulate our housing market by removing the height cap so apartments larger than three stories can be built; up zoning along the BRT corridor to allow for mixed-use housing; and get the government out of the way of housing development. Time is money, and that added cost of having to go back and forth with council for an ‘OK’ always hits the consumer. By getting ahead of demand, we can keep supply up and keep long-term residents living here.

Joshua Bradley

Development
Development is not an either-or issue. It is a question of whether a development is equitable, sustainable, environmentally responsible—and provides community benefits. I believe the council should use all tools available to ensure developers are building both responsibly and in a way that protects our most vulnerable communities, including low-income residents, workers and students. We can and should build a Raleigh that keeps equitable development at its core.
Affordable housing
The housing crisis we are facing as a city continues to worsen rapidly while wages remain stagnant. While Raleigh is rated as one of the nation’s best cities to live in, North Carolina simultaneously continues to hold its position as the worst state to work in. Our workers are struggling to find housing, thus pushing them out of the very city they work in, putting additional strain on our transportation infrastructure and leading to staffing shortages citywide. We need low-income housing now, and we must prioritize building low-income housing through tools like voluntary inclusionary zoning, pushing for better community benefits in rezoning cases, and developing housing on city-owned properties.
Transportation
Our transit infrastructure must meet the demands of the growth Raleigh is facing over the next several years, and this can only be done with equity at the core of our transit goals. We currently face city worker staffing shortages due to low wages, making it hard to maintain the bus routes we currently have. We need wage increases for transit workers as well as updated ridership assessments to determine which areas of the city continue to be underserved. Additionally, we are still in need of collaborating with nearby municipalities to develop a light rail between major cities and towns in Wake County.
City safety
The best way to reduce crime is to lift people out of poverty and meet their needs. Whether its access to food, housing or health care services, our city funding must reflect resident needs as a preventive measure to care for our communities. Similarly, it is time we move toward a community-based safety structure that moves away from expensive and punitive policing practices that disproportionately harm Black and brown communities.
Handling population growth
Our infrastructure and development in the future must anticipate the rapid population growth the city is about to experience, and this will require a multifaceted approach. While we must move toward dense and walkable communities, we must simultaneously prioritize equity and protect low-income residents. My goal as a city councilor is to lift up working-class people and tenants to meet their needs and allow growth to take place that benefits all of us, not just a few.

Anne Franklin

Development
We need all industry participants—builders, lenders, designers, suppliers, engineers, etc.—so we can meet the needs of our growing city. We want them to invest with confidence. That means we must amp up early citizen participation to determine what will make development ‘fit.’ That’s how we get community pride built on collaboration and trust.
Affordable housing
Let’s be bold and establish goals for building affordability throughout the city in every project. With a new council, leaders can be consistent and persistent, expecting help from all quarters. We can’t mandate participation, but we can establish that helping to sustain affordability is how one is expected to do business in Raleigh.
Transportation
A less fossil-fueled, car-dependent future is on the horizon. We have to keep investing in transit, sidewalks, bikeways and greenways to tip the balance. Even congested streets are benefiting from new approaches, like roundabouts that will help move traffic at a consistent speed to reduce gas consumption and emission.
I am a veteran on this front and will continue the work. (People don’t like traffic so claiming ownership may not be good.)
Instead, I met our first challenge to initiate and coordinate Triangle Transit and establish a foundation for public transportation. It’s time to focus on our city streets and require developers to reduce traffic impact.
City Safety
We need a fresh citywide look at what can allow us to feel safe. Let’s look at the details, neighborhood by neighborhood, then share so we can help one another. Some crime is rooted in poverty, but its profitability is based on the participation of ‘law-abiding’ consumers. We should not allow those markets to find a home in any neighborhood.
Fortunately, Raleigh can use multiple studies that identify successful programs to address programs to reduce criminal events. For instance, employment of youth in poverty neighborhoods is found to reduce crime.
Handling Population Growth
We are attracting people to Raleigh because we’ve made it a great place to live, work and learn. Trust in local government underpins much of what we’ve built. We can’t allow that to slip away. We’ll put collaboration and creativity to work to make room for our new people and their talents while maintaining the atmosphere that gives Raleigh its character.

John Odom

Development
Development is coming more or less because of the great opportunities in our great city. How we handle it is very important. We need citizen input and transparency for all city projects.
Affordable housing
The problem with affordable housing is that we lose it as much as we gain it. Affordable housing becomes ‘market-rate housing’ after 10 years. We need to keep what we have and continue to add to it.
Transportation
We have a transportation plan, but our problem is implementing it. We need to work harder to make it happen.
City safety
At this time, pay is an issue. But just as important is respect for our officers, firemen and city workers. I’ll work to make pay competitive and increase respect.
Handling population growth
Because we are the 22nd largest municipality in the country, all of the above statements will help handle the growth.

Dr. Portia Rochelle

Development
No response provided
Affordable housing
Wake County is the largest growing city in NC. Many people are coming to Raleigh to live and raise families. The demand for housing is not keeping up with the supply. Our average citizens are unable to compete for houses. People are coming here with good money, and Raleigh citizens’ pay is inadequate to keep up with the cost of living. Rent is also skyrocketing. Gentrification is rapid in Raleigh. People are being pushed out of homes and feel they are being devalued. We have a housing crisis that needs to be dealt with. I want to help build a sound city council that looks at how redevelopment affects each citizen.
Transportation
The BRT will help deal with the shortage of transportation; however, we need to be careful and work as best as possible to keep from demolishing neighborhoods and displacing longtime residents.
City safety
No response provided
Handling population growth
Raleigh is a great place to live for most people. We are experiencing rapid growth, and we need to quickly provide housing. We don’t have enough places for people to live to keep up with the growth. We have several homeless people who need our help. I’m very concerned about the health and safety of our citizens. We need to seek out grants and make appeals to banks and developers to work out a solution.