Who’s running for office in 2024—and what issues do they plan to take to the legislature?
Whether you love it or hate it, election year is here again. And before you push off the primary election March 5, keep in mind local and state elects have far more impact on your day-to-day spending and rights than anything going down in DC.
This year, with the newly redrawn maps giving the Republicans an upper hand in four new districts and several controversial issues up for debate in DC, new names and faces are popping up on the Wake County ballot, along with some familiars who’ve either previously run or held office. Between the redrawn districts and such critical issues as constitutional rights, reproductive rights, education reform, infrastructure and border security—as well as Gov. Cooper hitting his term limit—it’s more crucial than ever to identify your values, research candidates and vote. Here, our cheat sheet summarizing the campaigns for races in Wake County Districts 2, 4 and 13 so you can rock the vote.
District Disorder This fall, the Republican-led legislature passed redrawn congressional districts, giving Republicans the possibility of holding 11 districts instead of the previous seven. The NC NAACP and Common Cause are currently suing GOP leaders on the basis of racial gerrymandering, asking the court to create new districts “for use no later than the 2026 general election and beyond.” Quick civics class refresher: Gerrymandering is when a partisan group manipulates the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favor one party. And NC has been a trailblazer in this illegal redistricting practice since the landmark case Shaw v. Reno.
District 2: Leans Democrat
Deborah Ross (I, D) Continue to fight for fairness, equality & progress
Michael Camero (D) Improve access to quality education & skills training; generate economic growth; increase transparency in government
Robert Morales (R), COR Manager Cut wasteful spending; secure funds for cancer research; promote community engagement
Eugene Douglass (R), Ret. College Teacher Protect human life at all costs; lower taxes; enforce immigration laws
District 4: Leans Democrat
Valerie Foushee (I, D) Continue to bring equity to all communities & fight systemic racism; increased environmental regulations; quality health care for all
Mahesh “Max” Ganorkar (R), Home designer Tax reform “MAXtaxtomy”; Tea Party patriot; tighten immigration & election policies
Eric Blankenburg (R), U.S. Air Force veteran Improve infrastructure; revitalize underprivileged communities; bring overseas jobs back to U.S.
Guy Meilleur (L), Arborist Allow parents & teachers to make education decisions; enable more free enterprise & health care choices
DeVan Barbour (R), Cornerstone Employee Benefits co-founder Continue Trump’s America First agenda
Kelly Daughtry (R), Attorney No updated platform*; prev. campaigned for military & law enforcement; secure the border
Marcus Dellinger (R) Cut unnecessary spending; federal spending accountability; update & secure infrastructure
David Dixon (R), Former NC State director of global partnerships Cut wasteful spending; secure the border; up govt. accountability
Brad Knott (R), Former fed. prosecutor Secure the border; stand with Israel; protect the unborn; end wasteful spending
Steve A. Von Loor (R), Von Loor & Sloof Energy CEO/founder Protect unborn; “safeguard kids from perils of radical gender ideology”; support 1st & 2nd Amendments
Josh McConkey (R), Physician and U.S. Air Force Reserves Col. Promote national security; address the opioid crisis; implement sound monetary policies
Where to get your chicken, Thai food and cocktail fix this month.
The Velvet Hippo DURHAM
Here’s what’s hip and happening in the Bull City. Created by five women and named for their love of pit bulls (oft referred to as velvet hippos), this new Durham-based rooftop bar and lounge was born of years of planning, drinking and dreaming with the aim of creating “a space that feels like a vacation just around the corner for our guests.” That whimsical ambiance is mirrored in the menu—laid-back yet elevated with signature cocktails, local beers on tap and nonboozy sips so all can enjoy. And don’t forget to bring your four-legged friends for a good time during weekend “yappy hours.” Cheers! velvethippodurham.com
Moonlight Liquor Lounge FUQUAY-VARINA
King Harvest was right—everybody feels warm and right in the moonlight (!). Sweeten up happy hour with this cocktail lounge’s dessert-esque signature cocktails (see: the Key Lime Pie, Banana Bread Old-Fashioned and Sweet Negroni), or opt for a more *neat* drinking experience with a local whiskey or bourbon. Boozy connoisseurs are especially gonna wanna swing by on Wednesday nights during the exclusive Breakeven Bottle promotions, where you can indulge in a high-end whiskey or bourbon at cost price! #StayedSpirited. moonlightnc.com
Myra Cafe APEX
A taste of Thailand in the South? Say less. Spice up your daily mealtime with Asian street food from the Thailand Oriental Hotel-trained chef—think dumplings, spring rolls, fried rice, curry and more, all made with fresh ingredients and unique spices that promise to excite your taste buds. But the signature noodles are by far the must-try standouts. Choose from pad thai, drunken noodles, evil jungle noodles, crazy fire ramen, roasted duck noodles and pad see ewe (broad rice noodles). Then round out your meal with sake and dessert (hey, sticky rice ice cream!). Slurp, slurp, hooray! myracafeapex.com
La Montaña CARRBORO
Come for a flavor-filled vacation for your senses, and stay for the gorgeous flora- and fauna-filled lush atmosphere—or literally stay, as the vibey restaurant is located in the Hamptons Inn. Inspired by the mountains of Pleiku, Vietnam, and the richness of Latin America, the all-day dining spot promises to send you to bed with a full stomach. Start your day strong with ca phe trung (Vietnamese egg coffee) and a breakfast banh mi, or skip straight to a lunch or dinner of blistered eggplant and charcoal chicken—paired with a cocktail, natch. Ngon! eatatlamontana.com
Raising Cane’s CHAPEL HILL
Perhaps the greatest thing about UNC? Its proximity to the most craveable chicken fingers and crinkle-cut fries (we’re biased—sorry, not sorry). The fan-fave chicken hot spot made its Triangle debut on Franklin Street late last year, making it far easier to get your hands on its uberpopular simple yet delicious Southern grub like fried chicken, coleslaw and Texas toast—plus legendary Cane’s Sauce to top it all off. And while getting your fill, see if you can spot photographs of the cult classic fast food joint’s namesake—aka an adorable yellow Lab, usually wearing yellow sunglasses—throughout the restaurant. Sounds like a pawsitively perfect pit stop. raisingcanes.com
Named the S-Line, the rail line will serve to reduce travel time to Virginia’s cap city by an estimated 90 minutes. And although the proposed track is not a commuter train, the federal funding will lay the groundwork for the rail line by building the first portion of track, spanning from Raleigh to Wake Forest.
For anyone who dreams of skipping traffic and pollution of the interstate, this announcement is a dream come true—but the ideal passenger railway is going to need more destinations than Richmond in order to benefit the diverse travel needs of Raleighites. To that end, there may be even more additions to U.S. railways in the near future—and even more destinations for North Carolinians to explore.
The Corridor Identification and Development Program also received a check to the tune of $34.5 million toward guiding railway development in 69 corridors (or regions). NC is set to be the star, from connecting the North and Southeast with a proposed railway from Charlotte to DC, with plenty of proposed in-state rails for commuters to enjoy as well, such as a proposed high-speed rail from Charlotte to Atlanta and lines joining Wilmington, Fayetteville and Winston-Salem to Raleigh. Despite approval and funding for future transit, North Carolinians will have to wait to travel by train for the time being. The S-Line is beginning preliminary design and environmental document reevaluations, with plans to finalize the design from 2024–27. While it’ll be several years before these updates will be chugging down the tracks, the future of public transport is looking bright indeed.
Disney’s newly announced Chatham County neighborhood comes with a hefty price tag.
If they can dream it, Disney will do it. Storyliving by Disney recently announced its second planned community, dubbed Asteria, will debut in 2027 in Pittsboro. While Disney adults were naturally thrilled at the announcement, others complained about the inevitable high price tag and the fact it wouldn’t be “sustainable.” Which led us to do some digging of our own to uncover just how much it would actually cost to take residence there.
The high-end neighborhood—named for “the wonder of the night sky and its ability to make us pause, ponder and consider life’s possibilities”—will boast various mouse-themed amenities and 4,000 residences with specific homes geared toward the 55+ community. (Walt Disney said it best: “Adults are only grown-up kids anyway.”) Asteria will be a part of the larger Chatham Park, which features 8,500 acres of homes and apartments with a much wider price range.
Housing prices, HOA fees and club membership costs aren’t mentioned in the initial announcement, but based on Cotino, Disney’s inaugural planned community located outside of Palm Springs, California, fans can expect their dream mouse house to flaunt a price tag from the upper $1 million to lower $2 million range. Existing properties in Golden Oak, Disney’s existing Florida community independent from Storyliving, go for $9 million to $13.8 million. Clearly, happily ever after comes with a price tag.
Amenities and the residential clubhouses in the community will offer enrichment programs, special excursions, well-being programs and “a mix of special Disney experiences and everyday activities.” But homeownership alone doesn’t unlock the door to all the magic—it comes at the cost of a club membership. For reference, Cotino’s club membership starts with a one-time initiation fee of $20,000 (!), plus an annual fee of $11,000 and $1,000 food and drink minimum spending requirement. To boot, for an additional $9,000 in yearly fees, residents can extend membership perks to their loved ones (ya know, letting them in on the “fun to do the impossible”).
All that to say, potential NC consumers and those seeking a storybook-esque lifestyle in Asteria must be prepared to shell out some big bucks in order to make their Disney dreams come true. So, can money really buy happiness? I guess we’ll find out…
Wake County Public Schools weighs their options on how to keep students and staff safe and secure.
Violence in NC schools has been on the rise since the pandemic, and Wake County schools are no exception. Shortly after 11am on Monday, Nov. 27, two students were stabbed in an altercation at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School. The 14-year-old perpetrator has since been charged with fatally stabbing a 15-year-old student and wounding a 16-year-old student with nonlife-threatening injuries.
On Nov. 28, the school board’s safety and security committee held a meeting scheduled well in advance of the fatal incident, originally intended to discuss a clear bag policy at athletic events. Following the stabbing, the committee revised the agenda to talk about “confidential security updates,” but did not disclose any details to the public—due to NC laws surrounding discussions about school safety—despite skyrocketing concerns from parents about how a knife got on school property.
Various NC schools have pursued multiple safety procedures—from school resource officers to clear bag policies. Johnston, Halifax and Granville counties are among the many in NC that have opted to install metal detectors in schools to ensure children’s safety. Wake County School Board Chair Lindsay Mahaffey and Superintendent Robert Taylor didn’t rule out the possibility of metal detectors, issuing a joint statement stating plans to “review all our safety processes and protocols to determine what happened and what changes may need to be made.”
The statement continues: “There is nothing more important than the safety and well-being of our staff and students. Please know we are committed to continuous improvement to school safety.”
Speaking at the National Conference on Active School Threats Nov. 29, retired chief of the Sarasota County School District Police Department Timothy Enos did not recommend metal or weapons detectors as a foolproof way of keeping schools safe. According to Enos, in order to catch all types of weapons, they would need to be sensitive to the extent that detected jewelry and belts might set the detectors off and require a student search.
Not only do most schools not have the staffing to ensure lines and searches move quickly, but metal detectors could open the school up to liability problems if a weapon does make it through. Opponents also point out that metal detectors are costly—Winston-Salem and Forsyth County dropped over $300,000 on outfitting all their schools—not to mention less effective at preventing violence than other measures. Alternatively, Enos recommends a school resource officer, real-time camera access for law enforcement, shooter response training and threat assessments, among other crucial initiatives.
WCPS already updated the rules for visiting schools in July in an attempt to curb violence on campus, but these safety protocols only screen visitors for previous sex offenses and domestic protection orders—not for weapons. The screening also doesn’t extend to students, despite the growing number of NC juveniles charged with violence crimes from 2021 to 2022.
Mahaffey and Taylor said they have taken proactive measures for several years to “support and enhance our safety measures by authorizing an independent security assessment of every school,” but parent concerns are still mounting after these proactive measures failed to stop this tragedy. Despite the committee meeting, decisions on how to best keep Wake County students and staff safe have yet to be made, and further protocols have yet to be put in place. Stay tuned for continuing updates.
