Raleigh’s District B saw one of the city’s closest races in 2015, with political newcomer David Cox defeating veteran Raleigh figure John Odom by 261 votes.
This year was an entirely different story, with Cox retaining his seat by taking about 68 percent of the vote, to Odom’s 31 percent, with all precincts reporting.
Cox made his reputation before the 2015 election by leading neighbors in the northeast region in successfully opposing a planned Publix grocery store development in the district. He has continued to stand for slow-growth causes and a continued presence for the citizen advisory committees that represent neighborhoods’ opinions on zoning changes for areas across the city.
Cox voted against the new community engagement board and was the only
council member to refuse to endorse a new ethics policy, saying it would prevent him from having useful communications with city employees.
Odom, a Raleigh businessman, served the city in elective office for fourteen years during a period of twenty-four years. He’s also worked for various nonprofit causes, and on his campaign website mentioned past activities such as serving as director of WRAL’s Raleigh Christmas Parade from 1993–2009.
Cox, a generally soft-spoken computer scientist, waged an energetic campaign, including plenty of going from door-to-door in his district. He’ll get some pro-neighborhood company on the council if possible victories by at-large candidate Nicole Stewart and District E winner Stefanie Mendell hold up.
