Name as it appears on the ballot: Lindy M. Brown
Campaign website: Electlindybrown.org
Phone number: (919) 740-3195
Email: [email protected]
Years lived in Wake County: 57 years
1. In your view, what are the three most pressing issues facing Wake County? If elected, what will you do to address these issues?
The three issues facing Wake County
1). Budgeting for Wake County Public School System, 2) A Bond Referendum to include WCPSS, Wake Tech, Parks & Recreation, and 3). Affordable Housing. Funding our Public Schools is at the top of my list due to the disappointing allocation approved by Commission majority last year. We must continue to “invest” in our public schools to ensure every student receives a “good quality education,” regardless of where they live in Wake County.
issue requires that we review all “bonding options” to determine what capacity we have currently and how much they would cost our citizens. One thing we know is that we have
responsibility to build needed schools and this cannot be ignored. We know that K-12 schools and our community colleges are vital to our economic development. Since the NCGA only allows bond referendums to be on the ballot in even years, we have little choice but to move forward in the most cost-effective manner this year. Finally, Affordable Housing is desperately needed for many of our citizens, the young families as well as our senior citizens. We are losing over 900 affordable housing units a year to redevelopment. Many of our county and city employees like fire and police officers cannot afford to own a home in Wake County. This must be addressed to keep Wake County a place to live for all of us. We will need many tools including innovative public/private partnerships.
2. If you are challenging an incumbent, what decisions has the incumbent made that you most disagree with? If you are an incumbent, what in your voting record and experience do you believe entitles you to another term?
My Challenger “Championed and Accelerated” the purchase of the Crooked
Golf Course (a failed golf course in a private neighborhood) over the objections of the County Staff who reported that Wake County had over $400 million
on the current park plan. He didn’t inform his board that he lived a mile
the failed golf course and how his own home will be positively impacted
property values will likely increase. Sadly, he did
himself from the VOTE which I believe is a conflict of interest. My Challenger believes bailing out Crooked Creek Golf Course is more important than funding the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) for Nurses, Counselors or Social Workers, which student/Support Staff ratio is below the national coverage.
3. The county is by most accounts prospering and growing. What do you think Wake County has done effectively?
Wake County started working in 2008 (during my
) on a Growth Management Plan and this has helped the county plan more effectively. Moving the transit plan forward was important as well along with maintaining Sunday and extended hours service for our Libraries. What policies would you like to see put in place to ensure growth going forward? The most critical issue at this time in terms of growth is how many of our citizens are being displaced by redevelopment. I would like to see a strong commitment to funding affordable housing and see short-and-long term Workforce Affordable Housing policies to ensure that the less vulnerable, homeless, and working-class can afford to live in Wake County.
4. With that rapid growth, of course, comes challenges related to suburban sprawl, transportation, and affordable housing, among other things. In your opinion, what
been the county’s successes in managing this growth in recent years? What about its failures? What would you do differently?
The passing of the Transportation Bond in 2016 was a County success. However, the bond doesn’t cover the outlying areas of Wake County where many of our service workers live. I would seek other options with our Transit Partners to address the light rail and additional bus routes.
5. What should be the county’s role in addressing issues of economic inequality, such as gentrification and affordable housing? Do you believe the current board is doing enough to help its municipalities manage Wake County’s growth to prevent current residents from being priced out?
The County must follow “Federal and State guidelines” regarding economic inequality, gentrification
affordable housing. No, Matt Calabria didn’t take the lead to help prevent Forest Hill residents from being evicted, even
he is the district representative. Commissioners Holmes led the negotiations with the Town and Residents. We have finally made a little progress but adding 500 more housing units a year will not keep up with the needs. We are losing 900-1000 affordable units a year. Do the math!
6. How would your experience―in politics or otherwise in your career―make you an asset to the county’s decision-making process? Be specific about how this experience would relate to your prospective office.
My 34 years of political services
to Former Raleigh Mayor Clarence Lightner’s tenure (Southeast Raleigh Improvement Commission). I’ve worked on numerous campaigns in all positions, maintained relationships with the business community, current
past elected officials. I served for four years as a Wake County Commissioner and I am a retired Social Worker. I also have earned my master’s degree in Social Work which has proven to be an asset in dealing with Health/Human Services, Wake County Public School System, Public Safety, Libraries and Environmental Services. I have extensive relationships
the faith community and as a community volunteer.
7. Last year saw some tension between the county commission and the school board over school system funding. Ultimately, the county gave the school system less than half of the new funding it asked for. But from the county’s perspective, it has raised property several times in recent years to benefit the school system. Do you believe Wake County needs to commit more funds to its schools? If so, would you be willing to ask taxpayers for more money?
Yes, the County needs to commit more funds specifically for hiring additional Counselors, Nurses and Social Workers (Wake County is extremely below the national percent rate). These professionals are trained to identify life stressors (depression, anxiety, bullying, opioid epidemic, suicidal tendencies and learning/behavior problems) for our students. The current board had other options within their revenue stream to pay for this much-needed request from
board. I would have taken from the county’s fund balance which is about 20% over the suggested amount that is good to have in the fund balance (savings account).
8. Wake County has raised property taxes four times in the last four years.
the county is considering three potential bond referenda in November: one for school construction, another for parks and greenways, and a third for Wake Tech. Together, these, too, would likely require a property tax increase. Do you believe the citizens of Wake County are paying too much in taxes?
No, currently, Wake County property tax rate is 61.50 (FY 2018 Adopted Budget- page 25) and is lower than Mecklenburg, Durham and Orange Counties. We do have to be careful about how much we ask for in the bonds and I think we must put our schools first in this decision.
9. The embezzlement scandal at the Register of Deeds office highlighted the fact that the county does not scrutinize the offices of elected officials, such as the Register of Deeds and the Sheriff’s Office, in the way it does other county agencies. Do you believe there are steps the county could have taken—or could implement now—that could catch theft or fraud earlier?
I believe that the county did not do its due diligence in this matter. The fiscal/budget officers of Wake County should have required annual audits and independent ways to ensure that receipts matched the work activities. Now, I understand these changes are in place for annual audits and allowing credit card and other online payment options to reduce needed cash transactions. I think this has been a wakeup call for a lot of county agencies across the state.
10. North Carolina is a “Dillon Rule” state, meaning that the only powers municipal and county governments’ have are the ones granted to them by the legislature. Would you like to see this changed? How would you work with state legislators from Wake County, as well as mayors and council members from the city’s municipalities, to ensure that Wake County, its municipalities, and the state are on the same page regarding policies that affect residents of Wake?
Yes, I would like to see the “Dillon Rule” changed. This legislated rule imposes “social values” on local governments (Counties and Towns/Municipalities) and restrains their authority to control local matters while decreasing state funding allocations. I would collaborate and lobby with Wake Delegation, Mayors, Members of Town Council, Business and Community Partners on community issues and policies that will affect Wake County residents. At this time, the partisan split on the Wake delegates to the NCGA has been a deterrent to coordinated efforts on behalf of Wake citizens.
11. The replacement bill for HB 2 that passed last year prohibits local governments from passing living-wage or nondiscrimination ordinances until 2020. If you are in office in 2020 when the moratorium expires, what sort of nondiscrimination and/or living-wage policies will you push the county to adopt, if any? Do you favor, for instance, a nondiscrimination ordinance that would apply to public accommodations, like the one
passed in 2016 that led the legislature to pass HB 2? Would you consider raising the county’s minimum wage?
I will continue to push for fair living wages for service delivery workers and all county and school employees. No, I would not favor any ordinance that discriminates on any level. I will work with my colleagues at all levels of government to pass nondiscrimination ordinances. Yes, I will consider raising the county’s minimum wage.
12. Give an example of a time, during your political career, when you have changed your position because of a discussion with someone who held an opposing view.
The example that comes to mind is the issue of where to locate a high school in Eastern Wake. School staff recommended a site outside of Rolesville and 3 miles from Heritage High School in Wake Forest. The original location had major rock formation, numerous traffic and neighborhood woes and would have cost the County thousands of additional dollars annually. The Town of Rolesville wanted their own high school, so I worked with the Mayor and Town Council to secure a location that was being foreclosed on, which was much cheaper and
traffic woes. Currently, the Rolesville High School’s location is off US-401 North/Louisburg Road near downtown Rolesville. As we see the growth of Rolesville and Wendell nearby, it is clear this was a good decision, although not the most popular at the time.
13. Identify and explain one principled stand you would be willing to take if elected that you suspect might cost you some points with voters.
I will continue to support unrestricted health insurance benefits for our county employees. Previously, I took a firm stand on increasing County Employee insurance benefits, which included a clause about paying dependents “abortion” costs. From a Clinical Social Worker’s stand, I believe we should ensure that every County Employee continues to receive the same insurance benefits they had been receiving for decades without imposing our values on their health choices. However, some conservative board members saw this as
to impose their values on the County employees.
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