Since last we gathered over craft beer to recap the Raleigh City Council races, more incumbents and challengers have joined the October 10 ballot.
Bonner Gaylord, the voice on council since 2009 for North Hills and what some folks call Midtown, will be in the running for a fifth term in District E. Gaylord is focusing his campaign on “transportation, affordable housing, and keeping Raleigh a great city for all people, new and old.” (Not sure exactly what “people, new and old” means in this context: Perhaps new and current residents? Infants and old people?)
As he did two years ago, Gaylord faces opposition from small-growth advocate Edie Jeffreys, who’s emphasizing “quality growth that protects neighborhoods and smart planning to ensure that our quality of life is not compromised.”
In southeast Raleigh’s District C, Corey Branch, an AT&T senior technical director who scored an upset in 2015 against incumbent Eugene Weeks, is running as the incumbent, promoting “more sidewalks, safer intersections, and civic participation throughout the city, but especially in Southeast Raleigh.” He’s got a challenger in construction company owner Olen Watson.
As previously mentioned, incumbent Mayor Nancy McFarlane will run for a fifth term. And at-large member Russ Stephenson, District A councilman Dickie Thompson, District D representative Kay Crowder, and District C councilman David Cox will run to retain their seats as well.
In competition with Stephenson for the two at-large seats are former council member Stacy Miller, an attorney, and newcomer Nicole Stewart, the N.C. Conservation Network’s development director. The other at-large incumbent, Mary-Ann Baldwin, remains a question mark. Will she seek reelection? Run for another office? Tell us, Mary-Ann!
This article appeared in print with the headline “+ON YOUR MARKS.” This original version of this story included an incorrect last name for council member Dickie Thompson. We regret the error.
