Full name: BJ Barham

Party affiliation: Democrat

Campaign website: www.barhamforwendell.com

1) In 300 words or less, please give our readers your elevator pitch: Why are you running? Why should voters entrust you with this position? What prior experience will make you an effective member of the Wendell board of commissioners?

My name is BJ Barham and I am running for one of the three open Town Commissioner seats for the Town of Wendell in the upcoming November election. I am a father, a husband, a small business owner and have been a proud resident of downtown Wendell for the last decade. I finally decided to run for office after years of watching my neighbors show up to meetings, voice their concerns and ultimately be ignored. It was time to stop complaining about the status quo and throw my shoulder into the yolk.

I think voters can trust me because I am one of them. I’m not a career politician. I’m not bought and paid for by outside developers, building PAC’s and outside interest groups. I’m just a concerned neighbor who wants to make sure our little town grows in a smart, sustainable way.

20 years of running a successful business has equipped me to listen to employees complaints and concerns and adjust the plan accordingly. I’m very good at admitting when I’m wrong and have always applied the “best idea wins” mentality to my personal and professional life.

2) What would your priorities be as a member of the board of commissioners? Please identify three of the most pressing issues Wendell currently faces and how you believe the town should address them. 

-a local government that focuses on the wants and needs of current residents
-smart, sustainable growth
-Supporting local businesses and reinvesting in our historic downtown
-Addressing the growing infrastructure needs of our town

3) What’s the best or most important thing the board of commissioners has done in the past year? Additionally, name a decision you believe the town should have handled differently. Please explain your answers.

The current board has done a great job prioritizing parks and recreation. Future plans for city ran green spaces, trails and green ways all look really promising. 

I question the town’s current “growth for the sake of growth” mentality, especially when it comes to high density infill projects in established neighborhoods. I’ve seen what reckless growth has done to other parts of Wake County and I would love to approach it with a little more caution so that we don’t fall into the same trappings.

4) President Trump is working to ramp up deportations and curtail visas. At the same time, the state legislature has passed laws requiring agencies to cooperate with ICE. What do you think the board of commissioners can or should do to ensure safe, welcoming communities for immigrants in light of these policies?

Ultimately, immigration is a federal matter but I do believe that local government should be able to restrict their involvement and enforcement. If it’s truly a state/local issue like the current administration says it is, then local municipalities should be able to limit their resources to make the community a safe, welcoming place for everyone.

5) As climate change leads to more intense rainfall, communities are at greater risk of inland flooding, such as the historic floods in parts of the Triangle this summer. How would you like the board of commissioners to address climate resilience, particularly flooding? 

The first step, in my opinion, would be to limit new, high density builds on high risk, flood prone wetland areas. Would also like to see local governments holding developers more accountable for choosing max profits over sustainable flood and erosion prevention. Forcing builders to use more green, permeable alternatives for infrastructure could help alleviate some of the strain that we are putting on the soil and water. 

6) Federal funding cuts this year have hit the Triangle particularly hard, from cancelled grants to layoffs, and local government officials are having to make difficult decisions about what to fund and how. What are your ideas for how the board of commissioners can prioritize competing funding needs, close funding gaps, and balance the financial burden on residents.

I would love to see us prioritize growing infrastructure needs at the same pace we are approving high density housing communities. Roads, schools and medical facilities are just as important as the housing itself and making sure they grow at the same rate is extremely important to not only welcoming in new members of the community, but also not putting an unnecessary strain on the folks that already live here. 

7) Wendell is one of the fastest-growing towns in North Carolina. It’s outgrown its public library and will be getting a new one soon thanks to Wake County’s 2024 library bond. What other amenities, civic infrastructure, or services would you like to see the town add or expand next? How would you work towards those goals if elected?

Over the last decade, out population has almost quadrupled and we have yet to build another school. With more young couples moving out to Wendell to start families, I think it is of the utmost importance to start talking about where these children are going to get an education. 

8) As with most places in the Triangle, Wendell is grappling with issues related to affordable housing. How would you like to see the town approach affordability issues over the next few years? Should it promote apartment living, townhomes, duplexes, and/or triplexes? Encourage density in single family housing? What do you believe the town is doing right? What could it do better?

I’m not sure if there is one single solution to fix the housing crisis here in Wake County, but $350k townhomes and $2500 /month apartments operating under the guise of “affordable housing” don’t seem to be the answer. The only people that benefit from this kind of development are the builders and developers. The reason that communities like Wendell Falls worked so well were they offered an incredible range of housing options, from subsidized housing all the way up to luxury single family homes. I think there is a place for high density housing in Wendell, but I question if the center of established historic neighborhoods is the answer to that question. I also think it is essential to listen to the wants and needs of the current residents to make way for the future families that will call Wendell home.

9) As more people and businesses move to Wendell, how can town leaders ensure the town’s physical infrastructure keeps pace with its growth? Should preserving Wendell’s historic charm and green spaces be a priority, and if so, in what ways can the town balance those priorities with rapid growth?

Wendell is very fortunate to be in the position we are in as the last frontier of Wake County. We are afforded the luxury of being able to say no. We should put more of the infrastructure load on the shoulders of the developers, not the local taxpayers. Forcing developers to meet 100% of the town’s growth plan and not just 60%-70%. Telling them to go back to the drawing board a few times instead of just rubber stamping everything the first time they bring it to the table. The town has all the power, not the developers. I think it’s high time that Wendell starts flexing that muscle. 

Preserving the historic downtown is one of my top priorities as it is the part of town that I call home. I would love to offer more incentives to attract local restaurants, shopping and trades and prioritize them over national chains. The infrastructure is there, we just need to invest more resources into getting the area back to the vibrancy of it’s former self.

10) If there are other issues you want to discuss, please do so here. 

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