Raleigh resident and District C candidate Lent Carr was arrested by federal marshals Thursday for violating his parole. But his name will remain on the ballot as one of six candidates for the seat held by Eugene Weeks.
WRAL reported that Carr will be sent to federal prison for seven months after violating his parole from a 2000 fraud conviction.
“I saw such a need in District C, especially during this economic downturn,” Carr said of his reasons for running in an interview with the Record last week. “Things have gotten tremendously worse, so I’m essentially running on the issues that I see in District C.”
Carr also said city officials have done a great job at building up the city, but now it is time to make Raleigh a better place to live by creating jobs and a safer environment. He added that he wanted to strengthen the ties between the police and the community.
Carr is one of six people running for the seat held by Eugene Weeks, who is also running. Weeks was appointed last October by a vote of 6 to 1 when then-councilor James West took a seat with the Wake County Commission.
Corey D. Branch, Sheila Lucas Jones, Paul Terrell and Racquel Williams round out the rest of the candidates.
In a predictable twist, Weeks will be running against Jones and Williams who were also nominated for West’s council seat. Jones received one lone vote from Councilor Thomas Crowder. While Branch is a newcomer to local politics, Terrell ran for a State House seat last year.
Three – Well, Four – for Mayor
Looking to move from the council seat to the mayoral seat, Nancy McFarlane announced her candidacy for mayor in April, after Mayor Charles Meeker announced that he would not seek a sixth term.
Running as an independent, McFarlane said one of her major campaign issues is planning for growth. McFarlane’s announcement left District A open for grabs.
Republican newcomers Billie Redmond, a real estate executive, and Dr. Randall Williams, an obstetrician and gynecologist, have also entered the mix. Both Williams and Redmond said they are focusing their campaigns on job creation and creating a business-friendly environment.
Though he was unable to officially file, 16-year-old Seth Keel intends to continue his campaign for the mayoral seat as a write-in candidate.
Running Unopposed
Residents in Districts D and E will have little to decide as councilors Thomas Crowder and Bonner Gaylord, respectively, are running unopposed.
This will be Crowder’s fourth term since taking his seat in 2003. He sits on the city’s Budget and Economic Development Committee.
Comparatively, Gaylord is a newcomer as he runs for his second term in District E. Gaylord is a member of the city’s Public Works and Comprehensive Planning committees.
The Open Spot
With McFarlane for mayor, her seat in the North Raleigh’s District A is open.
Randy Stagner almost immediately announced his candidacy for the seat. Stagner is running as an independent and retired as a U.S. Army colonel after 28 years of service. Stagner’s campaign website lists his priorities as supporting the fire and police departments, transit and protection of water supplies and greenways.
Republicans Brian Tinga and Gale Wilkins are also running for the open seat. Wilkins is a political newcomer, whereas Tinga previously ran for a State House seat. Both candidates are focusing their campaigns on the economy.
District B and At Large
John Odom was running unopposed for his seat in District B until Brad Johnson filed earlier Friday.
Odom has been a part of the Raleigh political scene since 1993 and served five terms until ran and lost a mayoral seat against Charles Meeker in 2003. He returned to the council in 2009.
Two Seats are open in the At Large race, but one incumbent will remain. Political newcomer Paul Fitts is challenging councilors Mary-Ann Baldwin and Russ Stephenson for one of their seats. Baldwin is finishing up her second term while Stephenson is on his third.
