STORY UPDATED June 20: This story has been updated to confirm that Eugene Weeks will run again for District C.
It’s summer. The kids are out of the school. The days are hot and humid, and the candidates for Raleigh City Council are beginning to come out of the woodwork.
July 5 is the big day for candidates who are gearing up for a four-month campaign for one of eight council seats.
Election day is Oct. 8.
Every council seat is up for grabs with five serving regional districts, two at-large and one mayoral seat. Terms are for two years, but the current council briefly discussed extending them to four.
Filing begins on July 5 and ends on July 19, but some candidates are getting a jumpstart on their campaign with kick-off fundraising parties and email blasts.
We’ve compiled a list of the candidates who have declared their intent to run this year. Know someone that should be added? Let us know.
Nancy McFarlane, Mayor
Currently serving as Raleigh’s mayor.
First elected in 2011
Randy Stagner, District A
Currently serving as District A representative
First elected in 2011
John Odom, District B
Incumbent
Brian Fitzsimmons, District B
New candidate
Sam Smith, District B
New candidate
Eugene Weeks, District C
Incumbent District C councilor.
Racquel Williams, District C
First ran for District C in 2011, when Eugene Weeks won the seat.
Thomas Crowder, District D
Currently serving as District D representative
First elected in 2003
Jim Kemp Sherron, District D
New Candidate
Sits on the Raleigh’s Appearance Commission
Bonner Gaylord, District E
Currently serving as District E representative
First elected in 2009
Mary-Ann Baldwin, At Large
Currently serving as the At Large representative
First elected in 2007
Russ Stephenson, At Large
Currently serving as the At Large representative
First elected in 2005
Voters will also see four school board seats up for election as well as a county school bond and a city-sponsored transportation bond.
