Voter Guide 2013
City Council District C: Racquel Williams
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Racquel Williams
District: City Council, District C
Age: 37
Occupation: Author, trainer, motivational speaker
City of Residence: Raleigh
Incumbent: No
Voter Guide 2013
From the Editor
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Local politics and policy are what we do here at Raleigh Public Record, and local elections are always one of our favorite times every two years. Every other October, the voters of Raleigh get to choose a new mayor and City Council. This year we also have a transportation bond on the ballot, and the people of WakeCounty get to decide on four school board seats and a schools bond. Turnout tends to be pretty low for these off-year October elections. County wide, turnout two years ago was a little more than 21 percent, and those numbers were very high because of the contentious school board elections.
Voter Guide 2013
Mayor: Venita Peyton
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Venita Peyton
District: Mayor
Age: 57
Occupation: Principal broker, Greater Raleigh Real Estate
City of Residence: Raleigh
Incumbent: No
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What do you see the role of the mayor as in Raleigh city government and how would you be the most effective mayor? In your larger cities, when you have a city controlled city like Detroit, D.C., the city mayor’s role is the same as we see the city manager. On the role here, this person would be the one who helps to lead and direct the City Councilors, and as it is we are all voted on at the same time, we all have equal votes, so the most important thing to me would be establishing rapport and credibility with them so we can all move forward. So their role is in establishing policy. Many issues taken up by the state legislature have a direct impact on Raleigh.
Voter Guide 2013
City Council At Large: Jason Spriggs
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Jason Spriggs
District: At Large
Age: 31
Occupation: Businessman and Photographer
Incumbent: No
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Why should your constituents elect you for City Council? Because I’m different. I guess you hear that a lot. I think nowadays you don’t even hear it as much as you used to. But I’m different.
Voter Guide 2013
City Council District B: Brian Fitzsimmons
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Brian Fitzsimmons
District: City Council, District B
Age: 31
Occupation: Chief Operating Officer of The Sorin Insurance Group
Incumbent: No
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Why should your constituents elect you? I think the most important reasons are the fact that I represent the people and I am a demographic that is very common in our district, which is I have two young kids, and I’m active in the local business community, and I think that I really do represent a very specific, but also a demographic that is very common in District B.
District B has a lot of residential areas and so I think I represent that well, but more so I think, if I had to answer the question of why should people elect me, there’s no stronger reason other than the fact that I’m not really afraid of saying ‘no.’ And what I mean by that is that I’m not doing this to do what’s popular. I’m doing this to do what’s right and I go into this with a very open mind. But I’ve got to go into a position like this with the understanding that you know what, there might be a situation down the road that I might be enlightened. I might learn something, and my position might change.
Voter Guide 2013
City Council At Large: Russ Stephenson
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Russ Stephenson
District: At Large
Age: 57
Occupation: Architect and urban designer
Incumbent: Yes, 8 years
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Why should your constituents re-elect you? I think Raleigh has had great success over the past 10 or 12 years probably, in rising to the top of the national rankings. And that kind of success doesn’t happen by accident, but by a concerted effort on many fronts to set goals for that success. And so, I think we’ve done a great job, serving the eight years I’ve been on there. I’ve been a strong advocate for high-quality services that are affordable, that attract high-paying jobs.
Voter Guide 2013
City Council District B: Sam Smith
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Sam Smith
District: City Council, District B
Age: 23
Occupation: Real Estate Agent, Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston
Incumbent: No
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Why should your constituents elect you? I have ideas to move Raleigh forward. I also have quite a bit of sincere determination and drive to work for the people. I really want to be a public servant to the people, and also represent people for what they want, not just my ideas, but actually answer the questions of the people and represent the people. So what do they want to happen in Raleigh?
Voter Guide 2013
Mayor: Nancy McFarlane
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Nancy McFarlane
District: Mayor
Age: 57
Occupation: Pharmacist, owner of MedproRx
City of Residence: Raleigh
Incumbent: Yes, 2 years, plus two terms on City Council
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What do you see the role of the mayor as in Raleigh city government and how would you be the most effective mayor? Well the role of mayor in Raleigh city government is to really pull all those pieces together. I think the mayor is the most recognizable person in city government. Our Council of 8, we all vote. A lot of people don’t understand that we have a council-manager form of government.
Voter Guide 2013
City Council District B: John Odom
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John Odom
District: City Council, District B
Age: 66
Occupation: Owner of Meineke Car Care Centers in Raleigh
City of Residence: Raleigh
Incumbent: Yes, 14 years (total)
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Why should your constituents elect you? Number one, experience. I’ve shown the ability to get things done. I haven’t gotten everything done I wanted to, but the experience I’ve had on the Council over 14 years out of the last 20. I’m a person who listens.
