WakeUP Wake Candidate Forum Report

Story by Lindsey Chester | September 25, 2009 | Tags: cary, Catherine Evangelista, Cindy Sinkez, elections, jack smith, Julie Robison, Lori Bush, town council, Wake Up Wake

WakeUP Wake County hosted a Town Council Candidate Forum Wednesday night Sept 23 at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church. On hand were all the candidates running for seats on the Cary Town Council.

Karen Rindge,  Executive Director of WakeUP Wake opened the evening and introduced Sig Hutchinson, who moderated the forum.

THE RULES

Each candidate had a 90 second opening statement and 1 minute to respond to each of 4 rounds of questioning.  Then the forum was opened for questions from the floor.  Afterward everyone  made a 2 minute closing statements.

DEVELOPING TOWARD THE CENTER

The wild card of the evening was Terry Thorne, campaigning in District A.  He emphasized the need for more attention to the older sections of Cary.  He mentioned that these older neighborhoods within the “Maynard Loop” have suffered as infrastructure costs have been spent on more far-flung western Cary development.  He suggested a property tax freeze on residents in their homes for 30 years.

AT THE CROSSROADS OF DAVIS & HIGH HOUSE

Jennifer Robinson, incumbent for District A, was asked a direct question regarding the controversial project she approved at the corner of Davis Drive and High House Road – a project that possibly cost the former Mayor his seat as well as one councilperson.  Jennifer defended this vote at some length, going over the time limit as she emphasized the need to take more than the allotted 60 seconds to explain the complexities and justify a vote that allowed residents’ protest petitions to be discounted at the 11th hour prior to the council vote.  The development in question is currently stalled along with the economy and has not broken ground 2-1/2 years after the approval vote.

IMPACT FEES

Impact fees were the subject of lengthy debate.  Lori Bush spoke about putting the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) back in place that helped to put funds from Cary into Wake County Schools.  Currently there are $10 million in past fees that are tied up in a lawsuit, which is why Cary repealed their law and cannot currently collect those fees.  Until the lawsuit is settled that money is in limbo.  Jennifer Robinson spoke strongly about Cary not being responsible for schools and having to work within current law.  Cindy Sinkez, running in District A, stated that impact fees can be one of the ways we pay for things, but that we need also look at other options.  Cindy emphasized the need for adequate emergency services and roads.  Terry Thorne felt that “impact fees are one of those things that citizens don’t think are high enough and developers think are through the roof.”

MASS TRANSIT

With Wake County’s population expected to double in 20 years, the issue of mass transit and a 1/2 cent transit tax came up.  Catherine Evangelista, candidate for District C,  brought up  the fact that there is very little public transit in Cary.  Jack Smith, incumbent in District C, mentioned that mass transit will be a “fact of life, but how do we pay for it?”.  He went on to state that Cary needs to integrate and work in a regional way, encouraging the right stops in the right places.  Julie Robison, Councilwoman-at-Large, encouraged planning for light rail.  Lori Bush said that not only light rail or buses should be considered, but planning needs to encompass multi-modal transport, including biking and walking.  Lori went on to state that a transit tax could be an opportunity.  Cindy stated that she was a proponent of light rail, and that  that was a beginning, but Cary should also expand with park & rides.  Jennifer Robinson emphasized that before this was voted on, the elected officials need to do a better job of educating the public, and to remember we are part of a 13 county area that feeds RTP.

Other subjects that were touched on were water quality & conservation, a downtown center, support of the arts, and tax increment financing.

CLOSING STATEMENTS

Each closing statement emphasized thanks for the opportunity to debate before the public.  Jack said his website spoke to his achievements of being fiscally responsibile and a sound representative of the citizens.  Jennifer emphasized that many of the things people were complaining about in the debate had been recently addressed and she discussed them checking them off one by one, including an improved Town of Cary website.  Lori stated that she wants to be more responsive to her constituents and make more use of electronic and social communications. Cindy stated that she is running because people asked her to run after working with her in many of her volunteer roles. Terry proclaimed that in the future redistricting of voting districts, that downtown be made a separate district so that those inside the “Loop” have an equal voice.  Catherine would like to provide for incremental impact fees and to work with developers in more strategic, cooperative ways.  And Julie Aberg Robison stated that with incremental financing Cary could work on “transformational projects” .  For instance, energizing downtown around a transit stop. She added that if “we make an investment today (it) will pay off tomorrow.”

SUMMARY

Wake Up Wake’s Candidate Forum proved to be an informative event.  CaryCitizen urges everyone in town to vote on Tuesday, October 6.  Bring a neighbor.

More Town Council election info:

CaryCitizen Election District Voting Map

CaryCitizen Video: Candidate Interviews