Voter Guide for Cary Election Plus Wake County Sheriff & District Attorney 2022

Occupation: Owner, NetSmart, Inc., an IT Services company since 1995

Background: Served non-profits for years as President or Chair, beginning 1989 for the Cary Sister Cities Commission, Rotary President, West Raleigh Baseball President and Exchange Club Member, Cary High PTA President, Band Booster, President Mustang Club, Haiti Relief Coordinator, 4 years on Cary Town Council

Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected and how they will impact Cary residents: Properly financing road maintenance for growing miles of new paved roads in Cary to protect our vehicles and young drivers. Preserving green space and open areas, encouraging conservation and policies to prevent continued erosion and flooding in our neighborhoods. Affordable housing statement below.

Please choose any ONE issue below and answer how you would address that issue (affordable housing, police accountability, or jobs for youth):  Affordable housing: An affordable housing initiative to make ADU’s plentiful, helping both the homeowner and renter. Waive development fees for ADU’s that have rent set based on affordability. Give grants for construction with 20 year protection of rents, rather than supplement apartment developers who clear cut trees.

Website: Cary.com

Occupation: Marketing Manager

Background: My record of volunteer service to the community will help inform me in shaping Cary municipal policy: • Previous: Cary’s Information Services Advisory Board, VC of the Cary150 Commission, Cary School of Government; • Current: FEMA Community Emergency Response Team member and a sworn Guardian ad Litem

My top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  • Work to build private-public-nonprofit partnerships to build capacity to ease the housing affordability crisis; • Create equity opportunities and better municipal access for all, including a non-discrimination ordinance; • Champion opportunities for Cary to adopt greener practices and renewable energy

Please choose any ONE issue below and answer how you would address that issue (affordable housing, police accountability, or jobs for youth):  Affordable housing: Our housing crisis requires swift action to stem the loss of moderately priced homes and rentals. Council must prioritize funding and resources for our Housing Plan, and partner with private, public, and non-profit orgs to quickly ramp up capacity to shore up housing for Seniors and working folks.

Website: ElectCarissa.com

Occupation: Retired financial analyst

Background: I have served Cary for nearly 25 years, as a volunteer and on Town Council since 2012 (including Mayor Pro-Tem for 2 years). My extensive work experience in the finance arena serves Cary very well. I work hard every day representing all of Cary’s citizens and know how to get things done.

My top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  I have a long record of supporting our public safety first responders so that Cary continues to be among the safest towns in the US in which to live, work and play. And environmental protection, especially protection of our precious tree canopy, has always been one of my top priorities.

Please choose any ONE issue below and answer how you would address that issue (affordable housing, police accountability, or jobs for youth):  Affordable housing: Cary needs a robust mix of housing options. We must ensure that people of all ages who choose to call Cary home, especially those who work in Cary, can find affordable housing. I support Cary’s new Housing Plan and will work aggressively to ensure that it is fully funded.

Website: EdYerha.com

Occupation: Platform Strategy Lead

Background: I have an undergraduate degree in business and a graduate education in analytics. Professionally, I have years of experience working in client-facing roles to deliver complex business and technology projects. I am also a homeowner and Eagle Scout and have lived in Cary nearly 15 years.

My top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  My main priorities, in addition to affordable housing, are to maintain Cary’s status as a great place to do business, continue investing in our Town’s first responders and public employees, and expand and renew our public spaces, parks, and greenways.

Please choose any ONE issue below and answer how you would address that issue (affordable housing, police accountability, or jobs for youth):  Affordable housing: We need to expand on the revised Cary Housing Plan adopted in November 2021 to include specific goals and targets to measure our progress against the plan’s vision. We must also invest in more timely data collection so this plan can be more responsive to changing real estate market conditions.

Website: facebook.com/groups/364374418878117

Occupation: Global Government Strategy and Engagement at SAS

Background: I have served as a Council member since 1999, playing a role in shaping Cary into the community it is today. I work for SAS, helping governments to use analytics to serve their citizens more effectively. I am on several boards that promote the success of cities – TJCOG, NCLM, GoT, and NARC.

My top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  My top priorities: (1) ensuring that Cary remains a great value for residents – excellent services while maintaining a low tax rate; (2) preserving open space, advancing environmental initiatives, and further developing our parks system; (3) guiding development so that it enhances our community.

Please choose any ONE issue below and answer how you would address that issue (affordable housing, police accountability, or jobs for youth):  Affordable housing: Fund and carry out initiatives in 2021 Cary Housing Plan including: 1. a mixed-income community; 2. grants for homeowners of NOAH; 3. LDO changes including amending zoning regulations to allow ADUs and UDOs; 4. support for non-profits creating housing choices and giving support; 5. transit and sidewalks.

Website: facebook.com/robinsonforcary

Occupation: Producer/host/journalist

Background: From my experience I have gained business acumen and non-profit skills to partner well with communities and corporations. My executive leadership will bring innovation, expertise and efficiency. I possess critical management skills, supervising operations, budgets and strong, successful strategies.

My top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  Housing: A critical shortage of housing drives prices up, creating hardship for some; Taxes: Keep taxes low while providing high-quality services; Environment: Go green or go home. Our health today and tomorrow requires clean air and water for all.

Please choose any ONE issue below and answer how you would address that issue (affordable housing, police accountability, or jobs for youth):  Affordable housing: As a former Regional Director, overseeing an affordable housing program, I have the unique skill set to know how to partner with churches, non-profits, communities, and corporations to produce results in housing our heroes-police, firefighters, teachers, and others who care for our town.

Website: MaryforCary.com; facebook.com/MaryforCary

Occupation: Retired lawyer

Background: Attended St. John’s College; graduated Univ. of MD Law School. Served five years in U. S. Army. For 25 years, maintained a solo law practice in state and federal court. I believe citizenship in the municipality is the only qualification required, and that all people have one or more unique talents.

My top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  Fighting climate change will have the additional benefits of improving citizens’ quality of life. Seeking answers to the affordable-housing crisis will benefit all citizens and businesses. Building a botanic garden will improve the environment and provide beautiful recreation.

Please choose any ONE issue below and answer how you would address that issue (affordable housing, police accountability, or jobs for youth):  Affordable housing: Appoint Town official to assist cost-burdened homeowners, seniors, those on fixed incomes, and renters to apply for federal, state, and county assistance. Have same Town official bring in representatives from ROC USA to offer assistance to manufactured-homes tenants. Lobby State officials to …

Website: BeautifyCary.org

Website: VoteReneeMiller.com
no further response from candidate

Occupation: Director of Communications – Candidate for Cary Town Council District C

Background: I spent my career in marketing for engineering firms and now lead the communications for a statewide non-profit. My background researching and meeting with local municipalities like Wake County and Cary allows me to have a unique understanding of municipal government.

My top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  Amanda Murphy is running for Cary Town Council District C to increase housing affordability; make Cary greener and easier for bike riders, walkers, and bus riders; and ensure all areas of Cary are thriving.

Please choose any ONE issue below and answer how you would address that issue (affordable housing, police accountability, or jobs for youth):  Affordable housing: Cary needs to have dedicated reallocation of funding to take action on affordable housing. We will need all hands on deck to take every opportunity for a creative solution, from leveraging partnerships with local developers, nonprofits, to federal grants, and reallocating our current budget.

Website: ElectAmandaMurphy.com

Occupation: Custom Golf Travels LLC, Owner

Background: A former Fortune 50 VPHR and organizational development professional by trade. Helped companies improve their productivity, and trained their management how to hire a culturally diverse workforce. Served eight four-year terms and am the longest serving elected official in Cary’s history.

My top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  1. Focus on neighborhood public safety. Cannot rest on our laurels and must expand our activities. 2. Broaden Cary’s environmental protections/programs. Increase our highly regarded sustainability and regenerative initiatives. 3. Keep citizens informed/involved. Trust is built on full transparency.

Please choose any ONE issue below and answer how you would address that issue (affordable housing, police accountability, or jobs for youth):  Affordable housing: Increase our affordable housing stock by expanding our partnerships with not-for-profits. Assist with funding in excess of 4% of towns budget, enabling the town to act quicker than on its own. Enhance assistance programs to individuals seeking to live in Cary.

Website: JackForCary.org

In addition to non-partisan Town Council contests, the May election is the partisan primary to choose the Democratic and Republican candidates who will be on November’s general election ballot.

There is no primary contest for an office where the party has only one candidate; that candidate advances to the Nov. ballot. See the boxes on page 6 and 7 for the offices where each party has primary contests.

Registered voters affiliated with one party may not vote in another party’s primary. Unaffiliated voters in Cary may choose to cast a Democratic or Republican primary ballot or one with just the Cary election.

Here are the responses from Democratic candidates for District Attorney and for Democratic and Republican candidates for Sheriff. The Republican candidate for District Attorney (Jeff Dobson) has no primary contest.

Party: Democratic

Occupation: Attorney

Background: Criminal defense lawyer with more than 25 jury trials in my career; Board Certified Specialist in State and Federal Criminal Law; 2013-2018 pro bono lawyer defending people charged in Rev. Barber’s Moral Monday marches; 2020 Delegate to Democratic National Convention.

Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected and how they will impact Wake County:  1. End the Death Penalty in Wake County, a costly and expensive practice that keeps none of us safe. 2. Stop prosecution of adult-use quantities of marijuana and focus resources on seeking justice in violent crimes to keep us all safe. 3. Build an inclusive Wake County District Attorney’s office.

What is your view on diversionary programs meant to minimize contact with the criminal justice system and how would you implement them?  Wake County has an expensive pay for play system that denies people access to important diversion programs. I would dramatically expand access to diversion programs to provide treatment to people with mental health and substance abuse problems, and rebuild our veterans’ diversion program.

Website: facebook.com/ChetsonForWake

Party: Democratic

Occupation: Wake County District Attorney

Background: Wake County District Attorney since 2015; Wake County Clerk of Court 2006-2014; City of Raleigh’s Human Relation Committee 2005-2011; Chair of the Wake County Democratic Party 2003-2005.

Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected and how they will impact Wake County: As DA, I will continue to implement policies that promote the fair administration of justice and that divert people with substance use or mental health issues away from the legal system. I also will continue to prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders and those who abuse their authority.

What is your view on diversionary programs meant to minimize contact with the criminal justice system and how would you implement them?  Our office currently has more deferral programs than any prosecutor office in the State. Since being elected as District Attorney I have expanded these programs and increased access to them to give people who commit low level non-violent offenses a second chance and to connect them with programs.

Website: FreemanforDA.com

Party: Democratic

Occupation: Sgt. N.C. State Capitol Police

Background: I grew up here in Knightdale and before my Career in Law Enforcement, I was a small farmer and small business owner. I have been a Detention Officer and Deputy for the Wake County Sheriff’s Office. I am currently a Patrol Sgt. with NC State Capitol Police and over the motor fleet for the agency.

Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  Fill the open positions on both the Detention and Deputy side. This will help with crime prevention, reduce call response times and make it safer for the incarcerated and the citizens of. Bring further education and drug rehab to the Detention Center and slow the revolving door of incarceration.

As Sheriff, what steps would you take to enhance community accountability, such as prompt release of law enforcement videos and funding for mental health personnel?  I will promptly abide by all Judge’s release orders in order to further my commitment to transparency and openness. It is my goal to have all Detention and Sworn Deputy staff Crisis Intervention Certified, and plan to have mental health professionals working in the Detention Center on site.

Website: JoeColey.com

Party: Democratic
no response from candidate

Party: Democratic

Occupation: Retired law enforcement

Background: Over 32 years as deputy sheriff and detention with Wake County Sheriff’s Office. I know and worked every aspect of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office. Retired 2004 as Major of Criminal Investigation Division then worked four years as Assistant Director of Detention Services.

Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  I pledge to bring transparency to the sheriff’s office – ready access and efficient personnel & record processing: online access and attention to ensure online security. Address mental health challenges in our community and in our detention population.

As Sheriff, what steps would you take to enhance community accountability, such as prompt release of law enforcement videos and funding for mental health personnel?  Involve the public in the budget process. Be as transparent in all matters and that includes long range plans for their sheriff’s office. Additionally, use body cameras not only with deputy sheriffs, but within Detention also.

Website: TommyMatthewsForWakeSheriff.com

Party: Democratic

Occupation: Chairman, Wake County ABC Board

Background: U.S. Army veteran and retired Major from the Wake County Sheriff’s Office with over forty years of experience in public safety. Served on the senior staff and assisted with developing and implementing policies and procedures, supervising and managing staff, resources and daily operations.
Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  1. Reduce crime and enhance public safety; 2. Restore public trust in the Sheriff’s Office leadership; 3. Increase staffing, improve morale and community engagement. The impact will ensure equal protection for all, create opportunity and safer communities.

As Sheriff, what steps would you take to enhance community accountability, such as prompt release of law enforcement videos and funding for mental health personnel?  Establish a Community Engagement Team to address the mental health crisis, drug addiction and teen bullying. Increase community interaction to foster positive relationships with the residents; and work with all stakeholders to secure the legal release of law enforcement videos in a timely manner.

Website: RoweforSheriff.com

Party: Democratic

Occupation: Chief of Police

Background: I have served as a Police Chief in Federal, State, local, & private agencies. In addition, I am a Lt. Colonel in the Army Reserve. I earned a doctorate in criminal justice and believe that my experience, education, and training provide me with the skills necessary to lead the Sheriff’s Office.

Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  Improve our county’s mental health care safety net, by having a team of mental health care workers to help our deputies who respond to crisis calls such as suicide attempts & overdoses, so they can work with the residents to assist them in finding the help they need rather than incarceration.

As Sheriff, what steps would you take to enhance community accountability, such as prompt release of law enforcement videos and funding for mental health personnel?  I plan to create a culture of accountability. Those in law enforcement are rule followers but, when the policies and rules are not clear and don’t apply to everyone, it’s difficult to achieve a culture that self-polices in a manner the public expects.

Website: ElectRoyTaylorSheriff.com

Party: Democratic

Occupation: Police Officer

Background: As a Sheriff’s deputy, I was assigned to the Domestic Violence, Sex Offender, and Property Crimes Units. I have held the positions of Lieutenant and Interim Chief of St. Augustine’s University and I’m now a police officer with the Clayton Police Department.

Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  Citizens Academy Program – Citizen Academy Program will foster a better understanding between citizens and police through education. Human Trafficking Task Force – Prevent, identify, investigate, disrupt, and prosecute human trafficking crimes.

As Sheriff, what steps would you take to enhance community accountability, such as prompt release of law enforcement videos and funding for mental health personnel?  Community accountability can bring power to the people—and ideally, an environment governed with peace and fairness. Through police transparency and usable resources, citizens are informed and empowered, governments are open and responsive, and collective action advances the public good.

Website: ElectRandolphBaity.org; facebook.com/randolph.baity

Party: Democratic

Occupation: Wake County Sheriff

Background: 32-Year Veteran of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office. Bachelor of Science Graduate of Saint Augustine’s University, Majoring in Organizational Management. 2001 Graduate of the North Carolina State University’s AOMP. 30 years of career-related training.

Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  Maintaining an Office committed & dedicated to serving to all of Wake County. Maintaining this Office’s integrity, total accountability, and transparency. Keeping this Office fiscally sound and being good stewards of taxpayers’ dollars.

As Sheriff, what steps would you take to enhance community accountability, such as prompt release of law enforcement videos and funding for mental health personnel?  Continue this Office’s current efforts in community outreach & service. Support the lawful release of LEO video. We have approved grant funding for staffing to assist with WCSO employee mental health needs.

Website: WakeForBaker2022.com

Party: Republican

Occupation: Retired Sheriff of Wake County

Background: 16 years as Sheriff, retired from the NC Highway Patrol, former college and high school basketball referee, active in numerous civic and community organizations.

Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  1. Dealing with the county’s mental health and substance abuse crisis; 2. Improve training and professionalism within the Sheriff’s Office; 3. Increase the number of patrol officers to improve public safety across the county.

As Sheriff, what steps would you take to enhance community accountability, such as prompt release of law enforcement videos and funding for mental health personnel?  Accessibility.  Accountability. Transparency. Sheriffs across the state need to improve transparency with the public and news media. I also support using some of the Opioid settlement money in Wake County to hire more mental health professionals to answer calls with our EMS first responders.

Website: DonnieHarrison.com

Party: Republican

Occupation: Police Supervisor

Background: 22 years of experience.

Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  Safer Wake County. Sheriff labor assistance program.

As Sheriff, what steps would you take to enhance community accountability, such as prompt release of law enforcement videos and funding for mental health personnel?  Funding of mental health is not up to a sheriff. Police accountability is and I will be transparent.

Website: HowardForSheriff.com

Party: Republican

Occupation: Lawyer

Background: I served as a Police Officer for 10 years and now as a Lawyer.

Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected:  Mental Health and Criminal Justice Reform will be my top priorities. I believe that individuals should not be punished for the rest of their lives for a mistake they made in the past. I also believe those with mental health issues deserve care and not incarceration.

As Sheriff, what steps would you take to enhance community accountability, such as prompt release of law enforcement videos and funding for mental health personnel?  I believe that EMS and other services should work in unison with Law Enforcement during crisis situations. Funding staff to provide mental health services in the jail is overdue and will be a priority. I will release videos so long as it doesn’t interfere with an ongoing investigation.

Website: WakeCountySheriff.com