Why I Ran for Mayor of Raleigh-Again

My candidacy for Mayor of Raleigh has been a journey towards righting wrongs. It's less about the incumbent than it is about utilizing the office for the good of the entire public. 

I can name 10 people who would make an awesome Mayor. Unfortunately, none have an interest in local politics. Each has a comfortable job and a literally controversy-free home life. 

There will always be times that the office of Mayor gets mired in controversy. We still don't know why Raleigh Police Chief Harry Dolan or City Manager Russell Allen departed. We also haven't been honestly told why the selection of a new city manager was cloaked in secrecy. One news source indicated that he has a strong connection with a certain political party.

We don't know how city staff will react to its new  manager nor vice versa. We can only hope that continued employment won't be based on having the proper political credentials.  

That said, we now move forward to the final vote today, October 8. It's reported that around 5,000 Wake County voters cast an early ballot. I don't know how many were Raleigh voters.  

Raleigh's homeless population isn't decreasing. Sadly, sympathy is decreasing. Out of sight-out of mind will continue until we face some hard truths. Some feel that the homeless are in that condition by choice while others recognize the need for a serious intervention.

All we know for sure is that the next time that questionable staff decisions are made public (and council members plead ignorance), that it will take a strong retirement-ready manager to fearlessly tell the truth. 

And we'll all be the better for it.

I want to take this time to thank the people who so tirelessly helped in this effort. Our campaign treasurer, Ms. Trevena Garel, made each George Washington dollar wince, by tightly controlling expenses and weekly checking with the Board of Elections on reporting requirements. And, Ms. Thea Monet, a 20+ year friend, serving as Campaign Advisor, gave hours of guidance and approved campaign material.

Donors and volunteers were extraordinary. We spent as if the funds were taxpayer dollars. Nothing frivolous. Just good old-fashioned hard work. 

I especially thank the media who offered an occasional opportunity to fill in where paid advertising couldn't. Campaign financing is always tricky in a nonpartisan race when it isn't supplemented by solid funding. 

When I was orphaned at 16, I knew that I would see the world differently than my friends. I'll rest easier believing that I did the right thing by challenging City leaders. I pray that future generations too will fearlessly do so.

Thank you for allowing me to (sometimes) be your voice.

Raleigh's New City Manager-Thin Resume

Well, now a new City manager is under contract - days before the October 8 election. Is this not weird?

Apparently 'select' persons were invited to the announcement of this Charlotte official. What's troubling is that his resume is thinner than the interim manager and 

decades thinner than former City Manager Russell Allen.

And, this gentleman's selling point is that he knows how the legislature works? Who doesn't?

No problem. Anything done in the dark(ness) eventually comes to light. And, seeing how Charlotte has had its share of problems, we can only assume that he was the quickest who could be named by those who still refuse (beyond the parking space debacle) why Russell was fired. 

We can't miss that the Charlotte connection plays loudly. 

Those of us who study politics know how useless this hire will be when (attempting) to negotiate with the General Assembly's Wake (County) delegation.

Even if (what's his name?) may be a friend of the Governor.

Raleigh Mayor Secrecy Continues

Well, the die is cast. Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarland, as leader, has convinced her fellow Councilors to name a new City Manager behind closed doors. And, without the consideration of the public. 

In this display of pure arrogance, one can only wonder what's next. Will they have the Raleigh Police Chief answer directly to the Mayor and Council and not the City Manager? If so, then all our personal business will be in the hands and minds of people who have no respect or dignity for citizens.

They've already proven little regard for human decency - as noted in the crass firing of the City Manager and the disruption of serving the needy. Russians seem to have more power than Raleighites.

With sworn law enforcement officers we (usually) believe that investigations are related to public safety. But with this Mayor and her cohorts who can (and will) fire anyone at any time, who's to believe that opening ALL of our closet doors won't be more unchecked power? 

And pure nosiness?

My Message to Student Voters

Student voters should study several sources to understand local politics. 

The Raleigh mayor and Council set policy on local issues, including housing, transportation, garbage collection, water and sewer. They oversee millions in federal funds for community development. 

In a City as rich as Raleigh, unemployment, homelessness, unavailability of Section 8 housing nor inability to site grocery stores should be issues. We should not have young men lining up daily to donate plasma in exchange for money. We should not have children living in a homeless shelter at night while attending Wake County Public Schools during the day. Perhaps the Council doesn’t consist of the voices of people who truly care - until re-election time.  Students should be cautious of words that sway emotions but don’t produce action.

Students are vulnerable to people who want to use their attractiveness and zeal to further personal causes. Students should ask, “Will this action assist me in graduating or employment? Are their children also on the front line? Or, will they be beneficiaries of my efforts while I’m left behind - again"?

A Different View for Dix Hill

As everyone in Raleigh knows, the late Dorothea Dix (April 1802 - July 1887), had a vision for a property to serve the 'indigent' insane. Through a vigorous program of lobbying elected officials, she created the first generation of American mental asylums. 

In Raleigh, care of mentally ill patients was authorized and the hospital opened in 1856.

At some time, brilliant minds in the State of North Carolina decided that this population of people could be better served in Butner, NC. Butner is also the sight of a federal penitentiary. 

We should expand the vision of serving the mentally challenged by embracing them - not shipping them off. We further should understand they deserve more than just a hospital bed.

When former President Ronald Reagan bravely announced that he had begun suffering the effects of Alzheimer's, he was applauded. That marked the period until his death as being, "the long goodbye". All of us know someone close who has succumbed to Alzheimer's or dementia. 

We also know of children and adults who find themselves beset with OCD - obsessive compulsive disorder. A late friend's only child (age 24) found himself washing hundreds of times a day and standing in a corner as he felt that everything around him was dirty. He spent 30 days at Dix and, because no other property was available, was put in a nursing home with a roommate 80+ years old.

He would only eat if his mother brought his meals. After several months, he was able to leave and fully function on his own. Regretfully, the toll on his mother and her own newly developed illness, caused her to die not long after. I miss her still today.

We have an extraordinary opportunity to honor the wishes of Ms. Dorothea Dix and uniting people with mental challenges with an array of services. This could include transitional housing, a home for disabled veterans, training and education, hospice and others.

We can embrace the vision. But it takes guts.

Family Safe from DC Shooting

In the middle of the campaign today, I took a station break. The shooting had hit too close to home, as I have many family and friends who work in the Washington DC area.

First text hit the mark. The brother of one employee had not heard from his brother. I assured him that he shortly would. AND, within 15 minutes he got that call! His younger brother was not only fine, but was no longer working at that location AND - had taken the day off!

Another relative works for a DC charter school. Yes, he text me back, their school was on lockdown. I passed that message on to other family.

I thought of many ways to celebrate: a cold glass of wine and popcorn or, just some water while I meditated.

I had the water. I mediated. I prayed. And remember sorrowfully that someone's family member will not be home tonight.

Raleigh Mayor's Secret Plans

For the first in memory, Raleigh's mayor has completely forsaken transparency and treats us citizens as children. While some results seem amusing, these sophomoric decisions make Raleigh look like a joke. nation.

It's past time to demand answers.

Yes, former police Chief Harry Dolan had apparently indicated that he would only serve 5 years, however, his quick retirement now makes me wonder. The almost immediate forsaking of City Manager Russell Allen (who bucked the tide to hire a new Chief) continues to raise doubts - even in the media. Allen gets $200k, City employees get a raise, and suddenly dumber decisions get made.

How could ANYONE think that they could ignore the needs of hungry people by trying to scare off charitable groups? Worse still - how could Raleigh pretend that problems had exacerbated in just 3 months?

How could City leaders pretend not to know that churches and charitable groups were being harassed? Why did it take 3 days to place the blame on the police - not themselves?

And we always heard that the Captain is to leave a sinking ship....