David Cox, PhD, a three-term District B representative on Raleigh’s City Council from 2015 through 2022, submitted the following “Guest Blog” to Livable Raleigh for publication.
A few weeks ago I wrote in a blog that I would consider running for Mayor of Raleigh. I stated that there is much concern about the direction of the City and many have asked that I consider returning to Council. I identified three major areas of concern.
The first is that the Mayor and Council majority continue to ignore the City’s Comprehensive Plan substituting their own alliances with developers for genuine public policy. They see only one way forward for Raleigh – a rapidly increasing population and expensive high rise apartment buildings marketed as luxury housing. Raleigh’s citizens are ignored.
The second concern is out of control spending with a City budget that has grown nearly 80% in five years along with an inability to fulfill the promises of bonds passed by citizens. There is an inability to fulfill road construction projects and even park projects often due to mismanagement.
The third concern is lack of representation. Despite a rapidly growing population, Raleigh’s City Council remains as it was 50 years ago with five district Council Members. We need more and smaller districts to provide better representation and diversity of viewpoints on Council.
I see these as essential issues facing the City and its future. Only with citizen involvement and a Council and Mayor willing to support its citizens will Raleigh be sustainable in the future as a desirable and affordable place to live. We can choose to be Raleigh or we can choose to be New York or Atlanta.
Winning a position as Mayor I would make these concerns my top priority. However, that will not happen this year. After some serious soul searching and for strictly personal reasons I have decided to not pursue public service. To be clear I will not be running for Mayor of Raleigh.
Although I will not be running, I do hope that these concerns will not be lost to time. I do believe that they are important and Raleigh deserves a Mayor that will elevate them as priorities.
Let’s all work together to shape the future of Raleigh.
All my best.
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