Wake County Board of Commissioners - District 1
Donald Mial
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
2. Do you support the $353.2 million Wake Tech bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
3. Do you support the $530.7 million Wake County schools bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
4. How do you intend to collaborate with your partners in the municipalities, county school board, and General Assembly to create a better environment for the county’s citizens?
It is my belief that the board of commissioners must collaborate with all the twelve municipalities, school board and the General Assembly and the way that I would go about it is through:
1.) Sharing Knowledge and Information because we must stay in contact with one another by sharing and updated each other on new information, which make collaboration effortless.
2.) Connect with our Colleagues by reaching out to members that are not a part of our team.
3.) Search within Team workspaces and keep relevant colleagues informed
4.) Enlighten them with up-to-date information
5.) Central hub of communication
5. As economic development and job creation expands beyond our county borders, how do you intend to work with surrounding areas to promote economic prosperity?
As the economic development and job creation expands beyond our county boarders, it is important that we work together as a region. This is due to many of our employees here in Wake County live in our surrounding counties, which mean they commute daily to their jobs. 1.) Sharing Knowledge and Information because we must stay in contact with one another by sharing and updated each other on new information, which make collaboration effortless.
2.) Connect with our Colleagues by reaching out to members that are not a part of our team.
6. The Wake County Transit plan will expand bus service countywide, implement four bus rapid transit lines, and initiate a regional commuter rail system. What would you like to see the City of Raleigh do to complement or modify this enhanced transit service?
Because Raleigh is one of the Stake holders in this process it is equally important that we collaborate with the City of Raleigh to ensure that we all are working together. I would like to see the city of Raleigh do more with Union Station and expand it in order for us to have a central point of contact and increase ridership. I also would like to see the city of Raleigh continue with New Bern Avenue hub and expand it to other areas of Raleigh. Possibly add more land to the transit plan in order to support it expansion
Transportation/Transit – Continue to promote and implement an effective transit plan to optimize service delivery and position the county for ongoing growth.
Wake County's population growth impacts and is impacted by roads, travel and transportation. However, the county itself is not responsible for roads construction or maintenance, by state statute, this responsibility lies with municipalities and State Department of Transportation. The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) in cooperation with North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), determines regional transportation priorities for the DOT planning region that includes Wake County and parts of four surrounding counties (Franklin, Granville, Harnett and Johnston. Campo's long range is required by federal law and covers a 25-year planning horizon and based on the population projections in 2030, there will be more than 1.3 million people.
Economic Strength - Create a business-friendly environment to attract, retain and grow business, diversify the economic base, and create job opportunities for all citizens.
The county should be a leader and convener when it comes to addressing economic inequality, including gentrification and affordable housing are of epic portion throughout Wake County. Yes, I believe the county is doing a great job working with municipalities managing Wake County’s growth. The current board is addressing the problem with programs like “Lease 2 Home”. That said, while there are many factors outside of the county’s control, there is certainly still room for growth in this area, even though in October 2021, the Wake County Board of Commissioners approved $10.5 million dollar loan to preserve existing and naturally occurring affordable housing with Self-Help Ventures Funds called “The Affordable Housing Preservation Fund”. The county must continue and increase efforts to engage municipalities around smart planning and be a convener in these important conversations to ensure we are all working from the same playbook with the same information, data, and goals.
Affordable Housing – Develop an effective affordable housing plan through collaboration with the government, the private sector, the community, and individuals.
For Affordable Housing, the success with creation of the Housing Affordability & Community Revitalization led by Director Lorena McDowell, the opening of Oak City Cares, support for homeless women with partnership with Urban Ministries Helen Wright Center, creation of the county’s Affordable Housing Committee, and working with community partners DHIC, Habitat for Humanity, CASA, etc. The County has also developed a “Comprehensive Partner-based plan” called “PLANWAKE” that guides the framework of growing communities such as Apex, Wake Forest, Morrisville, Raleigh, and Cary. The PLANWAKE plan expands over a 10-year period and addresses the needs of the twelve municipalities. Also, as a veteran, I appreciate the county’s efforts to address veterans’ homelessness.
Failures are not addressing gentrification in areas such as SE Raleigh and not doing enough to keep seniors in their homes who cannot afford tax increases. For example, inner city Southeast Raleigh has displaced many Senior Citizen Renters, who cannot afford rent or pay taxes on their 40- and 50-year-old family homes. Those senior renters have lived and raised serval generations of their families there but now they are displaced. Also, not enough workforce housing and much of the housing being built across Wake County is not affordable. The Board of Commissioners also need to take the “PLANWAKE” Comprehensive Plan to each municipality, and not just rely on online marketing.
Great Government - Promote a vision of a city government that partners with all levels of government to empower, protect and serve its citizens through a culture of respect, collaboration, and innovation
That is so true, therefore we must continue to empower, protect and serve all of our citizens through a culture of respect, collaboration, and innovation. Therefore, in order for Wake County and the City of Raleigh to be successful, we work together to include the State and at the federal level. Sharing Knowledge and Information because we must stay in contact with one another by sharing and updating each other on new information, which make collaboration effortless. Connect with our Colleagues by reaching out to members that are not a part of our team. Continue to explore, plan and advance our Intergovernmental Revenues, identify infrastructure area and seek state legislative funding mechanisms. It is said that we shape our communities, and our communities shape us.
Growth and Sustainability - Establish a deliberate and realistic approach to address growth and mobility while preserving our environment and healthy communities.
Wake County is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. It is important that we continue to be intentional about managing growth by implementing the transit plan passed by voters and ensuring a broad range of mobility options from commuter rail, expanded bus rapid transit, to include more sidewalks. We must also be conscious of our water supply and protecting our water supply from pollution, preserving green spaces, and ensuring better zoning and planning that supports affordable housing.
Public Safety - Provide a safe, secure, and healthy community through coordinated, efficient, and effective public safety services.
Public safety is paramount because we must ensure that people are safe in their environment, which is why we must make sure that our Sheriff Department is properly funded and have the resources that is needed. Such as equipment, facilities and staff. We must also ensure that EMS staff have the proper resources, equipment and staff, which the county have already attempted to do by increasing staff pay. Continue to work with all of the twelve municipalities police Department as well as our state law enforcement and federal.
Social and Economic Vitality - Improve economic and social opportunities in vulnerable communities through strategic partnerships.
The Wake County Long Range Planning Department conducted an analysis to determine the extent to which communities across Wake County experience various " Vulnerability Factors" such as high poverty, high unemployment, low educational attainment, as well as economic health factors" such as housing cost burden and SNAP enrollment. Through their analysis, it became clear that communities in and around Southeast Raleigh, Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon experience greater vulnerability and economic stress than other areas of the county. The County determined that a targeted, geographically focused investment called Social & Economic Vitality (SEV) would be made to improve long term outcomes in those communities.
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
2. Do you support the $353.2 million Wake Tech bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
3. Do you support the $530.7 million Wake County schools bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
4. How do you intend to collaborate with your partners in the municipalities, county school board, and General Assembly to create a better environment for the county’s citizens?
It is my belief that the board of commissioners must collaborate with all the twelve municipalities, school board and the General Assembly and the way that I would go about it is through:
1.) Sharing Knowledge and Information because we must stay in contact with one another by sharing and updated each other on new information, which make collaboration effortless.
2.) Connect with our Colleagues by reaching out to members that are not a part of our team.
3.) Search within Team workspaces and keep relevant colleagues informed
4.) Enlighten them with up-to-date information
5.) Central hub of communication
5. As economic development and job creation expands beyond our county borders, how do you intend to work with surrounding areas to promote economic prosperity?
As the economic development and job creation expands beyond our county boarders, it is important that we work together as a region. This is due to many of our employees here in Wake County live in our surrounding counties, which mean they commute daily to their jobs. 1.) Sharing Knowledge and Information because we must stay in contact with one another by sharing and updated each other on new information, which make collaboration effortless.
2.) Connect with our Colleagues by reaching out to members that are not a part of our team.
6. The Wake County Transit plan will expand bus service countywide, implement four bus rapid transit lines, and initiate a regional commuter rail system. What would you like to see the City of Raleigh do to complement or modify this enhanced transit service?
Because Raleigh is one of the Stake holders in this process it is equally important that we collaborate with the City of Raleigh to ensure that we all are working together. I would like to see the city of Raleigh do more with Union Station and expand it in order for us to have a central point of contact and increase ridership. I also would like to see the city of Raleigh continue with New Bern Avenue hub and expand it to other areas of Raleigh. Possibly add more land to the transit plan in order to support it expansion
Transportation/Transit – Continue to promote and implement an effective transit plan to optimize service delivery and position the county for ongoing growth.
Wake County's population growth impacts and is impacted by roads, travel and transportation. However, the county itself is not responsible for roads construction or maintenance, by state statute, this responsibility lies with municipalities and State Department of Transportation. The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) in cooperation with North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), determines regional transportation priorities for the DOT planning region that includes Wake County and parts of four surrounding counties (Franklin, Granville, Harnett and Johnston. Campo's long range is required by federal law and covers a 25-year planning horizon and based on the population projections in 2030, there will be more than 1.3 million people.
Economic Strength - Create a business-friendly environment to attract, retain and grow business, diversify the economic base, and create job opportunities for all citizens.
The county should be a leader and convener when it comes to addressing economic inequality, including gentrification and affordable housing are of epic portion throughout Wake County. Yes, I believe the county is doing a great job working with municipalities managing Wake County’s growth. The current board is addressing the problem with programs like “Lease 2 Home”. That said, while there are many factors outside of the county’s control, there is certainly still room for growth in this area, even though in October 2021, the Wake County Board of Commissioners approved $10.5 million dollar loan to preserve existing and naturally occurring affordable housing with Self-Help Ventures Funds called “The Affordable Housing Preservation Fund”. The county must continue and increase efforts to engage municipalities around smart planning and be a convener in these important conversations to ensure we are all working from the same playbook with the same information, data, and goals.
Affordable Housing – Develop an effective affordable housing plan through collaboration with the government, the private sector, the community, and individuals.
For Affordable Housing, the success with creation of the Housing Affordability & Community Revitalization led by Director Lorena McDowell, the opening of Oak City Cares, support for homeless women with partnership with Urban Ministries Helen Wright Center, creation of the county’s Affordable Housing Committee, and working with community partners DHIC, Habitat for Humanity, CASA, etc. The County has also developed a “Comprehensive Partner-based plan” called “PLANWAKE” that guides the framework of growing communities such as Apex, Wake Forest, Morrisville, Raleigh, and Cary. The PLANWAKE plan expands over a 10-year period and addresses the needs of the twelve municipalities. Also, as a veteran, I appreciate the county’s efforts to address veterans’ homelessness.
Failures are not addressing gentrification in areas such as SE Raleigh and not doing enough to keep seniors in their homes who cannot afford tax increases. For example, inner city Southeast Raleigh has displaced many Senior Citizen Renters, who cannot afford rent or pay taxes on their 40- and 50-year-old family homes. Those senior renters have lived and raised serval generations of their families there but now they are displaced. Also, not enough workforce housing and much of the housing being built across Wake County is not affordable. The Board of Commissioners also need to take the “PLANWAKE” Comprehensive Plan to each municipality, and not just rely on online marketing.
Great Government - Promote a vision of a city government that partners with all levels of government to empower, protect and serve its citizens through a culture of respect, collaboration, and innovation
That is so true, therefore we must continue to empower, protect and serve all of our citizens through a culture of respect, collaboration, and innovation. Therefore, in order for Wake County and the City of Raleigh to be successful, we work together to include the State and at the federal level. Sharing Knowledge and Information because we must stay in contact with one another by sharing and updating each other on new information, which make collaboration effortless. Connect with our Colleagues by reaching out to members that are not a part of our team. Continue to explore, plan and advance our Intergovernmental Revenues, identify infrastructure area and seek state legislative funding mechanisms. It is said that we shape our communities, and our communities shape us.
Growth and Sustainability - Establish a deliberate and realistic approach to address growth and mobility while preserving our environment and healthy communities.
Wake County is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. It is important that we continue to be intentional about managing growth by implementing the transit plan passed by voters and ensuring a broad range of mobility options from commuter rail, expanded bus rapid transit, to include more sidewalks. We must also be conscious of our water supply and protecting our water supply from pollution, preserving green spaces, and ensuring better zoning and planning that supports affordable housing.
Public Safety - Provide a safe, secure, and healthy community through coordinated, efficient, and effective public safety services.
Public safety is paramount because we must ensure that people are safe in their environment, which is why we must make sure that our Sheriff Department is properly funded and have the resources that is needed. Such as equipment, facilities and staff. We must also ensure that EMS staff have the proper resources, equipment and staff, which the county have already attempted to do by increasing staff pay. Continue to work with all of the twelve municipalities police Department as well as our state law enforcement and federal.
Social and Economic Vitality - Improve economic and social opportunities in vulnerable communities through strategic partnerships.
The Wake County Long Range Planning Department conducted an analysis to determine the extent to which communities across Wake County experience various " Vulnerability Factors" such as high poverty, high unemployment, low educational attainment, as well as economic health factors" such as housing cost burden and SNAP enrollment. Through their analysis, it became clear that communities in and around Southeast Raleigh, Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon experience greater vulnerability and economic stress than other areas of the county. The County determined that a targeted, geographically focused investment called Social & Economic Vitality (SEV) would be made to improve long term outcomes in those communities.