Raleigh City Council District D
Jennifer Truman
Are you an incumbent?
No
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. What is your long-term vision for growth in Raleigh?
With dozens of new residents each day, we have critical decisions to make on how to equitably and sustainably provide housing, quality of life, and opportunity to welcome new neighbors and support current residents. As a leader I am optimistic that we can continue to welcome growth in our city and share the prosperity that comes with it across all Raleigh neighborhoods. I’m running to return the conversation to how we want to build our City’s future, which will never be a simple yes and no answer. Growth is coming and can be good for Raleigh. The most important thing is that as we decide how things change, we need to remember that every Raleigh resident deserves a place to live, work and play.
5. What do you see as the city's number one challenge?
We need to build more housing and more affordable housing. We can preserve our parks, natural systems and trees by building denser housing, and supporting missing middle housing and multi-story mixed-use buildings along transit corridors. Dense developments that include qualified affordable housing also help reduce other costs associated with transportation and travel to work or essential services. The City can also directly spend to develop projects for people needing transitional housing and shelter from experiencing homelessness. My track record as an advocate and my campaign priorities focus on ways of building more equitably and sustainably: encourage density downtown and along Bus Rapid Transit corridors, continue and expand public funding for affordable housing, incentivize building mixed-use projects that center community and support small businesses.
6. What are you hoping to achieve as an elected official that will foster a healthy and innovative business environment in both the near and long term?
As a leader I am optimistic that Raleigh can embrace growth as an opportunity for all residents, businesses and workers. A healthy and innovative business environment is built from the basics of robust and affordable housing, reliable and frequent transit options, and quality of life for employees in a vibrant, active community with access to parks and greenways. Raleigh is full of innovative and driven businesses, small and large, across multiple industries. As a small business owner who works with other small and local businesses, I know that City programs for grant funding, entrepreneurial support and investment in quality of life are critical to the success of our businesses now and into the future. And in the long run, for Raleigh to grow equitably and sustainably the focus should be on how we grow, moving beyond yes and no. Building more densely, and incentivizing projects that build mixed-use, green space, and affordable housing as well as center community and support local small businesses is the key.
7. 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?
Getting around on a bus or bike is hard right now, but it shouldn’t be. As a regular bus rider, I know that there are some basics like bus shelters, wayfinding and maps, fare equity, and safety of operators and passengers that we need to prioritize and get right as we expand the system with the goals of the Wake Transit Plan. A vibrant, healthy, and equitable Raleigh depends on supporting residents who walk, bike, and ride the bus as part of their everyday life. In our district, we should work to improve the walk score for neighborhoods, promote connectivity between neighborhoods and commercial districts, prioritize pedestrians and sidewalks, create stronger connections for bike lanes and trails to travel to work or school, and continue support for Bus Rapid Transit, Commuter Rail and the Wake Transit Plan. As a city we should prioritize alternative modes of transportation as primary ways of traveling around our city. Reducing our dependence on automobiles will help us reach multiple environmental and climate goals, as well as improve the health, wellness and quality of life of Raleigh residents.
8. How do you plan to involve the community in the decision-making process in our city, especially area businesses?
Community engagement is a crucial part of the work of a City Councilor and should be encouraged at all levels of city staff. My campaign is rooted in optimism and the belief that we can work together to build a different and better future for Raleigh. Involving residents and businesses in decision making to better understand the impacts of policy decisions will help us solve the complicated problems we are facing together. I’m committed to accepting feedback on what works and what still needs work. Listening deeply, finding common ground, and working together to find creative solutions to complicated problems is what I do everyday. I use these skills in my architecture job helping small businesses make their dreams reality, as a working mom balancing my 9-5 schedule with my husband’s night shifts to keep the kids fed and the bills paid, and in my advocacy for progressive zoning reforms that make it easier to open businesses and build housing in Raleigh. I’ll bring these deep listening and problem solving skills to my work on the Council.As a long time resident of South west Raleigh, in District D, I know optimistic and engaged leadership is just what we need.
9. How will you balance increased infrastructure and personnel funding needs of the city while also addressing economic growth, affordability, and quality of life?
One of my priorities is a commitment to a budget that reflects the people of Raleigh and the values we share. There are always competing needs in a city, but our budget should make support for our employees and our climate goals a priority. City programs have the real ability to improve the safety and quality of life of every resident. How Raleigh City Council sets policies and funds ongoing work is the largest annual statement of what we value. What we’ve seen is that while we are growing and development is occurring, our needs are also growing. The services needed by a bigger city, by more residents, and to provide the quality of life our staff and residents need has also increased. What we need is to take a hard look at what we are spending money on and make sure it’s valuable and meets the needs and shared values of residents across the city.
Transportation/Transit – Continue to promote and implement an effective transit plan to optimize service delivery and position the city for ongoing growth.
As a bus rider, current member of the Raleigh Transit Authority and long time advocate for the Wake Transit Plan my transit priorities are to get the basics right while investing in the future through bus rapid transit and commuter rail. Making transit spending and transportation choices a priority in the City’s budget will allow Raleigh to build a more robust transit system which could include building more benches and bus shelters, pay raises for bus operators, keeping bus fares free, increasing regular route frequencies, and funding sidewalk and crosswalk projects.
Economic Strength - Create a business-friendly environment to attract, retain and grow business, diversify the economic base, and create job opportunities for all citizens.
Economic strength depends on embracing the opportunities that come with growing equitably and sustainably. Encouraging the development of mixed-use projects that incentivize community centered spaces, support small businesses, and support residents’ full quality of life. The city should also lead by example to set livable wages for all employees and partner with local colleges and universities on workforce development programs.
Affordable Housing – Develop an effective affordable housing plan through collaboration with the government, the private sector, the community, and individuals.
Raleigh needs to prioritize short and long term solutions to help people find and stay in their homes. The pressure is felt hardest by working class families, like my own, who are balancing rising housing costs, rent increases, property tax increases, gas prices and low wages. In the short term, low income and working class families that are housing cost burdened need direct housing assistance and subsidized housing options. Building affordable housing requires collaboration between the city and partners in the building community. And in the long term, we have to acknowledge Raleigh has a troubled history with discriminatory environmental and land use zoning decisions. Acknowledging this history, and its causes rooted in single-family zoning and decades of disinvestment, tell us how to move forward. An equitable future and a sustainable future depend on building differently than we have for the past half century and continuing the momentum started by this Council for progressive zoning reforms. We have to build more housing and more affordable housing.
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.
Efficient and effective governing is built on working together, listening deeply and transparent community engagement. I believe in the potential of our local leaders, community members, city staff and local business leaders to work together on how we prioritize and act on these values to actually make positive change happen. I have been involved and am ready to work. My professional and volunteer efforts in the community have consistently prioritized working together and looking for solutions.
Growth and Sustainability - Establish a deliberate and realistic approach to address growth and mobility while preserving our environment and healthy communities.
Raleigh can best preserve our parks, natural systems and trees by building denser housing and supporting development of missing middle housing and multi-story mixed-use buildings along transit corridors. Raleigh can lead the region on sustainability goals by reducing sprawl and the associated negative impacts of pollution, carbon emissions, development of exurban green field sites. We accomplish this by focusing on how we grow.
Public Safety - Provide a safe, secure, and healthy community through coordinated, efficient, and effective public safety services.
Raleigh competes with other cities, towns, and private businesses to attract and keep qualified, talented staff and in order to do that we need to pay all city staff, part-time and full-time a living wage that will allow them to live within Raleigh with their families. At the same time, as a City we need to acknowledge that while public safety is a priority for residents across the city, the presence of police officers does not always ensure the same level of public safety for black and brown residents. Raleigh’s elected officials, staff, police department, and the community need to come together and have the hard conversations and considerations about policy reforms needed to provide a safe and healthy community for all residents.
Social and Economic Vitality - Improve economic and social opportunities in vulnerable communities through strategic partnerships.
Partnerships with the local business and non-profit community are essential to serving Raleigh citizens. Raleigh is a city of both success stories and of struggle. In many ways these unprecedented times have revealed underlying inequities and the need for social justice in health work, food policy, labor and wages, policing, and housing. Many of those hard conversations have been started within the community and through community organizations, but the conversations and systemic change need to continue in partnership. The City of Raleigh is just one player in the decisions and innovations that will help residents, workers and businesses be successful.
Are you an incumbent?
No
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. What is your long-term vision for growth in Raleigh?
With dozens of new residents each day, we have critical decisions to make on how to equitably and sustainably provide housing, quality of life, and opportunity to welcome new neighbors and support current residents. As a leader I am optimistic that we can continue to welcome growth in our city and share the prosperity that comes with it across all Raleigh neighborhoods. I’m running to return the conversation to how we want to build our City’s future, which will never be a simple yes and no answer. Growth is coming and can be good for Raleigh. The most important thing is that as we decide how things change, we need to remember that every Raleigh resident deserves a place to live, work and play.
5. What do you see as the city's number one challenge?
We need to build more housing and more affordable housing. We can preserve our parks, natural systems and trees by building denser housing, and supporting missing middle housing and multi-story mixed-use buildings along transit corridors. Dense developments that include qualified affordable housing also help reduce other costs associated with transportation and travel to work or essential services. The City can also directly spend to develop projects for people needing transitional housing and shelter from experiencing homelessness. My track record as an advocate and my campaign priorities focus on ways of building more equitably and sustainably: encourage density downtown and along Bus Rapid Transit corridors, continue and expand public funding for affordable housing, incentivize building mixed-use projects that center community and support small businesses.
6. What are you hoping to achieve as an elected official that will foster a healthy and innovative business environment in both the near and long term?
As a leader I am optimistic that Raleigh can embrace growth as an opportunity for all residents, businesses and workers. A healthy and innovative business environment is built from the basics of robust and affordable housing, reliable and frequent transit options, and quality of life for employees in a vibrant, active community with access to parks and greenways. Raleigh is full of innovative and driven businesses, small and large, across multiple industries. As a small business owner who works with other small and local businesses, I know that City programs for grant funding, entrepreneurial support and investment in quality of life are critical to the success of our businesses now and into the future. And in the long run, for Raleigh to grow equitably and sustainably the focus should be on how we grow, moving beyond yes and no. Building more densely, and incentivizing projects that build mixed-use, green space, and affordable housing as well as center community and support local small businesses is the key.
7. 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?
Getting around on a bus or bike is hard right now, but it shouldn’t be. As a regular bus rider, I know that there are some basics like bus shelters, wayfinding and maps, fare equity, and safety of operators and passengers that we need to prioritize and get right as we expand the system with the goals of the Wake Transit Plan. A vibrant, healthy, and equitable Raleigh depends on supporting residents who walk, bike, and ride the bus as part of their everyday life. In our district, we should work to improve the walk score for neighborhoods, promote connectivity between neighborhoods and commercial districts, prioritize pedestrians and sidewalks, create stronger connections for bike lanes and trails to travel to work or school, and continue support for Bus Rapid Transit, Commuter Rail and the Wake Transit Plan. As a city we should prioritize alternative modes of transportation as primary ways of traveling around our city. Reducing our dependence on automobiles will help us reach multiple environmental and climate goals, as well as improve the health, wellness and quality of life of Raleigh residents.
8. How do you plan to involve the community in the decision-making process in our city, especially area businesses?
Community engagement is a crucial part of the work of a City Councilor and should be encouraged at all levels of city staff. My campaign is rooted in optimism and the belief that we can work together to build a different and better future for Raleigh. Involving residents and businesses in decision making to better understand the impacts of policy decisions will help us solve the complicated problems we are facing together. I’m committed to accepting feedback on what works and what still needs work. Listening deeply, finding common ground, and working together to find creative solutions to complicated problems is what I do everyday. I use these skills in my architecture job helping small businesses make their dreams reality, as a working mom balancing my 9-5 schedule with my husband’s night shifts to keep the kids fed and the bills paid, and in my advocacy for progressive zoning reforms that make it easier to open businesses and build housing in Raleigh. I’ll bring these deep listening and problem solving skills to my work on the Council.As a long time resident of South west Raleigh, in District D, I know optimistic and engaged leadership is just what we need.
9. How will you balance increased infrastructure and personnel funding needs of the city while also addressing economic growth, affordability, and quality of life?
One of my priorities is a commitment to a budget that reflects the people of Raleigh and the values we share. There are always competing needs in a city, but our budget should make support for our employees and our climate goals a priority. City programs have the real ability to improve the safety and quality of life of every resident. How Raleigh City Council sets policies and funds ongoing work is the largest annual statement of what we value. What we’ve seen is that while we are growing and development is occurring, our needs are also growing. The services needed by a bigger city, by more residents, and to provide the quality of life our staff and residents need has also increased. What we need is to take a hard look at what we are spending money on and make sure it’s valuable and meets the needs and shared values of residents across the city.
Transportation/Transit – Continue to promote and implement an effective transit plan to optimize service delivery and position the city for ongoing growth.
As a bus rider, current member of the Raleigh Transit Authority and long time advocate for the Wake Transit Plan my transit priorities are to get the basics right while investing in the future through bus rapid transit and commuter rail. Making transit spending and transportation choices a priority in the City’s budget will allow Raleigh to build a more robust transit system which could include building more benches and bus shelters, pay raises for bus operators, keeping bus fares free, increasing regular route frequencies, and funding sidewalk and crosswalk projects.
Economic Strength - Create a business-friendly environment to attract, retain and grow business, diversify the economic base, and create job opportunities for all citizens.
Economic strength depends on embracing the opportunities that come with growing equitably and sustainably. Encouraging the development of mixed-use projects that incentivize community centered spaces, support small businesses, and support residents’ full quality of life. The city should also lead by example to set livable wages for all employees and partner with local colleges and universities on workforce development programs.
Affordable Housing – Develop an effective affordable housing plan through collaboration with the government, the private sector, the community, and individuals.
Raleigh needs to prioritize short and long term solutions to help people find and stay in their homes. The pressure is felt hardest by working class families, like my own, who are balancing rising housing costs, rent increases, property tax increases, gas prices and low wages. In the short term, low income and working class families that are housing cost burdened need direct housing assistance and subsidized housing options. Building affordable housing requires collaboration between the city and partners in the building community. And in the long term, we have to acknowledge Raleigh has a troubled history with discriminatory environmental and land use zoning decisions. Acknowledging this history, and its causes rooted in single-family zoning and decades of disinvestment, tell us how to move forward. An equitable future and a sustainable future depend on building differently than we have for the past half century and continuing the momentum started by this Council for progressive zoning reforms. We have to build more housing and more affordable housing.
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.
Efficient and effective governing is built on working together, listening deeply and transparent community engagement. I believe in the potential of our local leaders, community members, city staff and local business leaders to work together on how we prioritize and act on these values to actually make positive change happen. I have been involved and am ready to work. My professional and volunteer efforts in the community have consistently prioritized working together and looking for solutions.
Growth and Sustainability - Establish a deliberate and realistic approach to address growth and mobility while preserving our environment and healthy communities.
Raleigh can best preserve our parks, natural systems and trees by building denser housing and supporting development of missing middle housing and multi-story mixed-use buildings along transit corridors. Raleigh can lead the region on sustainability goals by reducing sprawl and the associated negative impacts of pollution, carbon emissions, development of exurban green field sites. We accomplish this by focusing on how we grow.
Public Safety - Provide a safe, secure, and healthy community through coordinated, efficient, and effective public safety services.
Raleigh competes with other cities, towns, and private businesses to attract and keep qualified, talented staff and in order to do that we need to pay all city staff, part-time and full-time a living wage that will allow them to live within Raleigh with their families. At the same time, as a City we need to acknowledge that while public safety is a priority for residents across the city, the presence of police officers does not always ensure the same level of public safety for black and brown residents. Raleigh’s elected officials, staff, police department, and the community need to come together and have the hard conversations and considerations about policy reforms needed to provide a safe and healthy community for all residents.
Social and Economic Vitality - Improve economic and social opportunities in vulnerable communities through strategic partnerships.
Partnerships with the local business and non-profit community are essential to serving Raleigh citizens. Raleigh is a city of both success stories and of struggle. In many ways these unprecedented times have revealed underlying inequities and the need for social justice in health work, food policy, labor and wages, policing, and housing. Many of those hard conversations have been started within the community and through community organizations, but the conversations and systemic change need to continue in partnership. The City of Raleigh is just one player in the decisions and innovations that will help residents, workers and businesses be successful.
