Raleigh Mayor
Terrance Ruth
Are you an incumbent?
No
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
No
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?
My long-term vision is an equitable city that provides opportunities for all. In practice this means having an adequate supply of affordable housing, adequate jobs for people of all skill levels and education, and building a community where people can feel valued and can reach their full potential. No citizen should feel as though they have to move away from Raleigh. We need to be an inclusionary city.
5. What do you see as the city's number one challenge?
We need to address the lack of affordable housing. To do that we need to know what success looks like. We need to measure and quantify our affordable housing needs and then work with all stakeholders especially the development community to meet those needs. But the City's number one challenge goes beyond housing. It also has to address jobs. Raleigh is great at attracting high tech, high end jobs. We must also ensure that we grow our industries to provide jobs for the entire spectrum of people who live in and to live in Raleigh.
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?
Raleigh has attracted so many people and businesses by providing an exemplary quality of life, great climate, great access to highways and air travel, convenient access to east coast ports, access to rail, and top educational resources and talent. We have been blessed with many benefits. But we need to build on those benefits to ensure that businesses can continue to operate successfully. We can avoid higher taxes by ensuring that we have a diverse tax base that includes commercial and industrial as well as residential. To achieve this goal we need to work with the County, the State, and area communities. We need to think regionally rather than always being Raleigh-centric. Raleigh will succeed when the entire region succeeds.
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?
The biggest issue with transit in Raleigh is the lack of ridership. Let's be honest, ridership has declined. COVID-19 has seriously impacted the use of transit. We need to review where transit is needed most and used the most. There is risk in building a large system only to find it is unused. I want to involve Raleigh's citizens in making those decisions. Only by understanding the needs of our citizens will we be able to make the best investments in transit.
8. How do you plan to involve the community in the decision-making process in our city, especially area businesses?
We need to restart our Citizens Advisory Councils but we also need to grow from there. We can expand opportunities for in-person meetings by utilizing all of our community centers to hold monthly meetings with citizens. At the same time we can expand the use of technology to reach citizens who can't make it to in-person meetings. We can expand the use of mailers to those without the technology. And we can greatly improve how the city communicates with its citizens by expanding the duties and reach of the communications department. The City's communications department should be empowered to facilitate two-way communication and not just one-way from the Council and Mayor to citizens. The same holds for area businesses. We could establish Business Advisory Councils that also meet at different locations throughout the city to discuss the challenges and opportunities for economic development. We should not be afraid of the open exchange of ideas.
9. How will you balance increased infrastructure and personnel funding needs of the city while also addressing economic growth, affordability, and quality of life?
In many ways growth should be the fuel for the economy. And with such growth the tax revenues will follow to fund our infrastructure needs. Raleigh cannot simply grow its population without also growing its industry. More population increases the need for resources and services. It is not sustainable to pay for ever increasing resources and services by taxing citizens alone. We need to grow our industry to also bring revenue to the city.
Transportation/Transit – Continue to promote and implement an effective transit plan to optimize service delivery and position the city for ongoing growth.
Economic Strength - Create a business-friendly environment to attract, retain and grow business, diversify the economic base, and create job opportunities for all citizens.
Affordable Housing – Develop an effective affordable housing plan through collaboration with the government, the private sector, the community, and individuals.
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.
Growth and Sustainability - Establish a deliberate and realistic approach to address growth and mobility while preserving our environment and healthy communities.
Public Safety - Provide a safe, secure, and healthy community through coordinated, efficient, and effective public safety services.
Social and Economic Vitality - Improve economic and social opportunities in vulnerable communities through strategic partnerships.
Are you an incumbent?
No
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
No
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?
My long-term vision is an equitable city that provides opportunities for all. In practice this means having an adequate supply of affordable housing, adequate jobs for people of all skill levels and education, and building a community where people can feel valued and can reach their full potential. No citizen should feel as though they have to move away from Raleigh. We need to be an inclusionary city.
5. What do you see as the city's number one challenge?
We need to address the lack of affordable housing. To do that we need to know what success looks like. We need to measure and quantify our affordable housing needs and then work with all stakeholders especially the development community to meet those needs. But the City's number one challenge goes beyond housing. It also has to address jobs. Raleigh is great at attracting high tech, high end jobs. We must also ensure that we grow our industries to provide jobs for the entire spectrum of people who live in and to live in Raleigh.
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?
Raleigh has attracted so many people and businesses by providing an exemplary quality of life, great climate, great access to highways and air travel, convenient access to east coast ports, access to rail, and top educational resources and talent. We have been blessed with many benefits. But we need to build on those benefits to ensure that businesses can continue to operate successfully. We can avoid higher taxes by ensuring that we have a diverse tax base that includes commercial and industrial as well as residential. To achieve this goal we need to work with the County, the State, and area communities. We need to think regionally rather than always being Raleigh-centric. Raleigh will succeed when the entire region succeeds.
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?
The biggest issue with transit in Raleigh is the lack of ridership. Let's be honest, ridership has declined. COVID-19 has seriously impacted the use of transit. We need to review where transit is needed most and used the most. There is risk in building a large system only to find it is unused. I want to involve Raleigh's citizens in making those decisions. Only by understanding the needs of our citizens will we be able to make the best investments in transit.
8. How do you plan to involve the community in the decision-making process in our city, especially area businesses?
We need to restart our Citizens Advisory Councils but we also need to grow from there. We can expand opportunities for in-person meetings by utilizing all of our community centers to hold monthly meetings with citizens. At the same time we can expand the use of technology to reach citizens who can't make it to in-person meetings. We can expand the use of mailers to those without the technology. And we can greatly improve how the city communicates with its citizens by expanding the duties and reach of the communications department. The City's communications department should be empowered to facilitate two-way communication and not just one-way from the Council and Mayor to citizens. The same holds for area businesses. We could establish Business Advisory Councils that also meet at different locations throughout the city to discuss the challenges and opportunities for economic development. We should not be afraid of the open exchange of ideas.
9. How will you balance increased infrastructure and personnel funding needs of the city while also addressing economic growth, affordability, and quality of life?
In many ways growth should be the fuel for the economy. And with such growth the tax revenues will follow to fund our infrastructure needs. Raleigh cannot simply grow its population without also growing its industry. More population increases the need for resources and services. It is not sustainable to pay for ever increasing resources and services by taxing citizens alone. We need to grow our industry to also bring revenue to the city.
Transportation/Transit – Continue to promote and implement an effective transit plan to optimize service delivery and position the city for ongoing growth.
Economic Strength - Create a business-friendly environment to attract, retain and grow business, diversify the economic base, and create job opportunities for all citizens.
Affordable Housing – Develop an effective affordable housing plan through collaboration with the government, the private sector, the community, and individuals.
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.
Growth and Sustainability - Establish a deliberate and realistic approach to address growth and mobility while preserving our environment and healthy communities.
Public Safety - Provide a safe, secure, and healthy community through coordinated, efficient, and effective public safety services.
Social and Economic Vitality - Improve economic and social opportunities in vulnerable communities through strategic partnerships.