Here’s who’s running for Wake County commissioner (and why)

Regardless of who wins in November, there will be new faces on the Wake County Board of Commissioners.

Two incumbents — Erv Portman and John Burns — were both unseated after a contentious Democratic primary. Now former school board member Susan Evans and political newcomer Vickie Adamson join incumbents Matt Calabria, Greg Ford and Sig Hutchinson in trying to keep the Democratic majority on the board. They face five Republicans: Greg Jones, Frann Sarpolus, Kim Coley, David Blackwelder and Alex Moore.

All seven seats of the board are up for re-election but Chairwoman Jessica Holmes faced no opponents and will retain her District 3 seat. Commissioner James West defeated his primary opponent and has no other challenger for his District 5 seat. Early voting began Oct. 16 and the election is Nov. 6.

Candidates must live within the district they hope to represent, but they are voted on county-wide.

District 1 candidates

Sig Hutchinson

• Age: 65
  
  
• Party: Democrat
  
  
• Town/Area they live: Raleigh
  
  
• Occupation: President of Sig Hutchinson Communications, LLC.
  
  
• Public offices held: Wake County Commissioner, District 1
  
  
• Website: www.Sig4Wake.com

Are public schools adequately funded by the county? No.

Is the property tax rate currently at the appropriate level? Yes.

What are the top two issues you will work on if elected? Water, land use, transportation and community health.

Greg Jones

• Age: 51
  
  
• Party: Republican
  
  
• Town/Area they live: Wendell
  
  
• Occupation: Contractor
  
  
• Public offices held: None
  
  
• Website: GregJonesforWake.com

Are public schools adequately funded by the county? “I prefer not to answer.”

Is the property tax rate currently at the appropriate level? No.

What are the top two issues you will work on if elected? Identify wasteful spending and lowering property taxes for Wake County citizens.

Tim Jowers

Tim Jowers was the Libertarian candidate for the District 1 seat. He was killed in a car wreck with his family in Warren County in September. His name will still appear on the ballot and, if he receives the most votes, the Wake County Libertarian Party would appoint someone to fill his spot.

District 2 candidates

Matt Calabria

• Age: 35
  
  
• Party: Democrat
  
  
• Town/Area they live: Fuquay-Varina
  
  
• Occupation: Attorney
  
  
• Public offices held: Wake County Commissioner, district 2
  
  
• Website: www.mattcalabria.com

Are public schools adequately funded by the county? No.

Is the property tax rate currently at the appropriate level? No.

What are the top two issues you will work on if elected? Education from birth through college (and) economic development that benefits all Wake County residents

Frann Sarpolus

• Age: n/a
  
  
• Party: Republican
  
  
• Town/Area they live: Clayton (portion within Wake County)
  
  
• Occupation: n/a
• Public offices held: none.
  
  
• Website: www.frannsarpolus.com

Are public schools adequately funded by the county? Did not respond to questionnaire.

Is the property tax rate currently at the appropriate level? Did not respond to questionnaire.

What are the top two issues you will work on if elected? Did not respond to questionnaire.

District 4 candidates

Kim Coley

• Age: 48
  
  
• Party: Republican
  
  
• Town/Area they live: Cary
  
  
• Occupation: Small business owner
  
  
• Public offices held: None
  
  
• Website: TrustKimColey.com

Are public schools adequately funded by the county? Yes

Is the property tax rate currently at the appropriate level? No

What are the top two issues you will work on if elected? Prioritizing the budget and eliminating unsubstantiated infrastructures

Susan Evans

• Age: 60
  
  
• Party: Democrat
  
  
• Town/Area they live: Apex
  
  
• Occupation: Business accountant
  
  
• Public offices held: Wake County Board of Education
• Website: evansforwake.com

Are public schools adequately funded by the county? No.

Is the property tax rate currently at the appropriate level? No.

What are the top two issues you will work on if elected? Strong support for our public schools and community college and initiating specific actions to address the affordable/workforce housing issues in Wake.

District 6 candidates

David Blackwelder

• Age: 33
  
  
• Party: Republican
  
  
• Town/Area they live: Wake Forest
  
  
• Occupation: Police officer
  
  
• Public offices held: None
  
  
• Website: www.davidblackwelder.org

Are public schools adequately funded by the county? Yes.

Is the property tax rate currently at the appropriate level? No.

What are the top two issues you will work on if elected? If elected, my top two priorities are affordable housing and school security. My first task will be to introduce zero-based budgeting, so we can adequately fund public schools and ensure housing is affordable.

Greg Ford

• Age: 45
  
  
• Party: Democrat
  
  
• Town/Area they live: Unincorporated northern Wake County
  
  
• Occupation: Retired Wake County principal and teacher
  
  
• Public offices held: Wake County Commissioner, District 6
  
  
• Website: www.GregFord.com
  
  

Are public schools adequately funded by the county? No.

Is the property tax rate currently at the appropriate level? No.

What are the top two issues you will work on if elected? 1. Continued support for strong public schools. 2. Continued advocacy for and investment in initiatives to improve equity and access for citizens in key areas, including affordable housing, job opportunities and targeted economic development, and access to behavioral healthcare.

District 7 candidates

Vickie Adamson

• Age: 57
  
  
• Party: Democrat
  
  
• Town/Area they live: Raleigh
  
  
• Occupation: Self-employed
  
  
• Public offices held: none.
  
  
• Website: vickieforwakecounty.com

Are public schools adequately funded by the county? No.

Is the property tax rate currently at the appropriate level? No.

What are the top two issues you will work on if elected? Education. Housing.

Alex Moore

• Age: n/a
  
  
• Party: Republican.
  
  
• Town/Area they live: n/a
  
  
• Occupation: n/a
  
  
• Public offices held: n/a
  
  
• Website: n/a
  
  

Are public schools adequately funded by the county? Did not respond to questionnaire.

Is the property tax rate currently at the appropriate level? Did not respond to questionnaire.

What are the top two issues you will work on if elected? Did not respond to questionnaire.

This story was originally published October 21, 2018 at 11:19 AM with the headline "Here’s who’s running for Wake County commissioner (and why)."