Thomas G. Crowder, Raleigh City Council, District D

OFFICE FOR WHICH YOU ARE RUNNING: Raleigh City Council, District D

NAME: Thomas G. Crowder

AGE: 51

OCCUPATION: Licensed architect, North Carolina and Virginia; president; ARCHITEKTUR, PA -- Raleigh, North Carolina

EDUCATION: NCARB certificate holder; Broughton High School, Architectural Apprenticeship Program

POLITICAL PARTY AND EXPERIENCE: Democrat; Raleigh City councilor, District D, 2003 to present; Council Comprehensive Planning Committee, 2003 to 2004, committee chairman, 2004 to present; Council Budget and Economic Development Committee, 2004 to present; Council Law and Public Safety Committee, 2003 to 2004; council representative: Triangle J Council of Governments (2003 to present), second vice chairman (2005 to 2007), first vice chairman (2007 to present); council representative, N.C. League of Municipalities, 2003 to present, currently finance committee member; Dorothea Dix Master Plan Legislative Oversight Committee, 2004 to 2005; chairman - District D Neighborhood Alliance, 2004 to present; Raleigh Planning Commission, 1999 to 2003; chairman of the Planning Commission's Strategic Planning Committee, 2000 to 2003; Planning Commission co-chairman of the Downtown "Livable Streets," 2002 to 2003; member of Tree Preservation Task Force, 2002 to 2003; member of Western Boulevard Streetscape Committee, 1999 to 2001

CIVIC ACTIVITIES AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS: Board member, Occoneechee Council BSA; member: American Institute of Architects, American Planning Association, Sierra Club, Urban Land Institute

WHY SHOULD YOU BE ELECTED? Help me to: -- Continue to create and enforce measures to preserve and improve the quality of life in District D Neighborhoods and throughout Raleigh. -- Continue to support fair growth funding opportunities over higher taxes and basic service user fees. -- Create a common vision for an economically, environmentally and culturally sustainable future for Raleigh through the upcoming comprehensive plan update and council policies. -- Continue to represent the long-term sustainable interest of all Raleigh's citizens over that of short-term financial special interest. -- Continue to listen carefully to my constituents and work to create holistic solutions to their challenges.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Phone: 852-1297, fax: 664-8530, www.CrowderForCouncil.com

1. Do you believe that the impact fees currently imposed by Raleigh on new development are too high, too low, or at the right level?

Currently Raleigh's impact fees pay approximately 15 percent of the total cost of parkland and infrastructure, versus 50 percent of that cost, which Raleigh is allowed to collect. It is very clear to our citizens that growth does not pay its way, or its fair share. Per the Duncan Report solicited by the current council, Raleigh has the legal authority to collect approximately three times our current rates. Cary charges approximately double what Raleigh currently charges. At minimum, our rates should double to be in line with Cary. However, we should consider tripling our rates in concert with a graduated rate system that reduces fees for those who build sustainably and in a manner that lessens impacts on our infrastructure and environment. We should be encouraging and in many cases mandating responsible development in lieu of relying on government to react to the increasing challenges resulting from growth. We can no longer afford to enable, nor subsidize the current patterns of development and construction that is taking place.

2. Which aspects of the city's infrastructure, such as roads and parks, need the most attention over the next 10 years?