Raleigh councilman wants to help Cary art gallery
Raleigh City Councilman Bonner Gaylord wants to help a Cary art gallery with its Kickstarter fundraising effort.
Lucky Pie Gallery recently emailed Gaylord for help moving to Glenwood Avenue in the councilman’s district. He brought up the request at Tuesday’s council meeting and got approval to discuss it at the next technology and communications committee meeting.
Gaylord, who chairs the committee, said he wants to “determine if there’s any way we can help these fledgling businesses that are trying to open a location in Raleigh.”
“I don’t think we can do anything directly, but I think there’s a way we can indirectly get that word out” about the Kickstarter, he added.
The gallery owners didn’t make a specific request in their email, noting that “I’m not sure what resources you have at your disposal that would benefit local business, artists and creators.”
The email also said that Councilman Wayne Maiorano’s brother “is a part of our team.” Maiorano serves on the technology and communications committee.
Councilwoman Mary-Ann Baldwin questioned whether a committee meeting is the right venue for the business’s needs. “It makes more sense to forward this to our economic development staff,” Baldwin said.
The art gallery and shop has been in downtown Cary for two years and hopes to raise $24,000 in the next month to add a café in a larger location.
Durham PA endorsements
The Durham People’s Alliance political action committee, a self-described “progressive” organization, has endorsed Cary Democrat Brenda Cleary for the U.S. House District 13 in the November election.
Cleary is running against incumbent Republican George Holding of Raleigh. District 13 includes the easternmost section of Durham County and has only one precinct, No. 32 at Neal Middle School.
The PA had previously endorsed Virginia Conlon for the Democratic nomination, but Conlon lost to Cleary in the May primary.
Besides Cleary, the PA endorsed John Arrowood in the 19-candidate race for the N.C. Court of Appeals seat vacated when Chief Judge John Martin retired at the end of July. It also endorsed Will Wilson and incumbent Ray Eurquhart for seats on the Soil and Water Conservation District board of supervisors.
Benton questions raises
Wake County school board Vice Chairman Tom Benton is criticizing state legislators for giving school support personnel smaller pay raises this year than state employees.
This year’s state budget gives nonteachers such as bus drivers, custodians and cafeteria staff a $500 raise while state employees got a $1,000 raise. At this week’s board meeting, Benton praised support staff for their hard work and said they are struggling with the fact that they got half the pay raise of people doing similar jobs in state government.
“I also have to admit I have been intrigued that as we are approaching election, how many of our elective officials have become champions of public education since the General Assembly has left town,” Benton added, drawing chuckles from the crowd.
“I hope we will all remember actions that people took and just not read literature that is circulating out there at this time. But it has been interesting to see the number of ‘champions’ that we have for public education now, and I hope that will continue to be carried out in deeds.”
Political events
Compiled by Colin Campbell, T. Keung Hui and Jim Wise.
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This story was originally published September 19, 2014 at 7:38 PM with the headline "Raleigh councilman wants to help Cary art gallery."