Election Day is Tuesday in Cary. Here’s who is running for mayor, town council
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Cary Town Council Election 2023
Cary residents will elect a mayor and new town council members this year. Nine candidates are on the ballot. Early voting for the town began Thursday, Sept. 21, and runs through Saturday, Oct. 7. Election Day is set for Tuesday, Oct. 10. Here is information about candidates and the election.
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Nine candidates are on the ballot for Cary’s municipal election on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Over 5,430 people voted during the early voting period that ended Saturday, according to the Board of Elections.
The mayor and all council members are elected every four years, with the council positions staggered.
This year, the mayor, one at-large council seat and the council seats in Districts B and D are on the ballot.
The other at-large seat and council seats in Districts A and C will be on the ballot in 2025.
Here’s what to know about the candidates, early voting and voter ID requirements.
Mayor
▪ Harold Weinbrecht Jr., incumbent
▪ Website: mayorweinbrecht.com
Weinbrecht is running unopposed to continue as mayor. He was first elected to the Town Council in 1999 and has served five terms over the past 15 years. He is a retired software engineer at SAS Institute. Weinbrecht and his wife, Belinda, have lived in Cary since 1987.
Cary Town Council: At-large
▪ Lori Bush, incumbent
▪ Website: loriforcary.org
▪ Questionnaire: Lori Bush, at-large candidate
Bush holds one of Cary’s at-large seats alongside Councilwoman Carissa Johnson-Kohn, who was elected last year. She is running for her fourth term. Bush was first elected in 2011 and previously held the position of mayor pro tem. She works for Cisco Systems as a technical lead and is an avid bicyclist.
▪ Mary Insprucker
▪ Website: maryforcary.com
▪ Questionnaire: Mary Insprukcer, at-large candidate
Insprucker is back on the ballot for Town Council after running for District C in 2022 against incumbent Jack Smith. She is a writer, podcaster and former consultant for the town. Her priorities include affordable housing, public safety and seniors.
▪ Matthew Gronke
▪ Website: matthewgronke.com
▪ Questionnaire: Matthew Gronke, at-large candidate
Gronke is challenging Bush and Insprucker for the at-large seat.
Cary Town Council: District B
▪ Don Frantz, incumbent
▪ Website: donfrantz.blogspot.com; facebook.com/donfrantznc
▪ Questionnaire: Don Frantz, District B candidate
Frantz also serves as mayor pro tem. He is running for his fifth term after first being elected in 2007. He owns Frantz Automotive Center in Cary and writes a blog about local happenings. He wants to continue “to work to make Cary an even better place to live, work and play.”
▪ Michelle Craig
▪ Website: michellecraigforcary.com
▪ Questionnaire: Michelle Craig, District B candidate
Craig, an educator for Wake County Public School System, has served in the Cary community for 10 years and is active in the local PTA and as a volunteer. Her priorities include housing affordability, diversity and inclusion, and improvements to the town’s environment.
Cary Town Council: District D
▪ Ryan Eades, incumbent
▪ Website: ryanforcary.com
Eades was appointed to the Town Council last year after Councilwoman Ya Liu became a State House member. He served on the planning and zoning board before that. His priorities include the growth and development of western Cary, the environment and connectivity.
▪ Sarika Bansal
▪ Website: sarika4cary.com
Bansal was a finalist alongside Eades last year for the vacant District D seat. A local business owner and volunteer, Bansal said her issues include public safety, the environment and traffic, and investment in a community center and parks. If elected, she would be the first Indian-American woman to serve on the Town Council.
▪ Rachel Jordan
▪ Website: rachelforcary.com
Jordan is running against Bansal and Eades for District D. She is a precinct chair for the county’s Democratic Party and is a volunteer for the Alston Ridge PTA as a cultural arts representative and vice president of communications. She is concerned about Cary’s diverse community, equitable growth and clean energy.
Voter ID now required
A photo ID is required to vote this year. A driver’s license and other forms of identification will be accepted, including a voter ID.
The IDs are free and available at the Wake, Chatham, and Durham boards of elections. Voters can also get a free ID card at the NC Division of Motor Vehicles. For more information, visit the State Board of Elections at ncsbe.gov.
Election Day precincts
Voters are required to vote in their designated precincts Tuesday. County-specific details are available on the Wake County and Chatham County boards of elections websites.
Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.
Candidates forums
Cary’s Community Candidates Forum can be seen on the town’s website at carync.gov. Each candidate got five minutes to share their priorities for the town.
This story was originally published August 11, 2023 at 1:49 PM.
