William Harris, candidate for mayor in Fuquay-Varina, NC

For the first time in two decades, Fuquay-Varina will have a new mayor.

John Byrne announced he will not seek another term paving the way for a new leader of the fast-growing southern Wake County town.

There are three people hoping to fill that spot.

Early voting in the Nov. 2 election begins Oct. 14 and runs through Oct. 30.

To find polling places and full details on early voting, visit wakevotesearly.com or contact the Board of Elections at 919-404-4040 or voter@wakegov.com

Name: William H. Harris

Age: 69

Residence: 1400 Old Regent Drive

Occupation: Retired from the Department of Health and Human Services, North Carolina State Government

Education: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Master’s in Public Administration

Political or civic experience: Past president Lincoln Heights PTA, former member of the Fuquay-Varina Education Committee, recipient of the Outstanding Citizen Award presented by the Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce, currently serving on the Board of Commissioners, Town of Fuquay-Varina, 2nd vice president, N.C. League of Municipalities

Campaign website: www.williamharrisformayor.com

In August, Fuquay-Varina Mayor John Byrne decided against ordering a mask mandate like some other Wake County towns. Do you agree with this decision?

Yes, I think it was the best decision considering the information available at that time.

Do you plan to vote in favor of Fuquay-Varina’s $38.5 million bond package for parks and transportation projects?

Yes, approval of the bond package will allow for improvements and expansion of our parks and recreational facilities as well as fund transportation improvements.

What is Fuquay-Varina doing right, and wrong, on managing growth?

Although the town is doing right by planning for future growth, there is a need for exploring more options on how to fund infrastructure improvements. The impact growth is having on the existing traffic problems and the increased demand for town services is our challenge.

If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year in office?

Promote accountability, responsiveness and transparency within local government by increasing citizen engagement. Activate the committee system within the Board and create a Citizen Task Force to address the issues of growth in Fuquay-Varina.

What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to city governance?

I have a wealth of public service experience having served on the Board of Commissioners in various capacities for over 25 years. During my time on the Town Board, I’ve served as mayor pro tem, chairman of the Law and Finance Committee, Public Works Committee and Public Safety Committee. I have a master’s degree in Public Administration. My work with the N.C. League of Municipalities has broadened my understanding of the challenges that elected officials face and how local government can impact our quality of life.

This story was originally published October 14, 2021 at 4:57 PM with the headline "William Harris, candidate for mayor in Fuquay-Varina, NC."