Jessica Day, candidate for mayor of Knightdale, NC

Two people want to become Knightdale’s next mayor.

Incumbent Jessica Day was appointed to the seat earlier this year after James Roberson was appointed to fill a seat in the N.C. House of Representatives seat. She faces former council member Charles Bullock.

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: Jessica Day

Age: 35

Residence: 1200 Springholm Court

Occupation: Supply Chain/Purchasing

Education: BS Business Administration, UNC Greensboro

Political or civic experience: Current Knightdale mayor, previous Knightdale mayor pro tem, previous Knightdale council member

Campaign website: www.votejessicaday.com

In August, Knightdale Mayor Jessica Day ordered a mask mandate unlike some other Wake County towns. Do you agree with this decision?

Yes, the safety of the citizens of our community is a priority. The mask mandate is one additional measure that we can take for the safety of our community.

What is Knightdale doing right, and wrong, on managing growth?

While I believe growth is a great thing and is a sign of the attractiveness of a community, I do believe we must focus on sustainable growth. Knightdale has taken steps to address future concerns, but this must continue to be a priority. As we grow, planning becomes more and more vital. As we make decisions on housing and development, energy consumption, infrastructure, transportation and education, our future generations must be a consideration.

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

1. Public Safety and Quality of Life — Ensuring we have the resources to maintain our great level of service as our needs increase. This means all areas of local government including development services, public works, parks and recreation, and public safety.

2. Economic Growth – Encouraging initiatives that promote our economic growth and include our small and local business community.

3. Education – Supporting our local schools by creating community and educational programs for our youth, young adults and our senior community.

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

I grew up in Knightdale and still love being able to call it my home. My business degree and previous 10-plus years of business experience working at Syngenta and BASF have prepared me for the challenges we may face in local government.

I also bring leadership experience including as current Passage Home board member, Triangle J Council of Government delegate, CAMPO Transportation Advisory Committee member, previous Knightdale Rotary Club president, previous Land Use Review Board (LURB) member, and previous vice president of the Knightdale Police Safety Advisory Board.

I have worked to position myself as a strong candidate by taking time to understand the current needs of the town and striving to find ways to address them. I truly believe in giving back to my community and will appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve.

This story was originally published October 15, 2021 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Jessica Day, candidate for mayor of Knightdale, NC."