Bridget Wall-Lennon, candidate for mayor of Wake Forest, NC
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Candidates for Wake Forest mayor and town board of commissioners
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Vivian Jones, candidate for mayor of Wake Forest, NC
Bridget Wall-Lennon, candidate for mayor of Wake Forest, NC
Patrick Griffin, candidate for board of commissioner in Wake Forest, NC
R. Keith Shackleford, candidate for board of commissioner in Wake Forest, NC
Nick Sliwinski, candidate for board of commissioners in Wake Forest, NC
Two familiar faces are seeking to become Wake Forest’s next mayor.
Long-time incumbent Mayor Vivian Jones is looking to keep her seat against challenger and fellow board member Wake Forest Commissioner Bridget Wall-Lennon.
Early voting in the Nov. 2 election 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: Bridget Wall-Lennon
Age: 56
Residence: 3733 Coach Lantern Ave.
Occupation: Business Owner, BLWall Consulting LLC
Education: Bachelor of Science Degree, Industrial Engineering NC Agricultural & Technical State University (NC A&T)
Political or civic experience: Serving in the capacity of managerial appointed and exempt positions in state government were the prelude to me seeking elected office. I served in the Department of Administration as Assistant to the Secretary for the HUB Outreach and was responsible for setting up and managing the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses.
Alongside my state government service, I continued my commitment to volunteerism and was elected and served four years as chapter president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a nationally renowned public service organization. My political and civic involvement spans over 30 years, ever since my collegiate days at NC A&T State University, where I was elected to represent collegiate members in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and the Bahamas.
As a town commissioner I attend our Board of Commissioner’s meetings, Joint Public Hearing and Planning Board meetings. I am currently serving as the board liaison to the Urban Forestry Advisory Board. I have previously served as the board’s Delegate to the Triangle J Council of Government (TJCOG) and board liaison to the town’s Human Relations Council, Parks, Recreational & Cultural Resources Advisory Board, Historic Preservation Commission and Cemetery Advisory Board.
These positions allow me to have a special look into our community’s history, needs and expectations. I believe these experiences, coupled with my professional career and experiences have prepared me to be mayor of Wake Forest.
Campaign website: www.bridgetforwakeforest.com
In August, Wake Forest Mayor Vivian Jones decided against ordering a mask mandate like some other Wake County towns. Do you agree with this decision?
No, I do not agree with this decision. While it was within the mayor’s purview to make this decision, the Town Board of Commissioners was not consulted for input regarding the mask mandate decision. Our town board should have had the opportunity to discuss and weigh in on the decision, like council members in the other Wake County municipalities.
Wake County has had more than 121,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and over 800 deaths. One death is too many. As a parent with a child that is not old enough to receive the vaccination, I want to do everything possible to protect her, our family, and the greater community. If we continue to rise in COVID cases, I am afraid the schools may have to close back down. Too many families struggled with having to juggle virtual school, working, and taking care of elderly family members. Wearing a mask has proven to be effective in preventing the spread of the virus, and it’s a small action to take to keep our town open and moving forward.
What is Wake Forest doing right, and wrong, on managing growth?
Our increased growth in population is one of our biggest assets but also yields the most significant concerns. Our housing market is one where we are building rapidly in open spaces but are also seeing older multi-family properties sold with an increase in displacement and lack of affordability. The increase in demand for housing must meet the needs of all income levels. Housing affordability is not simply for the lower income levels; it is a challenge that now affects all of us — college graduates, single families, and retiring citizens.
When I was first elected to the Town Board of Commissioners, I advocated for an affordable housing study similar to our neighboring towns. As a result, Wake Forest recently updated their Community Plan and Future Land Use Map. We are encouraging the community to provide input, feedback, and suggestions on both of these plans, which will give direction on what we want to see Wake Forest become.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year in office?
If elected mayor, my top priority would be affordable housing. We currently have three developments underway that will provide affordable housing, including single-family homes. I would like to see more housing for all income levels in Wake Forest.
My other two priorities would focus on economic development, emphasizing job creation and workforce development, and transportation. Wake Forest needs both large-scale companies and small businesses to run our local economy. With the right mix of new employers coupled with promoting subcontracting with our existing local businesses, we would have a win-win strategy that I would work extremely hard to bring this to fruition.
Wake Forest’s growth has caused an increased need to focus on our transportation concerns. We need road expansion, better-maintained roads, and new traffic patterns. I have a track record of listening to citizens’ concerns and working with officials at all levels to identify and solve problems collaboratively.
What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to city governance?
Before starting my current consulting business, I worked for the NC Department of Administration for 14 years as a division director and Special Assistant to the Secretary of Administration. I have successfully built a rapport with government officials, major corporations, and public sector organizations, allowing me to be effective in coalition building, advocacy, and public policy.
As a third-generation entrepreneur, and my experience running a small is valuable in this role as mayor. I solve issues from a pragmatic standpoint and listen to my colleagues to make informed decisions. Wake Forest is at a proverbial “fork in the road” in determining who we want to be, where we want to go as a town and our foundation that will have a generational impact. As mayor, I will provide new leadership for a time such as this. Together, we will build upon our rich history and take Wake Forest to the next level of shared prosperity and a promising future for generations to come.
This story was originally published October 18, 2021 at 1:05 PM with the headline "Bridget Wall-Lennon, candidate for mayor of Wake Forest, NC."