Donald Mial, candidate for Wake County Commissioner, District 1
The News & Observer sent a questionnaire to each of the Wake County Board of Commissioners candidates running in 2022.
In District 1, Democrat Donald Mial faces Republican Chanel Harris after incumbent Sig Hutchinson announced he would not not seek another term.
Early voting in the Nov. 8 election began Oct. 20.
Name: Donald Mial
Age: 69
Political party: Democrat
Occupation and employer: Retired, N.C Department of Public Safety
Education: A.A.S Paralegal Tech./B.A History and Government/M.S Criminal Justice/ Master Public Administration
Political or civic experience: Former member of Wake County Board of Elections; former Wake County vice chair for party and precinct chair 17-04; former member of N.C Victim Compensation Commission; currently vice-chair of Wake County Board of Adjustment; secretary of Raleigh Board of Adjustment
Campaign website: www.donmial.com
What is Wake County doing right, and wrong, on managing growth?
There are many things that Wake County is doing right to manage growth, such as working on and exceeding its own expectation for meeting the need for affordable housing.
The board had set an expectation of building 2,500 units within five years; however, that goal was met within three years. The board also has continued to improve our Health and Human Services, Workforce Development as well as Behavior Health.
The county has done well in acquiring and developing more parks and open spaces. It has also done well in filling the hole for the state covering teachers’ supplements and school funding.
However, one of the things that the county has not done well is improving our transportation system. Because of the increased growth in Wake County the improvement of our transportation system is vital. Wake County has a population of around 1.2 million people (about the population of New Hampshire) and is growing.
How should the county support K-12 schools, students and teachers?
Continuously work as a partner with Board of Education to improve the WCPSS — their work with 160,000 students impacts families and employers throughout Wake County. We have a strong school system, and with the state’s weak funding of public schools, our county burden increases. I want our educators to be the best paid in the state and to have outstanding working conditions, so I support higher pay for school employees and a robust building plan that supports school buildings conducive to great teaching and learning.
In particular, I also support the school system’s equity work, including the expansion of restorative practices in discipline. WCPSS must recognize and address racial disparities in student outcomes, and punitive discipline can push students out of school and create negative attitudes toward learning. I also support WCPSS working with Wake Tech to expand Career and Technical Education. That should be collaborative work between our school system, the community college, and County Government.
What do you think Wake County should do, if anything, to address racial injustice issues, and what kind of changes would you propose?
The county has already begun to work on and address racial injustice issues in its Blueprint to Dismantle Systemic Racism: Initiative of a Better Wake. The Blueprint is a living document comprising more than 40 goals and 150 near-term action items. It was created by a group of more than 50 leaders from community-based organizations. Things that the county has proposed, and I support, is for the county to continue a rapid data assessment to best understand current racial disparities in Wake County; compiling actionable steps determined by community representatives, that build from and add to the racial equity work happening in Wake County to address systemic racism; and establish a data dashboard to track progress toward greater equity for Black and Brown residents in Wake County.
What new steps should Wake County take to recruit businesses to the area?
The steps that are important and the county should follow is their continued work with all the municipalities and chambers to get their input because they are vital stakeholders in the process. As we continue to grow and bring in organizations like Apple, Amazon and VinFast to North Carolina others will follow because of the successes of these organizations, and we must continue to work with the business community.
What’s the top issue facing the county? What specific legislation or changes would you propose to address this issue?
The most pressing need is the continued planned communities with a quality transportation system, because of the increased growth in Wake County. Our county presently is at 1.2 million people and growing. We cannot wait to begin working on these issues and concerns, now is the time. Along with growth the availability and affordability of housing is creating a market wherein the price of homes is soaring, and many cannot afford them. Thereby, many of the people that work in Wake County are forced to live in the surrounding counties and commute to work thereby making our transportation system vital and requiring additional funding. Equally, it is also requiring our school system to build and remodel our schools as well.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year in office?
- Education / Safety (Sheriff Dept./ EMS/ EMT)
- Health and Human Resources (Affordable Housing and Veterans Homelessness)
What unique skills or life experience would you bring to local governance?
My unique skills or life experience that I would bring to local governance are many, however we are elated to have the full support and endorsement of our outgoing Board of Commissioners Chair Sig Hutchison and many others.
As the son and grandson of sharecroppers, it has taught me the value of hard work. They also taught me the need and value of education, which the Board of Commissioners will benefit from all my years of experience as a leader, through my many years of experience as a teacher, probation officer, parole case analyst, detention center facility director, Army officer, Board of Adjustment member as well Wake County Board of Elections member. I will also bring other life skills to the position and education.
I still hold my N.C Criminal Justice General Instructor Certification and CPR instructor certification. Retiring from N.C. DPS and receiving the state’s highest civilian award, “The Order of the Longleaf Pine.”
This story was originally published April 24, 2022 at 10:38 AM.
