Stormie Forte, candidate for Raleigh City Council At-Large
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Candidates for Raleigh City Council At-Large 2022
The candidates running for the two Raleigh City Council At-Large seats include James Bledsoe, Joshua Bradley, Stormie Forte, Anne Franklin, Jonathan Melton, John Odom and Portia Rochelle. Get to know the candidates with our NC 2022 Voter Guide.
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The News & Observer asked readers again this year to submit their questions for the people looking to lead Raleigh.
We received nearly 200 questions that covered a range of topics important to city residents.
We asked candidates for a yes or no response to 15 questions with a chance to fully explain their position. If candidates did not provide a yes or no answer, we didn’t include their fuller response.
We also included biographical and open-ended questions. Some responses were edited for clarity or length.
Here is how Raleigh City Council At-Large candidate Stormie Forte answered the questionnaire. Forte is one of seven candidates for two at-large seats and currently services in the District D seat. At-large candidates are elected by the entire city and serve two-year terms.
All eight seats on the Raleigh City Council are up for re-election.
Early voting for the Nov. 8 election begins on Oct. 20.
Name: Stormie Forte
Age: 51
Occupation: Attorney
Education: NCCU-JD (‘02), UNC-Chapel Hill, BA (‘93), MS (‘98)
Endorsements (limit to three): Wake Democratic Party, RWCA, NC Realtors PAC
Previous political or civic experience? Served as a consultant for local and statewide campaigns.
Campaign website: Stormie4Raleigh.com
How do you identify your political ideology? Registered Democrat
How would you add diversity to the City Council? Yes, especially as a Black female and LGBTQ+ community member.
What is your favorite locally owned restaurant either in the city or within your district? Amedeo’s in District D
The city of Raleigh lowered the speed limit downtown to 25 mph. Are you in favor of lowering the city’s speed limit to 25 mph throughout the city?
No. I think there are areas where a low speed limit is appropriate. But it is not necessary throughout the city limits.
Should the city help bring a sports and entertainment stadium downtown?
No. I think we need to make more investments near the PNC Arena
Do you support reinstating Citizen Advisory Councils?
No. The Community Engagement Board will work to bring forth opportunities for engagement. Hopefully they will have a model that creates a more inclusive version of the CACs
Would you vote to increase the police department’s budget?
Yes. I will support the budget that the chief of police and the city manager put forward for RPD. I would also support the budget for other departments as set forth by the city manager and the respective department heads.
Would you vote to increase the salary of the city’s first responders, including police, fire and 911 staff?
Yes. I support salary increases for first responders and other city staff, such as Solid Waste employees.
Will you support keeping city buses fare-free indefinitely?
Yes. I support the fair free policy as long as the city can sustain it. I am not sure it can be indefinitely. Certainly, I favor allowing senior citizens, our disabled citizens and students being fare free, even if the city has to charge other passengers.
The city has received numerous noise complaints about traffic and street racing. Is the city doing enough to enforce its noise ordinance?
Yes. RPD has increased efforts to curtail traffic and street racing.
Would you support the city creating a buffer zone around abortion clinics?
Yes. I support adding any legal measures to prevent folks from being harassed or intimidated while exercising their right to get the medical treatment of their choice
Do you support the city’s missing middle zoning changes?
Yes. I do think we need to review the policy to address unintended consequences, however I think we need to use any policy available to add more affordable housing units
Do you support the city’s $275 million parks bond?
Yes. I have heard from a lot of citizens across the city who have encouraged me to support the bond. I would like to see the city make more investments with affordable housing and provide support for organizations addressing homelessness as well.
Would you propose additional measures to address the affordable housing crisis for lower wealth residents?
Yes. I would like to explore more public private partnerships as well as leveraging city assets to increase the affordable housing supply.
Do you support Raleigh’s and Wake County’s efforts in bus rapid transit and commuter rail?
Yes. Public transportation has to be more efficient and reliable to increase ridership. Bus rapid transit and commuter rail will assist in that effort.
Should it be possible to live in Raleigh without owning a car?
Yes. As Raleigh is growing, the goal is to reduce decency on cars. However, public transportation has to be efficient enough for that to be a reality.
A council-appointed study group made a recommendation to add one seat to the Raleigh City Council. Do you support expanding the size of the council by a seat?
Yes. I think we definitely need to have several additional districts added for the City Council.
Do you think the current City Council has put Raleigh on the right path?
Yes. Raleigh is rapidly growing. Housing inventory has to be increased to accommodate people coming to the area. There has to be a balance as to where the growth occurs.
What will you do to ensure Raleigh’s working-class residents don’t get priced out of the city?
Working with our nonprofit partners and developers with a focus on affordable housing is the first step to assist low income residents with maintaining housing within the city. Leveraging assets of the city of Raleigh in a way to increase affordable housing is another method to provide housing opportunities for working-class residents. Working to assist homeowners with rehabilitation resources for houses that need repairs is another tool to help working class residents remain in the city.
What lessons should the city have learned from public safety challenges like COVID, curfews and George Floyd protests? Would you propose any new policies or changes?
All of the above referenced situations had a different impact on communities across the city. One lesson the city may have learned is how to view situations from different perspectives. As policies are being implemented, there may need to be more consideration of the impact for different communities. However, there has to be a balance as it relates to the information provided to be assessed for the specific situation. During the pandemic, the data provided by medical experts was the guidance relied on for implementing policies. With the public safety issues, the information provided by the public safety leadership has to be considered in implementing policies.
How can the city limit investment firms from buying entry level homes?
The city could implement an ordinance to limit investment firms from buying entry-level homes. The larger question is whether such an ordinance is enforceable. Increasingly, across many larger cities around the country investment groups are buying single-family homes in large numbers. It is a challenge that most cities have not been able to solve. Many HOAs are using their covenants to control the number of homes an entity can acquire within a community.
Describe a program in another city that you want the city of Raleigh to try. Please be specific.
Washington DC has a program, Aspire to Entrepreneurship, to assist informal entrepreneurs with obtaining skills to launch and run a business. The focus of their program is on people who have challenges in their backgrounds that may hamper their ability to obtain employment, such as criminal histories. I would tweak the program to work with any first time entrepreneurs and also invite other established companies to mentor smaller companies in the same business sector. It allows participants to create a path to self sufficiency and opportunities to partner with more established companies. Additionally, it would contribute to the overall economic development for the city.
Raleigh is the center of one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country. How do you personally feel about that?
It is great that the city of Raleigh appears on so many lists as one of the best places to live. It certainly attracts companies seeking opportunities to relocate their operations which brings jobs and other economic development to the area. It also creates some growing pains and there has to be a balance as to where expansions occurs.
Name one initiative you’d propose in your first 100 days in office.
I would propose an infrastructure check up in the first 100 days. I would ask staff to present an overview of the city systems such as sewer, stormwater, roads, sidewalks, etc. to see where improvements are needed and determine the associated costs.
This story was originally published October 21, 2022 at 2:45 PM.
