Wanda Hunter, candidate for Raleigh City Council District C
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Candidates for Raleigh City Council District C 2022
The candidates running for the Raleigh City Council District C seat include Corey Branch, Frank Fields III and Wanda Hunter. 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 District C candidate Wanda Hunter answered the questionnaire. Hunter is one of three candidates for the southeast Raleigh seat.
District C candidates are elected only by people within the district 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 began Oct. 20.
Name: Wanda Hunter
Age: 42
Occupation: Nonprofit
Education: Some college
Endorsements (limit to three): Livable Raleigh, Save our Neighborhoods/Restore Raleigh Zoning, Raleigh City of Oaks Neighborhood Preservation
Previous political or civic experience? Organizer
Campaign website: Wanda4Raleigh.com
How do you identify your political ideology? Progressive
How would you add diversity to the City Council? Minority, woman
What is your favorite locally owned restaurant either in the city or within your district? Jerk Master’s
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. We have to understand that different parts of the city have different needs and we have to address them individually. 25 mph will only work for traffic calming in certain areas. As we grow as a city we have to be sure to prioritize addressing traffic congestion, and there is no one size fits all solution for this issue.
Should the city help bring a sports and entertainment stadium downtown?
No. We currently have entertainment venues downtown, and the citizens have not requested it. If a private developer decides to pursue a project of this sort they should be fully responsible for the project, its impact on environment and infrastructure. Bringing a sports and an entertainment stadium to downtown should be an expense incurred by the developer and not collected off of the backs of our tax paying citizens.
Do you support reinstating Citizen Advisory Councils?
Yes. With several enhancements and financial investments.
Would you vote to increase the police department’s budget?
No. The police department’s budget has continually increased, and I do not see the return on investment. I do recommend a forensic audit to see if there are any misappropriations that need to be addressed.
Would you vote to increase the salary of the city’s first responders, including police, fire and 911 staff?
Yes. First responders are the heartbeat to our city; without them the city would not work.
Will you support keeping city buses fare-free indefinitely?
Yes. We are still in a time of uncertainty, and people are still getting back on their feet. We need to develop a measurement of stability and when we reach a certain threshold then consider introducing a new fare system.
The city has received numerous noise complaints about traffic and street racing. Is the city doing enough to enforce its noise ordinance?
No. I’d be interested in seeing what the community offers as solutions to enforce the noise ordinance.
Would you support the city creating a buffer zone around abortion clinics?
Yes. Creating a buffer zone around abortion clinics is important because this is a very sensitive decision and those making that decision need protection from those protesting their decision.
Do you support the city’s missing middle zoning changes?
No. The missing middle zoning changes have removed single-family zoning and infringed on property owners rights. The missing middle zoning changes are misleading and confusing. The moves the current council is making are contradictory to what this text change is intended to do, for example the planned demolition of seclusion court, a city owned quadruplex.
Do you support the city’s $275 million parks bond?
No. As long as housing is a crisis there is no room to play.
Would you propose additional measures to address the affordable housing crisis for lower wealth residents?
Yes. Additional measures to address the affordable housing crisis for lower-wealth residents such as property-tax relief and preserving city-owned naturally occurring affordable housing.
Do you support Raleigh’s and Wake County’s efforts in bus rapid transit and commuter rail?
No. The current efforts have not been developed through an equity lens. Creating transit corridors that eliminate naturally occurring affordable housing is a deal breaker. Also corridors that disregard and have low levels of respect for communities of interest and their culture are not equitable. When addressing and developing high -frequency, transit certain items must be incorporated. Commuter rail will require input from other municipalities around the county.
Should it be possible to live in Raleigh without owning a car?
Yes. It should be possible to live in Raleigh without owning a car. This is an individual decision and that decision maker should be aware that with that choice there could be inconveniences.
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 support expanding the size of the Raleigh City Council by a seat if that seat is a district seat and not at large.
Do you think the current City Council has put Raleigh on the right path?
No. The current City Council has not put Raleigh on the right path. They have eroded the trust with the community by eliminating the one community engagement tool, Citizen Advisory Councils. that was an effective means disseminating information
What will you do to ensure Raleigh’s working-class residents don’t get priced out of the city?
This question should be rephrased to ask what will you do to protect Raleigh’s working-class residents that are remaining so that they don’t get priced out of the city? My response would be there is no one single solution. An increase in wages of city workers is one tool, along with preserving naturally occurring affordable housing.
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?
A lesson the city should have learned from public safety challenges are that communication is the key to de-escalation.
How can the city limit investment firms from buying entry-level homes?
The city can limit investment firms from buying entry-level homes by requiring it to be a primary residence, recapture periods, and vacancy fees (provided they are all legal).
Describe a program in another city that you want the city of Raleigh to try. Please be specific.
Denver Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) program
Raleigh is the center of one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country. How do you personally feel about that?
I personally feel that growth is a good thing if addressed in an equitable manner.
Name one initiative you’d propose in your first 100 days in office.
A short-term solution proposal for housing is preserving naturally occurring affordable housing by analyzing the current city-owned housing stock and evaluating maintenance costs to make them habitable. These habitable units can remain affordable and make a small impact on the housing crisis in a short period of time.
This story was originally published October 25, 2022 at 11:20 AM.
