Matthew Gronke, at-large candidate for Cary Town Council

There are three contested races for Cary Town Council this year.

Typically, municipal elections are held in odd-numbered years, and the mayor and all eight council members serve four years.

This year, the mayor, one at-large seat, District B and District D, are on the ballot, while the remaining at-large seat, District A and District C will be elected in 2025.

For the at-large seat, incumbent Lori Bush faces challengers Mary Inspruker and Matthew Gronke.

District B incumbent Don Frantz faces Michelle Craig. District D: incumbent Ryan Eades faces chalengers Sarika Bansal and Rachel Jordan.

Mayor Harold Weinbrecht is running unopposed.

Early voting runs through Oct. 7. Election Day is set for Oct. 10.

To find polling places and full details on early voting, visit the Board of Elections at wake.gov or 919-404-4040.

Name: Matthew Gronke

Age: 39

Residence: Cary

Occupation and Employer: Stay-at-home parent

Education: BS in physics, NC State University

Political or civic experience: Board of Directors/Treasurer, Triangle Off-Road Cyclists

Campaign website: matthewgronke.com

Why you are running to serve Cary. Why should voters trust you with this position?

I am running to provide a new, younger progressive voice on the council. My major issues are transforming Cary into a more sustainable community with alternative transportation that serves the entire community. I would like to add painted bicycle lanes to all major roads, increase funding for buses and support plans that make Cary less “car-centric.” I also support affordable housing initiatives and ways we can control the insanely high rent and housing costs in Cary.

What is Cary doing right to manage the town’s growth? If elected, what changes would you propose?

I believe that Cary has to pivot to development that serves the needs of the citizens and not of wealthy developers. Cary has beautiful parks and greenways, but it needs to have smart growth and development that provides housing density without causing too many issues.

Many people who have lived here say they can no longer afford rent or struggle to own a home. What must Cary do for established and new residents to live here comfortably?

Cary must enact affordable housing initiatives that make Cary a place where anyone can live. Currently less than half of town of Cary employees can afford to rent or live here. That has to change. We also must find ways to stop large national companies from buying up foreclosed properties to sell them, which only serves their interests and raises the costs for everyone. The Triangle has one of the most over-inflated housing markets in the nation, and this is a huge problem.

Some residents have expressed concern about the rapid growth of Cary amid new changes like the potential redevelopment of the Town Hall campus, more nightlife and other projects. How can Cary grow, especially downtown, without losing its community character?

What community character are you referring to? For many years, the center of downtown in Cary was literally nothing but a pharmacy, a kitchen and bath gallery, a bank and a car garage. Why would anyone want to spend time there in the evenings? The new growth has been great, and the downtown has become a vibrant place for people to spend their evenings. My only issues have been with the insane rental costs ($2,000-4,000!?) that I’ve seen in townhomes that have been recently built. Otherwise, the character we are building in downtown is headed in the right direction.

What must Cary do to become more inclusive of marginalized residents, including African Americans, people of color, immigrants, poor or working class, and the LGBTQ+ community?

We need to have affordable housing that allows all citizens to live in Cary. We need to make sure that we have representation in our government at all levels for all people. And we need to protect areas where the poor in Cary live from being bought up and demolished by developers whenever they can. Too often, I see low-income areas in Cary have the houses bought up, razed, and then new shiny houses crammed in so close you can spit on your neighbor’s window. We need less gentrification in Cary and more inclusion.

How can Cary continue to expand and protect its parks, greenways, and environment?

We need more funding and bond initiatives for development of greenways and parks. And, more importantly, it actually has to be a priority of those in the town of Cary government. One of my major platforms is adding a mountain bike trail in Cary, one of the only municipalities in the area that doesn’t have one. The nonprofit I work with has been trying to work with Cary for years to get a trail built, but every time the projects just seem to vaporize into thin air or get caught up in bureaucratic red tape. I feel that if someone within the government cared, they would get the projects done. I would.

What three issues would you focus on in office that others might not? Why are they important for Cary?

I would prioritize making Cary the actual bike-friendly community that it claims to be. This would mean adding painted or separated bicycle lanes to all major roads. This would transform the roads into accessible areas for alternative modes of transportation. And for those who don’t like cyclists on the roads, this would actually benefit you because it would keep them in a separate space instead of sharing your lane.

What specific life experiences or skills have prepared you for town governance?

Raising a toddler has given me experience in dealing with people who often can’t be reasoned with and throw tantrums whenever their needs aren’t met.

Please make note of any endorsements you’ve received that you consider to be important.

My son says he would vote for me, but that would require lowering the voting age to 4.

If you have any other goals or issues that you’d like to address, please do so here.

There has been some discussion online about whether or not I am a “serious candidate.” I would like to make it clear that I most certainly am. While I do not have the financial or institutional backing of a major local party platform, I am serious about wanting to change this town for the better. Thank you for reading.

This story was originally published September 22, 2023 at 2:00 PM.

Kristen Johnson

The News & Observer

919-829-4532

Kristen Johnson is a local government reporter covering Durham for The News & Observer. She previously covered Cary and western Wake County. Prior to coming home to the Triangle, she reported for The Fayetteville Observer and spent time covering politics and culture in Washington, D.C. She is an alumna of UNC at Charlotte and American University.