Nolan Perry, candidate for Fuquay-Varina Board of Commissioners
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Fuquay-Varina Town Board of Commissioners election 2023
Eight candidates are running for the Fuquay-Varina Town Board this year, including incumbent Mayor Blake Massengill, who is unopposed. Early voting runs through Nov. 4. Election Day is Nov. 7. Candidate William “Bill” Harris did not submit responses to the questionnaire.
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Eight candidates are on the ballot for four open seats on the Fuquay-Varina Town Board this year, including that of Mayor Blake Massengill, who is running unopposed.
Jason Ora Wunsch, who served as a town commissioner from 2013-22, is one of two former members running. Charlie Adcock, who served from 2007-18, is the other.
Early voting runs through Nov. 4. Election Day is Nov. 7.
To find polling places and full details on early voting, visit the state Board of Elections, ncsbe.gov, or the Wake County Board of Elections, wake.gov.
Name: Nolan R. Perry
Age: 32
Residence: 729 Laurel Spring Drive
Occupation/Employer: Attorney/Owner; Morgan & Perry Law, PLLC
Education: Bachelor’s in Trust and Wealth Management from Campbell University; JD from Campbell University School of Law
Political or civic experience: I have served two terms on the Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors including a term as chair. In addition, I have been active on several chamber committees, including as director of the Fuquay-Varina Christmas Parade and president of the Young Professionals group. I have served as treasurer and board chair of Carolina Charter Academy where I oversaw a multi-million dollar budget and expanded educational choice to hundreds of students.
Campaign website: www.Perry4FV.com
Tell us why you’re running to serve Fuquay-Varina. Why should voters trust you in this position?
Our town is at a pivotal moment in its history, and we need leaders who show up. I have consistently been engaged in our community; and that will not change once elected.
I’m running because we need commissioners that have the backs of our small business community. A thriving small business economy is the foundation for a thriving community- it keeps taxes low, creates jobs, facilitates a safer community, and adds to our quality of life.
Finally, I’m running because I believe — with the right team of elected leaders — we can meet the challenges ahead while maintaining what makes Fuquay-Varina the town we know and love.
What is the town of Fuquay-Varina doing right to manage growth? What could be improved?
The town of Fuquay-Varina is taking significant steps to manage growth including the adoption of the Land Development Ordinance and the 2040 Community Vision Land Use Plan. The town is also working to meet growth challenges with infrastructure improvements.
Managing growth is not just a planning issue; it is a challenge that affects every department of our town. To meet the challenges of growth, we need to strive to keep our town from becoming too densely populated. We need to invest in economic development to keep taxes low and create new jobs. We need to invest in our police department so we have enough officers to serve a rapidly growing population. We also need to actively preserve our downtowns so we can maintain our small town feel.
If elected, how would you approach an existing or new issue differently from your fellow council members?
I think the first step to being successful as an elected official is continuing to be involved in the community and engaging with constituents and stakeholders. This should continually happen, not just when there is an issue before the board. When an issue is before the board, that engagement will provide guidance on what the people of the community want and need. This does not appear to be how all of our elected officials operate. Being engaged in our community has been an important part of my business and who I am as a person; if elected, I would continue this.
How do you plan to make local government in Fuquay-Varina more inclusive and equitable for all residents in the town who feel their voices are underrepresented?
Making Fuquay-Varina more inclusive and equitable goes back to being engaged in our community. This doesn’t mean hearing from only one group — it’s about getting input from a diverse cross-section of our town and stakeholders. That’s how we worked towards a more inclusive and equitable Chamber of Commerce when I was board chair. We recognized that in decades past, chambers were not always accessible to everyone; we also recognized that different groups needed different opportunities from our chamber. We worked to meet people where they were and create new opportunities for more inclusive engagement.
Please list any endorsements you’ve received.
I have been endorsed by the Wake County Republican Party, the Home Builders Association of Raleigh and Wake County, Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors along with a number of community endorsements which can be found on my website Perry4FV.com
If there is anything you would like to add, please do so here.
This is an important election; not only because four of the five Town Board seats are up, but because this is a pivotal moment in the history of our town. We are experiencing tremendous growth, and it isn’t slowing down. We need leaders who are willing to put their boots on and get to work for the good of Fuquay-Varina. We need leaders who show up and get involved, who listen and are active in our community. We need leaders with the foresight to set the stage for the next 50 years.
This election is important because we must act now to preserve our small-town charm, to keep our community safe, to alleviate traffic congestion, and to maintain our quality of life.
This story was originally published October 23, 2023 at 3:39 PM.
