Corey Branch, candidate for Raleigh City Council, District C, answers our questions
Raleigh voters will pick a new mayor and City Council members this November.
All eight council seats, including the mayor’s, are up for grabs, with all the incumbents except for current Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin seeking another two-year term.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Early voting runs from Thursday, Oct. 17, through Saturday, Nov. 2.
To help inform voters across the state, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The News & Observer to help make this coverage possible.
Name: Corey Branch
District/seat: Raleigh City Council, District C
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 46
Campaign website: www.coreybranch.com
Current occupation: Associate Director - Kyndryl (Network Engineer)
Education: Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering
Offices Sought/Held: Incumbent City Council, District C
Please list any notable government or civic involvement.
* GoTriangle - Board of Directors (2019–Present)
* Transit and Transportation Committee – Member (2015–present), Chair (2017–present)
* Growth and Natural Resources Committee – Vice Chair (2022–present)
* Economic Development Committee – Member (2015–22)
* Lightner Y Achievers – Advisory Board (2017–present)
* ArtSpace – Board of Directors (2017–23)
* Leadership Triangle – Board of Directors (2017–21)
* Passage Homes – Board of Directors (2017–23)
* Evolve Mentoring – Board of Directors (2015–21)
* Broadening Corporate Board Diversity: Earning a Board Seat – Training (2014)
* WakeUp Wake County – Board of Directors (2013–15)
* Marrkens Development Group – Board of Directors (2012–15), Chair (2014–15)
* Raleigh Transit Authority – Member (2011–15)
* Committee to Keep Judge Craig Croom – Treasurer (2004–15)
* Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Leadership at Chapter, State, Regional and National levels (2001–present)
* Phi Lambda Educational Foundation – Board of Directors Member (2006–08)
Which City Council District do you live in? C
What is the top issue facing Raleigh now and how would you address it?
Economic development, especially through support for small businesses, is a top issue because it plays a significant role in public safety.
I plan to review our permitting processes, explore dedicating staff to assist businesses with navigating city procedures, and increase minority and Black business participation in providing city services. Additionally, I will work to expand opportunities for young people to develop skills.
By enhancing support for small businesses, we can create more job opportunities for youth and young adults, which will help reduce crime and improve public safety.
What is your strategy for increasing affordable housing in Raleigh?
During my time on council, we passed and are implementing the city’s largest housing bond. We’ve also allocated dedicated funds for housing, approved over 3,000 affordable units in District C, and sold land to Habitat for Humanity at a reduced price to promote affordable homeownership.
I will continue supporting these policies and work to create new ones that increase housing inventory. A major focus will be streamlining the permitting process to meet housing demand more efficiently.
In early 2025, I plan to bring together the Planning and Permitting departments, Triangle Apartment Association, and Home Builders Association to address ongoing permitting challenges. While we’ve made some progress, delays persist, and I’m committed to finding timely solutions.
Should the city be more aggressive about requiring affordable units from developers or partner with nonprofits?
I support continuing to partner with nonprofits to produce more affordable units and exploring incentives for developers to include affordable units in their projects. We must ensure that affordable housing is available across the entire city.
Do you think Raleigh can support concert venues both downtown and in Dix Park?
I believe that keeping and supporting the Red Hat Amphitheater downtown is the best option, and I fully support it.
Would you describe Raleigh’s growth as too fast, too slow or just right?
Raleigh’s growth is just right, given that we are among the top five fastest-growing places in the U.S. However, we must ensure that all residents have opportunities to engage positively in this growth, in ways that benefit their lives and communities.
Do you think Raleigh is losing too many historic properties? If so, how should this be addressed?
We have lost some historic properties for various reasons, and since many of these properties are privately owned, preservation ultimately lies with the owners. The city has worked to save some properties, and I look forward to collaborating with the newly formed Preservation Raleigh group to educate the community and find ways to preserve and utilize historic properties to honor our past while moving the city forward.