Our choices for the Wake County Board of Commissioners

The seven members of the Wake County Board of Commissioners serve two-year terms. They must reside in their district, but are elected countywide.

It’s reflective of public support for the current all-Democratic board that three incumbents – Matt Calabria, Susan Evans and James West – did not draw a challenger. District 3 and District 6 may also have gone uncontested, but the incumbents – Jessica Holmes and Greg Ford – are not seeking re-election. Holmes is running for state labor commissioner and Ford is moving out of state.

District 1

Best known for his advocacy for parks and greenways, incumbent Sig Hutchinson is now working to expand mass transit across the Triangle. He has played a key roll in pushing for a passenger rail line that could one day extend from Clayton to beyond Durham.

A salesman who practices the self-improvement principles of Dale Carnegie, Hutchinson, 67, of North Raleigh, takes pride in bringing people together and getting things done. “I just love it and I’m good at it and it’s making a difference in people’s lives,” he told the Editorial Board.

The Republican challenger is Greg Jones of Wendell, a 53-year-old Wake County native who is an industrial contractor and farmer.

This race is a rematch of 2018, which Hutchinson won by more than 100,000 votes.

Jones wants to counter the board’s liberal tilt. “There’s a large amount of people concerned about property taxes,” he told the Editorial Board. “Their voice is not going to be heard unless we get a balanced board of commissioners.”

Voters spoke loudly in 2018. We strongly recommend the re-election of Sig Hutchinson.

District 3

Maria Cervania set her aim on replacing Jessica Holmes well before the pandemic arrived, but as a consultant who works in public health research, she thinks she is now especially well-suited for the job as the county responds to COVID-19.

Cervania, 53 of Cary, is a former board member of the Wake County Democratic Party. Her first concern is helping the county recover from the pandemic by supporting the county’s relief and public health programs.

The Republican candidate is Steve Hale, 68, of Cary, a U.S. Army veteran who recently retired after 26 years with the Wake County Sheriff’s Department.

Hale is stressing public safety. He said the public is worried by calls to cut police funding. He also wants to bring political balance to the board.

We recommend Maria Cervania.

District 6

Republican Karen Weathers, 51, a small business owner in Wake Forest, said she is making her first bid for elective office because the board needs fiscal discipline.

“There is no debate, there is no discussion,” she said of board votes on spending. “I felt we needed some fiscally responsible candidates.”

Democrat Shinica Thomas, 46 and also of Wake Forest, is director of advocacy and educational partnership for the Girl Scouts in North Carolina’s central and eastern counties. She’s running on a platform of supporting Wake schools, encouraging economic development and improving human services, especially for the homeless.

We recommend Shinica Thomas.

District 7

Democratic Commissioner Vickie Adamson is seeking a second term and focusing on what has long been her top issue: supporting Wake Schools.

Adamson, 59, of Raleigh, said the pandemic and remote learning will only add to schools’ needs.

The Republican challenger, Faruk Okcetin, 48, of Raleigh, wants to expand school choice and rein in spending. He thinks his business background will be helpful in overseeing the county and reducing its debt.

We strongly recommend Vickie Adamson.

This story was originally published October 8, 2020 at 12:00 AM.