Our choices for Apex Town Council
Apex’s population has more than tripled since 2000, rising from 20,000 to over 70,000. Local leaders welcomed the growth, but didn’t manage it well.
That changed in 2017 with the election of two newcomers, Audra Killingsworth and Brett Gantt and the reelection of Nicole Dozier to the five-member town council. They brought a stronger focus on controlling growth and addressing the problems created by subdivisions that sprouted like mushrooms.
Over the past four years, Apex has made remarkable progress in addressing sprawl, enhancing its downtown and seeking ways to expand affordable housing. Voters approved a $48 million parks bond in 2017 and a $42 million bond to improve streets and sidewalks is on the November ballot. Meanwhile, the town has hired a housing manager to increase affordable housing and the council has favored denser development that includes apartments and townhomes near transit and highways.
Killingsworth and Gantt played strong roles in turning Apex toward more diverse and environmentally friendly development. They not only deserve re-election, but Apex, ever prone to slipping back to runaway growth, needs their leadership. We strongly recommend the re-election of Audra Killingsworth and Brett Gantt.
In this nonpartisan election, all candidates run at-large and the three seats on the ballot will go to three candidates who receive the most votes.
Our recommendation for the third seat – now open because Dozier is not seeking re-election – is Edward Gray. An Air Force veteran and former assistant U.S attorney who now serves as a federal public defender, Gray wants to create more affordable housing. His legal experience would also strengthen the council.
The remaining candidates for the council seats are Gordon Williford, Christine Hale and Tim Powell.
Early voting is underway in these races and will end on Oct. 30. Polls will be open on Election Day Nov. 2 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Please vote.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow we do our endorsements
Members of the combined Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News & Observer editorial boards are conducting interviews and research of candidates in municipal and state elections. The combined board is led by N.C. Opinion Editor Peter St. Onge, who is joined in Raleigh by deputy Opinion editor Ned Barnett and in Charlotte by deputy Opinion editor Paige Masten. Board members also include Observer editor Rana Cash and News & Observer editor Nicole Stockdale.
The editorial board also talks with others who know the candidates and have worked with them. When we’ve completed our interviews and research, we discuss each race and decide on our endorsements.
This story was originally published October 22, 2021 at 5:00 AM.