Raleigh mayoral candidates discuss city issues in runoff debate

The pair joined political reporter and moderator Tim Boyum for a debate that was taped live earlier in the day before airing on Spectrum Cable at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The debate was scheduled to air again Sunday at 10 a.m. During the event, both candidates were pressed on their positions on inequality, affordable housing and their competing visions for the city in exchanges that grew testy at times.

Candidate calls for runoff election, debate with Raleigh mayor

McFarlane, a pharmacist and business owner who has served as Raleigh's mayor since 2011, won 48 percent of the Oct. 10 vote. Francis, a lawyer and Raleigh native who served on city council, won 37 percent. According to polling results conducted by Boyum, an analysis of the votes shows that white voters primarily chose McFalane, while a high number of minorities chose Francis.

Both candidates expressed the importance of addressing economic and racial inequalities in Raleigh, but Francis stated that his plan would be "more robust" than McFarlane's.

"What we're seeing is not unique just to Raleigh," said McFarlane when she was asked about racial and economic inequalities in the city and how she plans to support citizens who voted for her opponent. "There are a great number of things dividing us around the country."

McFarlane said she, along with the police chief, visited people of all races, incomes and ethnicities, around the city this year to listen to their concerns.

The voting analysis also shows that McFarlane primarily received the votes of west Raleigh, while Francis received those primarily in east Raleigh.

"I am proud of the votes I got in east Raleigh, but I am also proud of the votes I got in west Raleigh," said Francis, who lost 30 precincts by less than 100 votes. "I was born and raised in Raleigh, and I love Raleigh. I love people all over Raleigh and want to represent them."

"As mayor of Raleigh for six years, I have been intimately involved with people all across the city," added McFarlane. "I have worked hard to be involved with the citizens, to really find out what is most important to them."

"The disparities that exist in Raleigh are historic disparities," said Francis. "My vision of dealing with these issues is much more robust [than McFarlane's]."

McFarlane promised to spend $60 million to improve affordable housing in coming years.

When asked what his plan was to increase affordable housing, Francis said that displacement of people from communities they have lived in for decades is the main issue.

"Raleigh is experiencing a creeping affordability crisis," said Francis. "McFarlane has touted her tax increase for affordable housing, but that is not the right approach. My focus would be on improving existing affordable housing and aggressively engaging the private sector through tax credit development and other incentives."

"We are concerned with displacement," rebutted McFarlane. "We have approved a project that will keep people where they live now, and we will be replacing a little over 250 units that are dilapidated with new units that will allow people to stay there."

Public transportation in relation to population growth is a growing issue in Raleigh, and Boyum asked both candidates how they would address the need in coming years.

After stating that Raleigh's transportation system has improved in the recent years and congratulating McFarlane on that accomplishment, Francis said that there is a lot of improvement necessary.

"The specific things I would do to decrease traffic congestion in the city is reduce wait times on routes, improve shelters at all bus stops and improve the management and technology of transportation system to make it more business-like," said Francis. "This will help people who usually use cars to take the bus instead."

McFarlane agreed on an increase in shelters and improvements to transit stops in addition with many of Francis' other statements. "It's really about providing people choice as to how they get around," said McFarlane. "We have added Sunday service, decreased wait times and passed a transportation bond to help alleviate congestion."

While the candidates agree on some issues, Francis and McFarlane stand opposite each other on many topics, including the future of Dix Park. Francis said that while he supports the Dix Park planning process activated by McFarlane, it is coming at the expense of other areas.

"This race provides a clear choice between solutions and partisanship and will demonstrate that Raleigh voters value a record of accomplishment over political labels," McFarlane said in a statement Sunday afternoon. "Francis has been long on misleading rhetoric and championing political labels, while offering nothing concrete in details."