Local Politics

Raleigh mayor faces 2 challengers critical of city's community engagement

Incumbent Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin will face DaQuanta Copeland and Terrance Ruth in her bid for re-election in November.

Posted 2022-07-15T20:25:43+00:00 - Updated 2022-07-19T11:57:49+00:00

Raleigh mayoral candidates discuss top concerns

Joe Fisher

, WRAL reporter

Tackling the rising cost of living and increasing the number of affordable housing options top the list of priorities for the three candidates who want to be mayor of the city of Raleigh.

Incumbent Mary-Ann Baldwin will face DaQuanta Copeland and Terrance Ruth in her bid for re-election in November.

The two political newcomers said, if elected, they plan to increase community engagement.

“Wherever I go, I am seeing residents who feel unheard and unseen,” Ruth said.

Incumbent Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin (pictured) will face DaQuanta Copeland and Terrance Ruth in her bid for re-election in November.

Baldwin has received criticism since voting with a majority of council to disband Raleigh’s 18 Citizen Advisory Committees (CACs) and reduce the time allotted for residents to speak at council meetings.

“We see so much about the businesses, businesses and buildings, but the people who are here and who have been here — whether they migrated here or were born here — do not feel welcome,” Copeland said.

Baldwin defends her decision to disband the CACs and replace them with a Citizen Engagement Board that operates under the new Office of Citizen Engagement. However, the board — comprised of community volunteers — has yet to meet.

“That took a year and a half longer than we ever dreamed because of the pandemic," Baldwin said of the delay. "We couldn’t get together. We couldn’t do the things we needed to do."

Incumbent Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin will face DaQuanta Copeland (left) and Terrance Ruth (right) in her bid for re-election in November.

Baldwin served 10 years on the city council, from 2007-2017; she was elected mayor in 2019.

Under her leadership, Raleigh has started building housing and large-scale development higher and closer together to meet the explosive demand. In the last two years, Baldwin has supported numerous rezoning efforts to allow for the construction of townhomes, tiny homes and granny flats.

“Before, you could only build townhouses in 20% of the city,” Baldwin said. “Now you have the ability to build townhouses in more sections of the city. That’s important because often times townhomes are somebody’s entry into home ownership.”

Baldwin said in a second-term she would like to expand Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) — with the first route breaking ground on New Bern Avenue in the fall – and make commuter rail a reality.

“We need to create that regional transit system,” the mayor said. “I am 100% committed to that, and I want to see that through.”

Proposed 43-mile commuter line from Durham would cost up to $3.2 billion, GoTriangle leaders say

Ruth and Copeland believe it’s time for new leadership.

“The people are being pushed out. The people who are building the city are not welcome in the city,” said Copeland, who has lived in Raleigh for 30 years.

Copeland, a single mom, said she started her service to the community as a teenager cleaning up trash. She currently runs a nonprofit serving youth and at-risk kids and serves as vice-chair of the Wake County Health and Human Services Board.

Copeland works full-time as residential determination counselor for College Foundation of North Carolina, a nonprofit that “assists students with education planning, career planning, and applying and paying for college.

“When we got to Raleigh, it was more inclusive,” said Copeland. “Everyone was welcomed we were all able to live cohesively together. We don’t have that feeling anymore.”

Ruth moved to Raleigh in 2009. He is a former teacher and principal, and he is currently an assistant professor in North Carolina State University's School of Social Work.

A self-described “community organizer,” Ruth said he is passionate about developing leaders of the future. He works with various social justice groups, including the NAACP and Repairers of the Breach.

Ruth said he wants to make sure all voices are heard on all issues.

“I believe in the approach ‘housing first,' which is embraced by the commissioners and the council, but how do we alter particular ideas to make sure we are touching the most uninvested sections of our city?" Ruth said. "Right now, from what I am hearing and observing, we have yet to do that well.”

In addition to the mayor’s race, there are several city council races on the November ballot. Here are the 23 candidates in those races:

At-Large (2 seats)