Oct. 15, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MAYOR NANCY MCFARLANE’S STATEMENT ON CHARLES FRANCIS’S DECISION TO CALL FOR A RUNOFF
Raleigh is a great city and through smart planning and hard work, we’re making it even better. This race provides a clear choice between solutions and partisanship, and will demonstrate that Raleigh voters value a record of accomplishment over political labels.
I’m proud of my record building a better, more sustainable, more vibrant Raleigh. This year, our Council dedicated more than $60 million over the next decade to affordable housing, more than any other Council in history. This Council has made housing affordability a priority and has committed increasing resources and staff time to address the issue.
We are currently expanding transit extensively, as well as building a new Union Station that will serve as an efficient hub for decades, and we’ll be utilizing the transportation bond that just passed overwhelmingly to address the issue of traffic. We have set a record in tourism for 3 years in a row, and have secured over $800 million in private investment that is creating jobs. We are protecting our clean air and watersheds; building green buildings and switching our entire fleet of vehicles to compressed gas produced from our landfill. We have added greenways and parks across Raleigh, and Dix Park will be an economic driver for generations to come. All while maintaining our AAA bond rating and keeping our costs of services to taxpayers amongst the lowest in the state. With our success comes challenges, and we are actively addressing them so that Raleigh’s growth creates a shared prosperity.
Mr. Francis has been long on misleading rhetoric, and has championed political labels while offering nothing concrete in details. His record undercuts his own rhetoric. Unfortunately, after encouragement from Republican Candidate Paul Fitts, and the Wake GOP Chair, both of whom fervently support President Trump and hope to divide those who share progressive values, Mr. Francis has decided to call for a runoff that will further do just that. We will campaign hard in every part of our city. I debated Mr. Francis several times during the first round, including several debates in S.E. Raleigh and one streamed by WRAL, and will welcome an opportunity to debate and correct his misstatements during this runoff. I look forward to continuing to speak with voters about my record of public service and our city’s accomplishments, as well as my vision for our city where our growth and prosperity benefit all residents.
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