Endorsements

First elected to the Council in 2015, Branch serves as chair of its Transportation and Transit Committee and vicechair of its Growth and Natural Resources Committee. The private-sector information technology manager has served twice as mayor pro tempore. Among his top Council priorities are public safety and economic development. Branch said he would increase the police budget in three key areas: improving police officer pay, supplying the officers with equipment, and increasing the number of social workers within the ACORNS team. 

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Making his first Council run, the organizational coach prioritizes public safety and balanced growth. As Cerqueira himself says aptly, “Ensuring that our community is safe is a matter not only of protecting our residents, but also of fostering an environment where everyone feels secure and supported, which is essential for the city’s continued growth and prosperity.”

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As a former Raleigh City Council member, state senator, state treasurer, business leader, and president and CEO of the Dix Park Conservancy, Cowell has shown extraordinary skill and leadership. Cowell has pledged to support our law enforcement officers by ensuring they have appropriate personnel, equipment, facilities, and training. She has expressed the need for our police force to have competitive pay and affordable housing options so they can live in the city they serve. She has also emphasized law enforcement personnel should have the same degree of accountability as any other city department. ​

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A City Council member since 2000, Forte serves as vicechair of the Council’s Safe, Vibrant and Healthy Neighborhoods Committee and is a member of its Economic Development and Innovation Committee. A licensed attorney, real estate agent, and consultant, Forte has worked for the state’s Department of Correction and Department of Health and Human Services. Forte supports salary increases for the city’s first responders and has pledged to vote for an increased budget for the Raleigh Police Department. ​

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First elected to the Council in 2022, Harrison serves as chair of its Growth and Natural Resources Committee and is a member of its Transportation and Transit Committee. The NC State University affiliate faculty member, specialist in coastal economics, and supporter of small businesses is running unopposed. Harrison has called for our police force to have access to additional training opportunities on mental health, de-escalation, use of force, and innovative approaches to reduce violence. She has also said Raleigh’s first responders – 911 operators, fire department, police – need the pay and tools to be successful.​

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Elected to the Council in 2019 and again in 2022, Melton serves as mayor pro tempore and chair of the Council’s Economic Development and Innovation Committee. A family law attorney, Melton has advocated for higher pay and additional benefits for first responders. He serves as a member of the Police Advisory Board, and, as a member of the Council, he voted to increase the number of our first responders and supported efforts to prevent gun violence, including voluntary gun buyback programs.

 

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A former Raleigh planning director, former New York City parks commissioner, and private-sector urban planning consultant, Silver led the development of Raleigh’s Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Ordinance with a vision of creating healthy places for people to thrive. Silver believes in increasing pay and benefits for law enforcement and first responders, establishing the highest standards for police ethics and conduct, and providing law enforcement with the best training on equitable enforcement and community policing. ​

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