While candidates expressed minor differences in how to handle growth and how to manage the town’s finances at the Oct. 8 debate hosted by the chamber of commerce, all candidates recognized the importance of listening to residents.

At the debate were mayoral candidates John W. Byrne (incumbent) and Rob Gray and commissioner candidates Jim Abernethy, William (Bill) Harris (incumbent) and Cindy Sheldon (incumbent). Ron Troptich, who moderated the debate for the chamber, said candidate Chris Wrenn called him the day before the debate and informed him that he was dropping out of the race.

A video recording of the debate is available on the chamber’s site.

John W. Byrne

“I think that it’s important that you’re a good listener, and if you’re accessible to the people, you will understand the needs of the community,” Byrne said.

Byrne said elected officials have a responsibility to meet with the public every day. He said part of communication was being in town, walking the streets, and listening; the other part was pushing technological limits “on everything we do,” such as the town website.

“I’ve tried to be a good listener, I care about the community, and I have moved the community forward,” he said.

Byrne talked about his participation in the community. A resident since 1973, he said he’s seen Fuquay-Varina “evolve from a once small tobacco community to an area that’s changing and evolving with today’s pace and today’s needs.”

On stimulating economic development in town, Byrne mentioned that the town hired an economic development director and recognized the importance of communication with prospective businesses, as well as the importance of preparing a certified industrial site that is ready for development, which he said takes time. He said he envisioned a nearby hospital and a cultural arts center being built in Fuquay’s future.

He also discussed the importance of Judd Pkwy. in moving traffic around the community. He said he was excited about revitalizations the town has done and is preparing for, and that citizens’ input is an important piece of revitalization.

On forced annexation, Byrne said again that listening to citizens was important.

“You can never say never to anything because there could come a time when the interest of the citizens of Fuquay-Varina could be different than interest of citizens in an outlying area,” he said.

Byrne discussed needs versus wants as part of the budgeting process and talked about quarterly budget updates he reviewed to ensure that “we were headed in the right direction.”

“We’re doing a lot of good things now as a town board, but the most important thing we can do is be a good listener and care about our community,” he said.

Rob Gray

Gray emphasized reaching out to citizens “who felt neglected by the government.”

He said he’s walked the streets of town and discussed issues that were pressing to residents.

“Those are the issues we need to bring out and bring forward in the board,” he said.

A sports official since a teenager, Gray said he sees and hears from many people at games. What he’s heard encouraged him to run, he said.

“We’ve grown to love the community,” he said, a resident since 2006.

Gray said balancing residential and business growth and managing weekend daytime traffic were needed in town. And, he discussed the importance of sidewalks, especially near the high school. On revitalizations, he said the town should begin looking at Broad St. and Varina, a downtown gravel parking lot that could be paved, and tobacco sheds near the railroad tracks. He suggested creating a civic center to hold trade shows and bring in business, and he said a building on 55 and Old Powell Rd. would be a good area for the civic center. He also suggested building a community pool.

Gray said he disagreed with forced annexation.

“I don’t think there should be forced annexation at all,” he said, later comparing a town expanding its boundaries with courting and then marriage.

Gray discussed identifying needs as part of the town budgeting process.

“We have to look at the fiscal responsibility of that, of should we go cutting jobs right off the bat or should we look at other areas we might cut back on,” he said.

On ensuring county services grow with the town, Gray said that the town should ask for the services and match town and county plans for growth.

“We also want to be forward thinking,” he said.

Jim Abernethy

Abernethy, a 30-year resident of Fuquay-Varina, said if elected he would stay in touch with citizens.

“I like to treat people with respect, the way I would like to be treated, simply put,” he said.

He said the town’s website, town staff’s communication with citizens, open-door policies and open meetings were important to communication.

Abernethy said he believed the town needed quality growth development with a 60-40 split of residential to business and industrial development. He said soliciting new businesses would achieve a better balance.

“There’s towns in the surrounding counties that seem to have done a good job,” he said. “They went out and did their homework, obviously, and got these businesses in here.”

Abernethy discussed the need for a plan to alleviate traffic on Main St. and for traffic light synchronization. He also supported a state certified industrial site that is ready for development.

“It’s our hope that one day, once our children complete their education, they’ll come back to Fuquay,” he said.

On revitalization, Abernethy said he was pleased but that room for improvement remains. He said he didn’t believe in forced annexation but said some locals on the borders of town could need town services, such as sewer, and “that’s certainly a reason.”

Abernethy said he would review department budgets to prevent excessive spending and make sure everything purchased is a need. To ensure county services grow with the town, Abernethy said being a good listener, good long- and short-range planning and good working relationships were needed.

“This is a good family community, and I think that’s a good title to be held by this town,” he said. “I think our citizens are very important in this town. Without them all the other numbers and issues should not matter.”



William (Bill) Harris

Harris, a town native, said he was running because of his passion for public service.

“I believe in the opportunity to contribute,” he said, adding that his years on the board of commissioners have proven that he works hard to promote good government.

Harris said his campaign theme is citizen participation and that encouraging citizens and people living just outside of town to participate in government were important.

“I think I can continue to be of service by staying prepared and committed to being fair to citizens,” he said.

Harris said he supported a strong economic development program that would seek out “industries that are suitable to our community.” He said the community needed to focus on small businesses – supporting small businesses in the area and attracting other small businesses. He said that as the town grows, the need to upgrade connector streets will arise. On revitalization, he said that he wholeheartedly supported the town’s citizen-driven efforts.

“I think we’re moving in the right direction,” he said, adding that he wanted to continue to encourage the town’s revitalization momentum.

Harris said he favored voluntary annexation but understood, in certain instances, that forced annexation “has to be used as a tool.”

On ensuring county services grow along with the town, Harris emphasized strong relationships with other government entities on all levels and thinking out of the box, as well as offering developers opportunities to invest in community services.

Harris said if reelected he would work to sustain the quality of life in Fuquay-Varina and the town’s character.

“I’m committed to building on the community legacy that we have,” he said.

Cindy Sheldon

Sheldon said citizens want to be heard and to receive good customer service from town. She said important issues to her included low taxes, well-planned growth, improved transportation, a stronger economy, continued revitalizations, and safe neighborhoods.

“Fuquay is positioned right now to maintain a strong, healthy tax base with strategic growth,” she said.

Sheldon said ways to remain accessible to residents included responding to citizens, stakeholders meetings, and taking the website to the next level. She said she’s had town hall meetings to discuss issues with residents.

“To leave the town better off, you need to understand what needs improvement,” she said.

Sheldon cited service she gave representing Fuquay on the county growth management task force. She said she supported a 50-50 residential/business split but that achieving that balance was “going to take a little bit of time.” A member of the town’s commission for economic development, Sheldon said developing a certified development-ready site along with focusing “on going after businesses that benefit our community” and are a good fit were ways to encourage economic growth.

On transportation improvements, Sheldon said the town is working with the state to synchronize stoplights through the downtown areas. She said she also supports connecting sidewalks. On revitalization, she said she supported a proactive approach that works with businesses and provides support but not overregulation.

Sheldon said that she does not agree with forced annexation but that the county “expects us to be able to provide services. … I don’t think I should pay taxes and get the same services as someone who does not pay taxes.”

Sheldon said in dealing with the budget, “we have made some very difficult decisions,” including not increasing staff pay last year.

“We have to be prepared and have the courage to move forward in making those difficult decisions.”