WWW.TRIANGLE TRIBUNE.COM Raleigh mayoral The Triangle candidates tackle tough issues By Lori D.R. Wiggins RIBUNE CORRESPONDENT TTHE TRIANGLE’S CHOICE FOR THE BLACK VOICE RALEIGH – The six candidates vying to be Raleigh’s next mayor showed up ready to prove themselves as the best person to lead VOLUME 21 NO. 12 WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 $1.00 the state’s second-largest city. The Mayoral Candidate’s Forum was a lunchtime gathering at PNC Arena sponsored by the Raleigh-Durham Chapter of NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association. Candidates Charles Francis, Mary-Ann Baldwin, George Knott, Zainab Baloch, Justin Sutton and Caroline Sullivan hope to replace Mayor Nancy The Tribune McFarlane, who, first elected in 2011, will not seek a fifth term. Raleigh’s general election for mayor and the seven City Council previews the CIAA seats is October 8, with early-voting September 18 to October 4. Southern Division About 100 people attended the forum, facilitated in a non- debate Q&A format of prepared and audience-generated ques- tions. Common themes emerged when the candidates shared thoughts on the essential functions of city government: public safety, quality of life, infrastructure management, transporta- Please see MAYORS/2A Tillis NC aided St. Augustine’s honors Repubs by big former president advance donors mini- By Robin Bravender THE POLICY WATCH budgets WASHINGTON – GOP megadonors and allies of By Gary D. Robertson President Trump are help- ASSOCIATED PRESS ing Sen. Thom Tillis bulk up his campaign war chest RALEIGH — Frustrated by a as he heads into a 2020 re- two-month budget impasse, election race that promises North Carolina Republicans to be one of the most ex- advanced on Tuesday nar- pensive in the country. rowed tax and spending The North Carolina Re- legislation that could take publican has racked up away some bargaining chips contributions from GOP from Democratic Gov. Roy billionaires, energy com- Cooper. pany CEOs, pharmaceuti- The House and Senate de- cal executives, bated and voted on several conservative legal activists bills that would increase pay and other influential do- for state employees and law nors so far this cycle, ac- enforcement officers, as well cording to his most recent as for local school workers campaign finance filings. like custodians and other Tillis has raised about non-instructors. Other legis- $6.5 million and still has lation would give one-time about $4.4 million in the refunds to everyone who bank, according to his la- owed state income tax last test report that tallies con- year, with some couples get- tributions through June ting $250, thanks to a large 30. PHOTO/ST. AUG’S revenue surplus. The cash reserves give The grandchildren of St. Augustine’s President Emeritus Prezell Robinson speak at a benefit Everything except the tax Tillis an early advantage on campus last week to honor Robinson’s 99th birthday. rebate bill originates almost over his competitors as he exactly from the two-year prepares for what could be budget measure Cooper ve- a tough primary followed toed June 28 because it by a general election next lacked Medicaid expansion November that Democrats and generous teacher raises. see as critical in their bid House Republicans, whose to regain the U.S. Senate ‘We’re not going back’ majority is no longer veto- majority. proof, have been unable to Raleigh businessman entice enough Democrats to Garland Tucker, who’s vote for an override. This fai- running against Tillis in Kamala Harris tells Durham lure — along with Cooper’s the GOP primary slated for emphasis on getting Medi- next March, raised about By Freda Freeman caid expansion approved $1 million between his CORRESPONDENT and the GOP’s current oppo- campaign launch in early DURHAM – Despite President sition to the idea — has led to May and the end of June. Donald Trump’s efforts to idled negotiations for several But the bulk of that came “Make America Great Again,” weeks. from the candidate him- presidential candidate and U.S. So legislative leaders re- self, who loaned or do- Senator Kamala Harris said, vealed last week their plans nated about $850,000 to “We’re not going back.” to essentially approve “mini- his campaign. He started Campaigning in the Durham budgets” full of pay raises July with $108,000 in the area last weekend, Harris was and the tax break, then es- bank. the keynote speaker for the sentially daring Cooper to Cal Cunningham, a Durham Committee on the Af- veto the bills when they former North Carolina fairs of Black People’s 84th reach his desk. state senator who entered Founders’ Day Banquet. “I would not have antici- the race in mid-June and is On August 25, Harris at- pated (Cooper) being so bull- seen as the early Demo- tended St. Joseph AME Church headed about having cratic front-runner, raised in Durham in celebration of Medicaid expansion, know- about $722,000, including Social Justice Sunday. JERRY HEAD JR. ing that it’s an issue that a $200,000 loan from him- doesn’t have consensus,” Speaking at the banquet, Presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris speaks at self. Cunningham had Harris said this is a moment in said Rep. Jason Saine, a Lin- $683,000 in cash at the time in which people must ask the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People’s coln County Republican and end of June. themselves, “Who are we?” She Founders' Day Banquet. a senior budget-writer. “But Tillis’ early fundraising said part of the answer is, “We nevertheless, that’s the path- ica’s identity is a matter of eco- made it very clear he was talk- advantage isn’t surprising, are better than this. way that he’s chosen to nomic insecurity and the racial ing about going back to some- said Kyle Kondik, manag- “So, this then becomes a mo- move forward, and if he’s wealth gap; access to health thing.” ing editor of Sabato’s Crys- ment that requires us to fight chooses to veto pay raises, care whether people have Back to what, Harris asked. tal Ball at the University of for the best of who we are. that’s on the governor.” money or not; and equal edu- “Back before the Voting Rights Virginia Center for Politics. And, fight we will,” she con- Cooper planned to address cational opportunities for all, Act, back before the Civil “I think Republicans rec- tinued, adding: “This fight is the budget impasse in a she said. Taking on the racial Rights Act, back before the Fair ognize that North Carolina not new for us. We know how news conference later Tues- wealth gap, Harris said if Housing Act, back before the is going to be one of the to fight. In fact, there is noth- day. The governor has re- elected president, she would federal minimum wage, back key states to winning or ing we have gained that came jected repeatedly Republican invest $100 billion to help before Roe v Wade? ‘Cause losing the Senate,” he said. without a fight.” arguments that he has a black families in historically we’re not going back. We’re Some GOP donors may Discussing “identity pol- “Medicaid or nothing” ulti- redlined communities or fed- not going back,” she said. want to “make sure they’re itics,” Harris said it is a 21st matum for budget talks to erally subsidized housing, and America must turn the page on the board backing [Til- century term for “the race advance. But he’s said expan- she would invest $12 billion in and write the next chapter lis] early on because he card,” which is meant to mar- sion to cover hundreds of federal grants for black entre- based on the noble ideals upon does have a primary chal- ginalize the subject and shut thousands of additional preneurs and support Histori- which this nation was lenge,” Kondik added. people up. “When we talk people through Medicaid cally Black Colleges and founded, she continued. “This And GOP donors who about how our country is and needs to be talked about Universities. is a fight that is not only for want to back the “estab- where we are on civil rights is- now. Harris said the country needs the soul of our country, this is lishment incumbent, sues, it is not about identity Cooper made a budget leaders at every level to fight a fight that is born out of love which I think is a fair way politics in the way that they try compromise offer last for progress and to fight to lift for country. And, this is a fight to describe Tillis,” would to phrase it. Where America month, but Republicans people up. Although she did we’re going to win,” she said. “like to deny any oxygen to stands on core issues of civil haven’t publicly responded not call Trump by name, she The honorees of this year’s that primary challenge.” rights is about America’s iden- with a counteroffer. “When said: “We’ve got a man in the banquet were Superior Court Some of Tillis’ donors tity,” she said. you put an offer on the table, White House who got elected Judge Elaine O’Neal and Wil- this campaign cycle in- Harris said people must have if you’re really sincere in on a slogan that was about liam “Bill” Bell, Durham’s long- clude prolific Republican conversations based on truth wanting to negotiate, you ‘Make America Great Again,” est serving mayor. donors, like billionaire Ne- and fact, and recognize where make a counteroffer,” which caused a lot of us to ask O’Neal made history in 2002 vada casino magnate Shel- the country is today and what Cooper told reporters last again exactly for whom.