http://www.sartainforraleigh.com/

Quote :

"News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 7, 2009 CONTACT: LEE SARTAIN SARTAIN ANNOUNCES RUN FOR RALEIGH COUNCIL Lee Sartain publicly announced his campaign for one of two at-large Raleigh City Council seats today. Sartain’s campaign focuses on growing new jobs, comprehensive public transportation, and strong neighborhoods. “Raleigh’s high quality of life and embrace of education, technology, and innovation has led to rapid growth over the last twenty years. More people are calling Raleigh home than ever, and the pace is not expected to slow. This growth has also placed us at a crossroads, and Raleigh must take several strategic steps to ensure a bright future. Stepping up job growth downtown, building strong neighborhoods, and building a reliable transportation system will ensure that Raleigh is a destination city for years to come” Sartain’s primary initiative is the development of the Raleigh Innovation and Technology Zone (RITZ) in the city’s downtown. The economic development zone is design to compliment and model the success of the suburban Research Triangle Park. “Today’s entrepreneurs want an affordable environment where they can live, work, and play. The development of the RITZ in downtown Raleigh will drive the biological and technical innovations of the twenty-first century. The RITZ will be a catalyst for job growth in our city for the next fifty years. Plus this project can begin today with progressive tax credits already available in downtown Raleigh.” Sartain is in Education Technology and Policy at the William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North Carolina State University, and he is also a graduate of the university. For more information see http://www.sartainforraleigh.com."

Quote :

"More About Lee * Is a member of the Democratic Party. * Lived in the Raleigh area since 1999. Alumnus of North Carolina State University. * Raised in the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina in the Lake Norman area. * Serves on the Wake County Library Advisory Commission. * North Carolina political heros: Governors Terry Sanford and Jim Hunt * Works in Education Technology at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation on North Carolina State's Centennial Campus. Lee's work focuses on innovating North Carolina classrooms to produce 21st century students ready for the jobs and world of today and the future. Additionally Lee's work has provided over $1.2 Million in additional funding for connectivity in Wake County Schoools. * Previously Lee worked with Staples providing regional leadership to their Copy & Print division. Lee's work led the company in the growth of their Copy & Print services. * Started his first technology company, FutureTechNC in 1996 at age 15. As a high school student, he installed the first computer network in his school. Later producing some of the state's first school district websites. * Lee is active in the life of White Memorial Presbyterian and Pullen Memorial Baptist Churches. He has served in various capacities including Youth Leader, Interim Minister of Young Adults, and worked on several technology initiatives undertaken in the life of those congregations. * Sartain is also an avid swimmer and cyclist. He serves as faculty advisor to NCSU's Swim Club. "

I don't know much about this campaign, I just heard about it like 5 minutes ago, but since I live in Orange County for the moment & am volunteering with & supporting a few municipal level campaigns over here, I thought it'd be interesting to get some peoples perspectives on a city council level campaign back in Raleigh.

Anyone know who else is running in this race?

[Edited on July 5, 2009 at 12:13 PM. Reason : .]

7/5/2009 11:49:12 AM

Lee will beat Marry-Ann Baldwin.

7/5/2009 12:11:17 PM

when we used to live in raleigh, my gf and i really hated m-a baldwin. but my gf got to get to know some of the council members and i'm pretty sure baldwin is her favorite now for whatever it's worth.

7/5/2009 12:48:48 PM

He seems like a douche bag.

7/5/2009 7:58:24 PM

It will fail like every other effort by somebody his age, at least outside of burgs so tiny as to be beneath mentioning.

7/6/2009 1:01:29 AM

Unlike every other candidate his age, Lee is actually a legitimate candidate.

barring the developers and realtors coming in heavy for Mary-Ann, Lee will win it.

7/6/2009 10:05:59 AM

I like all of your well reasoned points on why he's a sound candidate.

I guess he has my vote.

7/6/2009 10:11:50 AM

Quote :

"* Works in Education Technology at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation on North Carolina State's Centennial Campus. Lee's work focuses on innovating North Carolina classrooms to produce 21st century students ready for the jobs and world of today and the future. Additionally Lee's work has provided over $1.2 Million in additional funding for connectivity in Wake County Schoools."

So he's already touting "accomplishments" of directing county funding to an ambiguous purpose that he, himself finds to be worth a darn. If he considers this to be worth bragging about, what kind of junk would make him feel self-important as a city council member?

His campaign seems to be relevant to us because he's young and a NC State graduate. I agree that he has the ability to distinguish himself, but his only discernible platform seems to be RITZ

http://www.sartainforraleigh.com/news/blog/2009/06/raleigh-innovation-technology-zone.html

Quote :

" * Healthy Tax Credits: Up to $3750/per new job created in the RITZ * Research Support: 1-3% tax credits for research expenditures. 20% if done through NCSU Centennial Campus * New Business Incubation Space: RITZ plan calls for new business incubation space in all new construction downtown. * Job Training Within Walking Distance: The Pew report lists several career paths that do not require a four year degree. A downtown WakeTech campus will be an integral part of job training for these new green jobs."

which I read as handout, handout, unclear, and unclear. The Pew Center report he cites seems to measure the "success" of state's "green industries" in terms of dollars invested and jobs created with disregard for any real value created.

I suppose I could take the word of some posters that Mary-Ann Baldwin is lame. Still, I can't say that Sartain has any innate advantage over her b/c he's young and uses facebook. Baldwin uses facebook too.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Mary-Ann-Baldwin/1341510703

And so far, to me it seems that her platform is coherent and more agreeable than Sartain's.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/page/1732825/

Quote :

"Top three priorities if elected: 1) More effective communication among all our elected leaders, including our legislative delegation, Wake County Commissioners and Board of Education, and with our citizens. 2) Passage of a new comprehensive plan that guides growth, encourages urban infill and transit-oriented development, preserves neighborhoods and conserves our natural resources. 3) Preservation of Dorothea Dix property as a destination park."

I read this as acceptable, tenuous, and acceptable. So far, she wins in my mind. Can someone clearly explain to me why I should vote for Sartain instead?

7/6/2009 11:45:49 AM

His hair is completely unelectable.

7/6/2009 12:17:38 PM

Quote :

"TWW - NCSU Alumnus running for Raleigh City Council"

well nutsmackr claims he's better. that's all you need to know!

7/6/2009 12:56:07 PM

Municipal level filings officially start today all over the state I believe, and a lot of campaigns don't even have websites up yet, so hopefully we will be hearing more about candidates in the next few months.

Are there any other interesting races going on back in Raleigh that anyone knows of?


-----


In looking up more about Mary I came across another website for Russ Stephenson, who like her is an incumbent.

Russ Stephenson
http://www.russforraleigh.com/

[Edited on July 6, 2009 at 2:23 PM. Reason : .]

7/6/2009 2:17:16 PM

Quote :

"well nutsmackr claims he's better. that's all you need to know!"

Maybe it has to do with the fact that Mary-Ann Baldwin has been a horrible city council member and has alienated the wide swath of downtown. She has been falling apart from the get go, whether it is the absurd tax credits offered to developers (John Kane's group) at North Hills to build a parking deck, to completely ignoring the majority of the city. She won't win.

Russ Stephenson, on the other hand, is a well like councilman who will win re-election.

As I said, barring the Realtors and Home Builders dumping large sums of cash into her campaign coffers like they did last time, she will lose.

You can be hoity toity thumb up your ass all you like, but those are the realities of the Raleigh at-large campaign.

[Edited on July 6, 2009 at 3:09 PM. Reason : .]

7/6/2009 3:04:51 PM

Just to add to the list of people running who use facebook:

Russ Stephenson
http://www.new.facebook.com/RussForRaleigh

Re-Elect Russ for Raleigh
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30318189934

7/6/2009 3:27:13 PM

Sartain seems to want to take my money and use it on not me.

7/6/2009 4:28:07 PM

taxes are for the common good

if the government wanted you spending money on yourself, they'd let you keep it

7/6/2009 4:29:51 PM

Heck, I'd settle for spending it in my zip code.


Funny thing is, this vote will end up being something like 10,000 votes to 9,000, and it will probably affect people living in Raleigh more than a National elections will in the day to day.

7/6/2009 4:38:16 PM

and then you'll find fifty dollars

christ almighty dude could you possibly post less content

7/6/2009 4:40:18 PM

I see modlin is perpetuating the reputation developed on PackPride.

7/6/2009 6:54:36 PM

OK, so that was a bit light.

My point was that his platform reads like:

money for downtown
tax credits for downtown
streetcars for downtown
light rail hub for downtown
stuff for downtown
Wake board of education topic that the City Council doesn't do
NC Community College topic that the City Council doesn't do


And hes running for an at-large seat. He's not giving many people in the at-large population of Raleigh a real reason to vote for him, and these off-year municipal elections can be won fairly easily. He seems to be set up better to run for a district-specific city council seat that's mostly downtown.

7/6/2009 8:00:48 PM

http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A158772

Quote :

"The politics of the Kane giveaway are as follows: MAYOR CHARLES MEEKER, running unopposed for a fourth term in the Oct. 9 election, adamantly opposes it. With him are three Democrats: at-large incumbent councilman RUSS STEPHENSON, unopposed District D candidate THOMAS CROWDER and JAMES WEST, also running unopposed in District C. Stephenson opposes the giveaway, he told me. He's raised $30,700 for this election from contributions by a few developers and a lot more neighborhood types (full disclosure: including my wife). I posed the same question about paying for Kane's parking decks to the other leading contenders for the two pivotal at-large seats: Democrats MARY-ANN BALDWIN, PAUL ANDERSON and HELEN TART. They're undecided. Kane has four current councilmembers on his side: Republicans PHILIP ISLEY (District E) and TOMMY CRAVEN (District A) and Democrats JOYCE KEKAS (at-large) and JESSIE TALIAFERRO (District B), who has received $1,000 in campaign contributions from Kane. However, Craven has competition from independent candidate and neighborhood leader NANCY MCFARLANE. Isley's running unopposed; Kekas, an at-large member, isn't running. As for Taliaferro, she faces a stiff challenge from Republican ANGEL MENENDEZ as well as fellow Democrat RODGER KOOPMAN."

Where does Sartain stand? I don't see anywhere where he's actually given a position on this. This isn't a reason to vote for him over Baldwin until someone establishes that.

Quote :

"Maybe it has to do with the fact that Mary-Ann Baldwin has been a horrible city council member and has alienated the wide swath of downtown. She has been falling apart from the get go, whether it is the absurd tax credits offered to developers (John Kane's group) at North Hills to build a parking deck, to completely ignoring the majority of the city. She won't win."

Does anyone care to actually follow up the arguments for Sartain?

7/7/2009 2:31:15 AM

The NCSU guy sent out a new message today, here is what it said:

Quote :

"I am proud to announce that the North Carolina Police Benevolent Association is endorsing our campaign for Raleigh City Council. It is a privilege to receive this honor from a group that represents our officers and their families. With your help, and support from the PBA, I look forward to serving the hundreds of officers that work here in the city of Raleigh. We have also moved into our new campaign headquarters. We are now off Fayetteville Street in the heart of downtown. I hope you can stop by and visit soon. August 25th represents a significant milestone for the campaign. Our next campaign finance window closes on the 25th, and we need to make a good showing for the upcoming election. Any size contribution will help us in the coming weeks and is greatly appreciated. I appreciate all of you, and I'm looking forward to serving you on the council."

8/20/2009 1:14:54 AM

Work in educational technology is not something I perceive to be particularly impressive.

But Mary-Ann Baldwin is such a douchey name.

Sartain's got my support.

8/20/2009 1:50:58 AM

Quote :

"My point was that his platform reads like: money for downtown tax credits for downtown streetcars for downtown light rail hub for downtown stuff for downtown Wake board of education topic that the City Council doesn't do NC Community College topic that the City Council doesn't do And hes running for an at-large seat. He's not giving many people in the at-large population of Raleigh a real reason to vote for him, and these off-year municipal elections can be won fairly easily. He seems to be set up better to run for a district-specific city council seat that's mostly downtown."

You don't think a vibrant, larger, and more easily accessible downtown is a benefit to the whole city? It will draw more businesses that enjoy the convenience of being centrally located, more attractive homes will continue to be built downtown, and the city will continue to grow culturally. Getting away from suburban sprawl is important, and it seems like these points of his are good groundwork to build on for the future expansion of the city

[Edited on August 20, 2009 at 9:38 AM. Reason : k]

8/20/2009 9:38:04 AM

I've known Lee personally for a number of years now. He is a fantastic guy.

8/21/2009 1:51:32 AM

Quote :

"You don't think a vibrant, larger, and more easily accessible downtown is a benefit to the whole city? It will draw more businesses that enjoy the convenience of being centrally located, more attractive homes will continue to be built downtown, and the city will continue to grow culturally. Getting away from suburban sprawl is important, and it seems like these points of his are good groundwork to build on for the future expansion of the city"

Yeah, a vibrant downtown would be nice for people that live near downtown. I'm not gonna drive for a half-hour to go to any downtown business, though. Especially if I'd drive past five of the same thign to get there (which you just about do). I also don't think that building more single family homes downtown is a good idea. Downtown should be an urban area, especially if the Dix property gets turned into a park.



Suburban sprawl has already happened in Raleigh, and Raleigh's master plan for 8(maybe?) distinct population centers reflects that.

As an at-large City Council member, I would expect to see a platform that supports the whole city. Like I said before, Sartain's sounds more like he's running against Thomas Crowder for District D.

And there's still a handful of items that City Council doesn't have anything to do with.




I don't know this guy from Adam, I'm just offereing this up as constructive criticism of his platform.

8/21/2009 11:42:03 AM

Downtown can burst into flames and fall into a sinkhole directly to Hell for all I care.

Also, this kid sounds like a douche, but local elections are one of the very few places that votes actually kinda/sorta count for something, so I might look into this.

8/21/2009 11:46:23 AM

^^
^
send suggestions here: info@sartainforraleigh.com

I don't know about his campaign, but I know for some other town council campaigns I've made suggestions and the campaigns have listened. That is one of the cool things about municipal elections, they are small enough to have an impact if you bother to try. Also, being a fellow member of the wolfpack might be in an easy in to get your idea heard. Just straight up tell him you'd like to see more information on his site & more of a plan about his vision for working to improve the city as a whole, and see what he says.

Just by making e-mails & calls & meeting with people I have made changes to town council campaign websites, mayoral campaign websites, even Kay Hagan's campaign website (& I was an avid supporter of her opponent in the primary), but it all goes to show you can't write people off until you try. If you're their constituent, they will usually listen or at least respond & explain their reasoning.

8/21/2009 11:57:17 AM

In the interest of equal time, the other guy that's running for an at-large seat is also an NCSU alumnus, Champ Claris:

http://www.whatifraleigh.com/



ETA: ^I'd send something to Lee, but really, I'm not in favor of the kind of money he's talking about spending, no matter what it's on.

[Edited on August 21, 2009 at 12:54 PM. Reason : []

8/21/2009 12:52:34 PM

Quote :

"I also don't think that building more single family homes downtown is a good idea. Downtown should be an urban area, especially if the Dix property gets turned into a park. "

How seriously retarded can you be?

8/21/2009 1:35:34 PM

It might be light on the details, but a vibrant, active downtown isn't compatible with single family homes.

And if everyone insists on having their own backyard to play in then there's better ways to use the 300 acres of Dix property. Or at least a decent hunk of it. Especially when Pullen si right across the danged street.

8/21/2009 8:37:35 PM

are you retarded?

8/22/2009 2:30:13 PM

an interesting article

http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A400421

Quote :

"In sum, Sartain wants the city to step up its economic recruitment efforts downtown with new incentives to attract small entrepreneurial companies and improved public transit to support them. Sartain says he is disdainful of Triangle Transit's "sorry excuses for plans," adding that Raleigh should divorce itself from the regional bus system. He says the city should recruit nationally for a transit chief who can transform Raleigh's CAT service—Capital Area Transit—from a sketchy bunch of bus lines into a regional, Raleigh-centric transit system."

8/27/2009 11:19:05 AM

I guess we'll see how this pans out pretty soon.

Here is the indy endorsements... I guess the NCSU guy didn't get it, but it looks like they didn't endorse for that seat.
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A401756

Here is the indy questionnaire for the NCSU guy:
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A399655

10/6/2009 11:18:54 AM

There's two NCSU guys. Champ Claris is also an alumni.

10/6/2009 11:30:29 AM

vote today

10/6/2009 11:32:56 AM

Just to make it easy, here are the Indy Endorsements:

Quote :

"Wake County Board of Elections: 856-6240, http://www.wakegov.com/elections The Indy doesn't endorse in unopposed races. Here are our recommendations for the contested elections. Wake Board of Education District 1: Rita Rakestraw District 2: Horace J. Tart District 7: Karen Denise Simon District 9: Lois A. Nixon Raleigh City Council Mayor: Charles C. Meeker At-large (two seats open): Russell G. Stephenson The Indy did not endorse for the second seat. District B: John Rodger Koopman District C: No endorsement District D: Thomas G. Crowder District E: Bonner Garner Gaylord Cary Town Council District A: Lori Bush District C: Jack W. Smith"

Here is Lee's NBC interview video:

He talks mostly about economic development & transit. Transitioning effectively from a small/medium sized city into the larger city we are growing to be. Public transit. Expanding bus access with increased frequency & more benches & shelters, & light rail. Support new & small businesses, especially downtown. Have job development targeted towards creating jobs that match the kind of skills our universities are putting out, specifically he mentioned engineers & textile folks.

Here is Champ's video from his campaign websites homepage:


I've watched a few videos for both the NCSU candidates & they both describe themselves as the new guy with a new voice. Lee's is clearly for managing growth through transit & economic development/guided effective spending, & Champ is clearly the anti-tax anti-spend guy. But if you are feeling some NCSU pride, since they are running in an election where there are two open seats, you could vote for them both even if they'd be likely to disagree on the issues.

[Edited on October 6, 2009 at 12:03 PM. Reason : .]

10/6/2009 11:52:07 AM

he seems much more qualified that when we had a joke run for it a few years back

now that guy was a loser

at least he has a plan and knows how to act in front of a camera

10/6/2009 12:51:48 PM

Just found out Mark Enloe, candidate for mayor, is also an Alum, Class of '87.

-Technician ad

10/6/2009 2:45:58 PM

huh... a dude i went to high school with won a seat in the city council...

Bonner Gaylord

10/6/2009 9:23:53 PM

Quote :

"Lee will beat Marry-Ann Baldwin."

nope

10/6/2009 9:40:59 PM

Don't blame me, I voted for Boner Gaylord.

10/6/2009 9:47:35 PM

FutureTechNC, srsly?

[Edited on October 6, 2009 at 9:54 PM. Reason : wot]

10/6/2009 9:53:30 PM

got that one wrong. His campaign started out great, but then it became nothing more than facebook and twitter and he failed to get out of the downtown area to campaign.

10/7/2009 10:36:57 AM

Quote :

"huh... a dude i went to high school with won a seat in the city council... Bonner Gaylord"

Great, now we have John Kane's syncopant on City council. So the city decides not to give John Kane hundreds of millions of dollars to build North Hills. So he gets one of his cronies on the council, ostensibly to vote for using the publics tax dollars to build private development.

10/7/2009 1:28:35 PM

sycophant

10/7/2009 2:12:25 PM