With the exception of Raleigh, elections will take place in municipalities all over Wake County this fall. In 10 towns, voters will elect some combination of mayors, town council positions, and town commissioners. All races are nonpartisan. With the candidate filing period now closed, here’s who’s running where and what we know about them.
Apex
Town Council: Vote for three candidates
Voters living in the fast-growing, southwestern Wake County town of Apex will select three candidates for town council this fall. These will include at least two new faces, as two two-term council members—Brett Gantt and Audra Killingsworth—aren’t running for reelection this year. Here’s who will be on the ballot.
Ed Gray: Current mayor pro-tempore Ed Gray, an assistant federal public defender in North Carolina’s Eastern District and retired Air Force officer, is running for his second term on the council. He lists affordable housing, safety, and community initiatives as his priorities.
Shane Reese: President of the Downtown Apex Business Association, Shane Reese is running on a three-pronged platform of ensuring responsible growth, boosting business and downtown Apex, and protecting small-town quality of life.
Sue Mu: According to her LinkedIn page, Sue Mu is the president of RTP International Cultural Exchange LLC. Mu cites balancing growth and development, economic initiatives, and environmental sustainability as her top priorities.
Andre Powell: A real estate professional who does not have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Mary Miskimon: Mary Miskimon ran as a Republican for the NC House District 21 seat last fall but lost to Representative Ya Liu. A small business owner, Miskimon’s priorities include smart growth and tax-spend transparency.
TJ Evans: An associate director at the American Diabetes Association according to his LinkedIn page, TJ Evans cites community engagement, economic vitality, and mindful growth as his top focus areas.
Aditya Ahlawat: A general contractor and managing owner of AMFINE Construction according to his LinkedIn page, Aditya Ahlawat says he wants to help keep Apex “one of the most attractive, safe and welcoming places to live.”
Kyrone Nebolisa: Kyrone Nebolisa is a quality assurance specialist for Johnson & Johnson according to LinkedIn, as well as the alumni manager for Launch Apex.
Fuquay-Varina
Voters of the southern Wake town of Fuquay-Varina, population 50,000, will see a rematch in their mayoral race between two-term incumbent mayor Blake Massengill, a former town commissioner, and Bill Harris, a longtime commissioner. Harris challenged Massengill unsuccessfully in 2021. The mayor, who serves a two-year term, ran unopposed in 2023. Additionally, at least one new commissioner will join the board, as three-term commissioner Jason Wunsch isn’t running for reelection.
Mayor
Blake Massengill: The owner of Massengill Design-Build, deVintage Realty, and Acute Property Management, Blake Massengill has served as mayor since 2021, before which he served on the town’s planning board and as a town commissioner since 2013. Massengill’s priorities include traffic and transportation, economic growth, and growing downtown.
William (Bill) Harris: Bill Harris, who grew up in Fuquay-Varina and has served on the town’s board since 1987, retired from North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services in 2020. He also worked as an adjunct professor at Shaw University. Harris has served as mayor pro-tem twice and chair of the town’s Law and Finance and Public Works committees. A current commissioner, Harris’s term expires in 2027.
Board of Commissioners: Vote for two candidates
Nolan Perry: A real estate attorney and co-owner of Morgan and Perry Law, Nolan Perry has chaired the Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce’s board and served as event director for the town’s Christmas parade. Perry lists safety, improving transportation and infrastructure, supporting the business community and preserving small town charm as his priorities for Fuquay-Varina.
Gage Cook: A military technician according to LinkedIn, Gage Cook does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Bryan Haynes: Bryan Haynes is serving in his first term on Fuquay-Varina’s board of commissioners. He has chaired the town’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board and its Public Works committee and served as an alternate town delegate for the Triangle J Council of Government Board of Delegates.
Kristopher Vorren: A computational analyst at Corvid Technologies according to LinkedIn, Kristopher Vorren does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Garner
In this suburban town just south of Raleigh, voters will elect two candidates out of a pool of incumbents and newcomers to serve on its town council.
Town Council: Vote for two candidates
Mike McIver: A Garner police officer for 25 years, Mike McIver retired as deputy chief of police and works as an instructor at Wake Tech according to his LinkedIn page. McIver lists smart growth, traffic and infrastructure, and tax rates as top concerns for Garner residents.
Patricia Uzzell: Patricia Uzzell does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Kelvin Stallings: Currently the director of community engagement at NC CHILD, Kelvin Stallings worked as a legislative aide at the NC General Assembly. Stallings says Garner needs leaders who will “prioritize responsible development, invest in infrastructure, and ensure local government remains accessible and responsive to the people it serves.”
Kathy Behringer: Kathy Behringer has served on Garner’s town council for 20 years and on the town’s planning commission before that. During that time, she has been a board member of the Garner Downtown Association and a town liaison to various committees, foundations, and organizations. Behringer cites infrastructure, balanced growth, and economic development as her top priorities.
Gra Singleton: Gra Singleton has served on Garner’s town council since 1993. Singleton does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Rex Whaley: A former state employee, Rex Whaley ran for a seat on Garner’s town council in 2023. Whaley does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Holly Springs
Voters in the rapidly growing southwestern Wake town of Holly Springs will elect a mayor and three town council members. With two-term council member Daniel Berry not running for reelection, the town is guaranteed to have at least one new face on the council.
Mayor
Sean Mayefskie: An entrepreneur who sold his building materials supply company in 2019, Sean Mayefiskie is finishing up his inaugural term as Holly Springs’ mayor. During his tenure, Mayefiskie served on the executive board of the NC Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) and on CAMPO’s Transportation Advisory Committee.
Mike Kondratick: A public affairs professional and small business owner, Mike Kondratick’s campaign is focused on managing growth in Holly Springs. He cites prioritizing safe development and reducing traffic, reducing taxes, and increasing transparency as his top priorities.
Town Council: Vote for three candidates
Sarah Larson: A social media manager, executive director, and event coordinator according to her LinkedIn page, newcomer Sarah Larson cites people, policy, and progress as the three key pillars in her campaign.
Tim Forrest: Retired U.S. Army Colonel Tim Forrest is finishing up his first term on the Holly Springs town council. Forrest serves on the town’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and is a representative to the NC League of Municipalities.
Joe Cuccurullo: Joe Cuccurullo, a small business owner and special education teacher in Wake County Public Schools, currently serves on Holly Springs’ planning board and Land Use Advisory Council and was a former planning board representative to the town’s Tree Advisory Committee. Cuccurullo says he’s running for town council “because he believes in protecting everything that makes Holly Springs special” while planning for the future.
Josh Prizer: Josh Prizer is a senior sales director at a healthcare technology company and a member of Holly Springs’ town planning board. He says he wants to “plan with purpose, invest with vision, and let discipline guide.”
Kara Foster: Political newcomer Kara Foster owns her own optometry business. She says her priorities are smart growth for a livable future, clarity, care, and commitment and being a voice for everyday families.
Annie Drees: Annie Drees is an electrical engineer who was elected to the town council in 2023. Drees has served on the town’s Legislative Action Committee, Nonprofit Grants committee, Tree Advisory Committee, and Historical Marker Committee.
Knightdale
Voters in the eastern Wake County town of Knightdale will elect three town council members this fall. The race features three incumbents and two newcomers to politics.
Town Council: Vote for three candidates
Grady Bussey: A community engagement analyst for the City of Raleigh, Grady Bussey is running on a platform of housing affordability, public safety and transportation.
Steve Evans: Knightdale’s current mayor pro-tempore, Steve Evans has served on Knightdale’s town council since 2021. The vice president of community development for Smithfield Foods, Evans serves on Knightdale’s Land Use Review Board.
Mark Swan: A member of the Knightdale town council since 2013, Mark Swan is the accounting director for North Carolina’s Department of Technology, according to LinkedIn. Swan has served on the town’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Land Use Review Board, Veterans Memorial Advisory Board, and Sustainability Committee.
Latatious Morris: Latatious Morris, who has worked in property management and administrative leadership, was appointed to the Knightdale town council in 2021 after then-council member Jessica Day was appointed mayor following the resignation of Mayor James Roberson. The chair of the town’s Land Use Review Board at the time, Morris has since served as mayor pro tem, as well as on Knightdale’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
Shannon Hardy: A teacher at Exploris Middle School in Raleigh, according to LinkedIn, Shannon Hardy was awarded a Knightdale Mayor’s Award for Commitment to Community in 2019. Hardy does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Morrisville
With a population of roughly 32,000 and a proximity to both Raleigh and Durham, Morrisville borders Research Triangle Park and has a majority Asian-American community. Morrisville voters will elect a mayor and three town council members this fall. In Town Council District 2, the incumbent, two-term council member Donna Fender, is not running for reelection; nor is four-term at-large town council member Steve Rao, who plans to run for a new seat on the Wake County Board of Commissioners next year.
Mayor
TJ Cawley: A retired finance professional, TJ Cawley has served as Morrisville’s mayor since 2017, and was a one-term town council member before that. As mayor, Cawley has served on the executive board of CAMPO and the Western Wake Partners Policy Advisory Committee. Cawley lists transportation and mobility, parks and recreation, public safety, and managing growth as his top priorities.
Satish Garimella: Third-term at-large council member Satish Garimella’s tenure on the council doesn’t end until 2027, and the mayor pro tempore is challenging Cawley for the town’s top seat. A member of the North Carolina League of Municipalities’ board of directors and legislative policy committee, Garimella, a senior product manager at GSK according to LinkedIn, says his priorities are strengthening the town’s economy, keeping residents safe, and “seeking solutions that meet our diverse community’s needs.”
Richard Reinhart: A paralegal, according to LinkedIn, Richard Reinhart does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Town Council At-Large:
Subba Madireddy: A vice president specializing in IT at Truist according to LinkedIn, Subba Madireddy says investing in the community and future generations, increasing community engagement, and aiding environmental management are his top priorities for the town.
Liz Dann: A member of Morrisville’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Committee, Liz Dann does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Harrison Kessling: A mechanical engineer in the architecture, engineering and construction industry, newcomer Harrison Kessling wants to prioritize walkability, sustainability, innovation and “practical solutions that meet the needs of today without sacrificing the needs of future generations.”
Pete Martin: A former Morrisville town council member, Pete Martin does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Town Council District 2
Jashi Abhirajan: An administrative coordinator in Duke’s Psychiatry Residency Department, Jashi Abhirajan served as vice chair of Morrisville’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Committee and founded the town’s Holi and Diwali community celebrations. Abhirajan currently serves as vice chair of the Morrisville Veterans Memorial Foundation and cites smart tax policies, sustainable growth and infrastructure, and cultural diversity and community engagement as top priorities.
Ashit Patel: Ashit Patel does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Town Council District 4
Patty Cheng: An IT business analyst for the NC Department of Revenue, Patty Cheng lists developing traffic infrastructure, keeping taxes low, and improving collaboration with state agencies such as the NC Department of Transportation and CAMPO as top priorities.
Vicki Scroggins-Johnson: In her third term on the town council, Vicki Scroggins-Johnson is a project management consultant at Artemis Factor, according to LinkedIn. Scroggins-Johnson has served on the Cary/Morrisville Joint Issues Subcommittee and the Wake County Affordable Housing Steering Committee.
Rolesville
Voters in Rolesville in northern Wake County will elect three members to the town’s board of commissioners. With commissioner Paul Vilga not running for reelection and only three candidates, including two incumbents, running for three seats, we have a pretty good idea of who will be on the town’s board when the next term starts in December.
Board of Commissioners: Vote for three candidates
Dan Alston: A self-employed financial coach according to LinkedIn, Dan Alston is serving his first term on Rolesville’s board of commissioners.
Jennifer Bernat: The owner of a small local boutique, Jennifer Bernat does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
April Sneed: Mayor pro tem April Sneed, a financial services professional, has served on the Rolesville board of commissioners since 2020.
Wake Forest
With about 61,000 residents, Wake Forest is Wake County’s fourth-largest municipality after Raleigh, Cary and Apex. Voters will choose between a longtime incumbent mayor and current town commissioner for the town’s top seat and they’ll also select two commissioners.
Mayor
Vivian Jones: A former secretary, merchandising manager, and small business owner, Vivian Jones is Wake Forest’s longest serving mayor and has occupied the seat for six terms, or since 2001 when she was first elected (before that, she served for two years on the town’s board of commissioners). As mayor, Jones has served on GoTriangle’s Board of Trustees, the Triangle J Council of Government’s Mayors and County Chairs Group, the NC League of Municipalities board of directors, CAMPO’s executive board, and chaired the NC Mayor’s Association, among many other positions on local committees and task forces.
Ben Clapsaddle: Wake Forest town commissioner Ben Clapsaddle is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and former division chief at Fort Bragg who is serving in his first term as a town commissioner (his term expires in 2027). A candidate for the Wake County School board in 2022, Clapsaddle says his priorities are fair budgeting, improving infrastructure, and advocacy for all.
Board of Commissioners: Vote for two candidates
Nick Sliwinski: A sales consultant at Southeastern Paper Group, Nick Sliwinski is running for his second term on Wake Forest’s board of commissioners. Sliwinski says he’s “passionate about preserving the charm, history and qualities of what makes Wake Forest unique.”
R. Keith Shackleford: Attorney and mayor pro tem R. Keith Shackleford is also running for his second term on Wake Forest’s board of commissioners. Shackleford served as a commissioner on Wake County’s Housing Authority board from 2000 until 2016 and served on the Wake County Bar Association’s board of directors.
Jasmine Zavala: A teacher according to LinkedIn, Jasmine Zavala does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Haseeb Fatmi: An attorney at Ogletree Deakins, Haseeb Fatmi does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Thomas Dement: Thomas Dement does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Pam James: Pam James does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Wendell
With only one incumbent running for three seats on Wendell’s board of commissioners, voters in this growing eastern Wake County suburb will have their pick from a lineup of candidates with some interesting, and colorful, backgrounds and experiences. Three-term commissioners Jason Joyner and Jon Lutz aren’t running for reelection, guaranteeing at least two new faces on Wendell’s governing board.
Deans Eatman: A town commissioner since 2021, Deans Eatman is the director of legislative affairs and advisor to the secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Eatman is running on a vision for strong neighborhoods, reliable infrastructure, and a thriving, welcoming community.
Wes Jones: Attorney and former NC Court of Appeals judicial clerk, Wes Jones’s priorities are growing well, green spaces, and “goodness:” increasing spaces for families, keeping the town safe, and balancing growth with Wendell’s small-town charm.
B.J. Barham: The frontman and founder of homegrown alt-country band American Aquarium, B.J. Barham told the News & Observer that he’s running on a responsible growth platform. “When your elected officials stop listening to the people that elected them, elect new local officials,” Barham says.
Kate Benson: A medical aesthetics brand manager, Kate Benson says her vision for Wendell is rooted in “three core principles”: responsible growth that honors the town’s roots, transparent leadership, and a thriving, inclusive future.
Dustin Ingalls: A director of political programs at the Environmental Defense Funds, Ingalls has long been active in the Wake County Democratic Party. Ingalls says he’s running because he loves Wendell and wants to continue making it “a great place to live, do business, and play— a welcoming community where everyone can afford to thrive.”
Jorge Cordova: A flooring installation professional and former candidate for Wendell’s board of commissioners, Cordova says his priorities are managing growth responsibly, improving traffic safety, and advocating “for stronger school planning to keep up with our growing population.”
Philip Tarnaski: A former candidate for Wendell town commissioner, Philip Tarnaski does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Christopher Critzer: A restaurant owner, Christopher Critzer does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Zebulon
This tiny (population 10,000) easternmost town in Wake County features a stacked mayoral contest and a race for two seats on the board of commissioners. One incumbent is running for one of two open seats on the board of commissioners; there’s currently a seat that’s vacant.
Mayor
Glenn York: The embattled incumbent mayor is serving in his first term. He faces stiff competition in his reelection race against a former town manager and two sitting commissioners. His campaign slogan is “make an investment in your future.”
Gilbert Todd Jr.: Zebulon’s former town manager who resigned in April, along with the assistant town manager, Gilbert Todd Jr. is an Air Force veteran and pastor who has almost 20 years of experience in local government. “Running for Mayor was an office I never aspired to, but one I’ve been inspired to pursue,” Todd states on his website. “There was a time I would have never conceived of joining the political arena, but I have seen first-hand that our current leadership isn’t holding the public’s interests above their own.”
Shannon Baxter: A current town commissioner and owner of a beekeeping business according to LinkedIn, Shannon Baxter serves as an alternate on CAMPO’s executive board as well as president of the National League of Cities’ Women in Municipal Government caucus. Baxter says Zebulon has the opportunity to “grow smart” and cites her leadership experience and the importance of “fostering meaningful relationships.” Baxter is the subject of a petition calling for her resignation from the board. Her term expires in 2027.
Larry Loucks: A former town commissioner, Larry Loucks does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Jessica Daniels Harrison: Mayor pro tem Jessica Daniels Harrison has served on Zebulon’s board of commissioners since 2021 and her current term ends in 2027. The director of operations for the nonprofit CORRAL Riding Academy, Harrison lists supporting small businesses, improving access to education and healthcare, and ensuring a welcoming safe community as her priorities. Harrison is also the subject of a petition calling for her resignation from the board.
Board of Commissioners: Vote for two candidates
George Roa: A managing director of a residential realty company and current member of Zebulon’s planning board, George Roa created the Facebook group Zebulon en Español, where he translates town meetings, announcements, and public safety updates for Spanish-speaking residents. His campaign cornerstones are R.O.A.: reform, organize, act.
Trenton Schmit: A realtor, Trenton Schmit does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Jesse Brown: The owner and founder of JR Builders, a construction company, Jesse Brown says he has “solutions for a smarter future.”
Milton Robinson III: Milton Robinson III does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Davarus Gardner: A real estate agent, Davarus Gardner does not appear to have a campaign website or other accessible information.
Quentin Miles: Quentin Miles is a former mayor pro tem. There is not much other information about Miles that’s accessible.
Send an email to Raleigh editor Jane Porter: [email protected]. Comment on this story at [email protected].