Town board election begins with seven candidates

During the two-week filing period early in July two candidates – current Mayor Vivian Jones and current Commissioner Bridget Wall-Lennon – paid $50 each to file in the race for the next Wake Forest mayor. In the contest for two seats on the town board there were five people who paid $15 each to file – current Commissioner Liz Simpers filed for a second four-year term and Patrick Griffin, planning board member Michael Molinaro, Keith Shackleford and Nick Silwinski filed for a first term.

The election will be held on Nov. 2, and if the past is any guide the turnout of voters will be small because it held in an off-year without presidential, congressional or high state contests. That is a challenge to all the old and new residents who are not registered to vote – DO SO IMMEDIATELY or do not complain about town board decisions. You have to have some skin in the game to kibitz.

To begin the Gazette’s election coverage, we asked each candidate to provide an introductory statement: Please tell me who you are, what you do, where you come from, what made you choose Wake Forest, why you are running for office and what your vision of the town in the next four years is.

The contest for mayor

Mayor Vivian Jones responded:

Hello, I am Vivian Jones, mayor of Wake Forest. As I look back on my time as mayor, I am proud of what we have accomplished and my involvement in that success.

I moved to Wake Forest forty years ago and I can assure you that things were very different then than they are now! We had around 5,000 residents and very little shopping opportunities other than B&W Hardware, Shorty’s Hot Dogs, Lyons Grocery and Keith’s Grocery!

As things began to change in our area and the Triangle become the place to be, Wake Forest welcomed new residents which then brought new businesses. We now have most everything we need right here in our community.

One of the things I started working on early in my time as mayor was to help those who did not have transportation. We were able to partner with GoTriangle and GoRaleigh to have bus service which made a tremendous difference for some of the people in town. I am continuing to work on transit opportunities. I am working with NCDOT on the purchase of the S-Line and the transit-oriented development plan for our community as a part of that. This will promote commuter rail from Wake Forest to Raleigh and connections to the Carolina Rail system. I continue to serve on the Board of Trustees of GoTriangle. I am the first and only person to serve on that Board that does not live in Raleigh or Cary

We have built greenways, we have expanded our park system and have more to go. Everyone loves E. Carroll Joyner Park; it is the crown jewel of parks in Wake County.

I recognized early on that Wake Forest has a large artist community and I believed we should take advantage of this. I believe we should encourage cultural arts—supporting our artists, providing instruction to our kids in art, theater and music. It was due to my persistence that we developed the Renaissance Centre as a venue for arts programming and learning. We need to continue this support—the Renaissance Centre and the arts are economic drivers in our Town.

I have always supported the kids in our community. I love going to schools and talking with classes about what local government does and how it helps them. I love throwing out the first pitch for the Dream League and going to football games and graduations and talking with students at Youth Leadership programs. It was my idea a few years ago to get the youth involved by having a Youth Advisory Board. These students now serve as members of all of our other advisory boards. It is my hope that we can entice many of our youth to come back to Wake Forest after college or to take advantage of internships and apprenticeships and stay here to fill jobs and grow our community.

We are in a period of accelerated change and innovation. I heard somewhere recently that we will not make 100 years of progress in the 21^st Century—we will make 20,000 years of progress!  It is a time we must be resilient and our community must be sustainable. Because of this, a few years ago I suggested we appoint a Technology Advisory Board. We have tremendous resource of technology professionals living in our Town and I felt it would be appropriate to take advantage of their expertise as we address technology issues in this time.

Our community needs to have leaders who desire to achieve competitive advantage and succeed. We need leaders who champion open government and smart city solutions; who compete for talent, economic development and other resources. Time is valuable—inaction is a waste of opportunity. The Youth Leadership Group at the Chamber year before last after meeting with Town staff and elected officials was asked to identify themselves as either the Mayor or the Manager and give their vision. I would like to share one of those comments with you; it says very well how I feel. “I want other towns in the area and the state to know who we are and what we are about. I want our town to be known as a place where a difference is made. I want to work together to reach not only my personal goals and visions for the area but to work for what you want too. I am going to listen closely, work efficiently, and do my best to make the community a better place where goals and dreams can be obtained.”

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Commissioner Bridget Wall-Lennon responded:

My name is Bridget Wall-Lennon, and I am running to be the next Mayor of Wake Forest. For over a decade, I have called Wake Forest home. I have been blessed to raise my daughter in this community, start my small business here, and serve you as an elected member of the town’s Board of Commissioners. Thank you so much for the opportunity to share my vision for Wake Forest.

Our town is at a critical crossroads where we stand firmly at the intersection of growth and stability. I am running for Mayor because I believe I can provide new leadership for Wake Forest needed for a time such as this. As we continue to grow we need clear vision that includes protecting the principles that make our town great. If we forge new partnerships between business community, community partners, and our county and state government, we can become a town that allows all of our citizens to prosper together without compromising the love we have for our town. As your next Mayor, I believe that together we can blaze a new trail forward to make Wake Forest the very best city in our area.

Elected in 2017, I am proud to have worked alongside our city leaders serving on the Town Commission, and I feel confident that I can bring a strong voice and a renewed focus and direction for how great Wake Forest can become.

Wake Forest is no longer the sleepy town on the outskirts of Raleigh.  We now face real challenges in balancing our rapid growth to coincide with our Main Street values. Like many of you, I chose to raise my family here because of the hometown feel that our town gives in security and comfort for our children to thrive and learn. But, I also like the amenities and conveniences that our town offers.  Differences aside, we are a strong-knit community that believes in and supports our neighbors and community in times of need.

I am a third-generation entrepreneur, raising a fourth-generation entrepreneur and future servant leader. I understand many of the challenges that many small business owners face. I understand the importance of balancing a family, business and serving one’s community.  My company offers services focused on supplier diversity and inclusion, economic development, program development, public policy, corporate and governmental relations, community engagement and involvement, strategic planning and process improvement.

Before starting my consulting business, I worked for the NC Department of Administration for 14 years as a division director and Special Assistant to the Secretary of Administration. I was responsible for setting up an office within state government when established by Executive Order from the Governor.  I leveraged my experience from my professional career in business development and public administration to launch my consulting firm, BLWall Consulting. Having worked for or partnered with various statewide and national organizations, I successfully built a rapport with government officials, major corporations, and public sector organizations that have allowed me to be effective in coalition building, advocacy, and public policy.

Wake Forest’s most significant challenges are growth, transportation, and job creation opportunities at multiple income levels.

Our increased growth in population is one of our biggest assets, but also yields the most significant concerns.  Our housing market is one where we are building rapidly in open spaces but are also seeing older multi-family properties sold with an increase in displacement and lack of affordability. Wake Forest must protect our green spaces and neighborhood appeal. We cannot leave behind our aging population by which our success was built on due to the rise in property taxes or overgrowth within our housing market. The increase in our housing market must meet the needs of all income levels. Housing affordability is not simply for the lower income levels; it is a challenge that now affects all of us — college graduates, single families, and retiring citizens.

Wake Forest’s growth is also causing an increased need to focus on our transportation concerns. We have expanded needs for road expansion, better-maintained roads, and new traffic patterns. When I speak to my neighbors and constituents, they are concerned about the safety of their children due to drivers speeding and driving erratically in their neighborhoods. We cannot wait for the state’s transportation department to come to our rescue on their terms. I have a track record of working with officials at all levels to listen to citizen concerns, cut through the red tape of bureaucracy along the way.

And when it comes to job creation, it is great that we have companies like Apple, Google, and others coming to the Triangle to expand their operations. Still, we also need jobs created and sustained by the many small businesses that run our local economy.  As your next Mayor, I will be Wake Forest’s biggest cheerleader to recruit more businesses to our area. I will regularly meet with business owners to learn more about their greatest needs. Being proactive and not reactive toward job growth is the best approach needed to keep our town on the right track forward. I have a career in increased business facilitation, and I know government should only step in to be an additive and not a hindrance for more job growth.

As we head to the polls this fall, I ask that you elect a leader who knows we are at a crossroad and is willing to listen and be innovated in our approach as we move forward as town. I ask that you elect a leader who is willing to work with collaboratively with neighbors and friends, business and government, new parents, and retiring citizens. I ask that you join me this fall and Vote Bridget Wall-Lennon for Mayor of Wake Forest.

Thank you to the Wake Forest Gazette for the opportunity to introduce myself to those of you who may not know me.  A fun-factoid about me is I love to dance. My mother is a Blues singer, and my nine-year-old daughter is learning to play bass guitar.  I am a servant leader at heart and have been in public service all of my 25+ professional career.  I look forward to sharing more about myself and my vision for Wake Forest.

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The contest for two town board seats

Patrick Griffin responded:

My name is Patrick Griffin.  I am a Husband and Father of 2 beautiful children.  I have been a resident of Wake Forest for over 9 years and currently serve on my neighborhood HOA board.  I work at 1-800 Water Damage and I am the Account Manager/Sales Representative for the company.  I was born in Hickory, North Carolina and have lived in this great state my entire life.  I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from UNC Greensboro.

We chose to live in Wake Forest in 2012 because it had that small town feel while still being close to our State Capital, the RTP and all the colleges and universities.  I’ve seen the changes our state and town have gone through over the last 5 decades/9 year’s respectively and that’s why I’m running for town commissioner.

I want to see Wake Forest be the best place possible to live, work, and raise a family.  My vision for Wake Forest is two fold: 1)to handle the growth of our area in the most responsible way possible.  2)For the citizens and small businesses (Current and Future) to have the best customer service experience possible from the town that serves them.  I’d greatly appreciate your vote for Town Commissioner of Wake Forest!

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Michael Molinaro responded:

Hi- Wake Forest, my name is Mike Molinaro, and I am an open-minded individual who wants to serve you as an effective Commissioner by listening and understanding all the business of Wake Forest. I grew up in Scranton, PA, yes, the same Scranton, PA, our current President lived until he was 8 years old, and where the great show “The Office” was based. I moved to North Carolina in the Fall of 1998 and lived in the greater Raleigh area for all my relocation and settled in Wake Forest in 2015. I love the community, the people, and the way it just feels safe and comfortable.

One thing I would like everyone to know about me is I love all people and I love to laugh. God has put us in this life together and we need to work together, “All of us is better than the One of us.”

I believe in Transparency and Protection, I make decisions-based on logic and reason. I believe everyone needs to be heard and there is a win-win solution in almost every situation.

I grew up working in my family’s construction business, I have a degree in Business Administration, I worked for big corporations, and am a small business owner – where I developed great business acumen. I know what hard work is and embrace the challenges of life and our community business.

There is no substitute for integrity, and I have a motto I live by and that is “just do the next right thing”, so in conclusion, on November 2^nd, 2021, please support me to help Wake Forest to continue to do the next right thing.

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Keith Shackleford responded:

The press of work at his law firm prevented Shackleford responding at this time.

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Liz Simpers responded:

In 2017, a friend’s suggestion of “You should run for town commissioner!” started this journey, and my dad’s heart for civic service keeps me inspired! My dad, Tom Simpers, 78 years old, is the chair of the planning board in my home town of Kennett Square, PA.
Just last week, he received the perfect attendance award for 50 years of service to the Longwood Rotary Club. His advice to me has always been “Be kind. There is never enough kindness in this world.”

I came to North Carolina in 1994 to the School of Design at NC State. I have been working with youth, teens, and families since I was 18 years old. I moved to Wake Forest 8 years ago and now work with the Wake Forest Chamber Foundation helping to develop our town’s future
leaders. I love this town more than any other place I’ve lived (and I’ve lived all over the state since 1994). I serve on the Trentini Foundation board, the Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership Board, and am an active member of Wakefield United Methodist Church.

If re-elected as Wake Forest Town Commissioner, I vow to continue to listen more than I speak. I promise to keep the public engaged in Town decisions, and get more families connected to our Town and to each other. I will advocate for those residents and small businesses who
might feel disconnected to Town decisions.

The growth of our town has been exciting, but also something to keep a careful eye on. In the past four years, we as a board have pushed developers to create the right projects with the good of the town in mind. Many of our re-zoning cases have been amended and improved over months and even years of compromise. We need the right businesses, the right developments, and the right protected open space to keep our residents happy, healthy, and safe. Whenever possible, we have worked with developers to create connectivity and improve infrastructure to save Wake Forest tax payers money. The Wegmans and Grove 98 project is a
great example of those key partnerships.

Wake Forest has been built on a rich history. At 45 years old, I am close to the average age (39) of those that are moving into our community, and I believe we will be making decisions that will matter not just in 5 years, but in 25-30 years. In the near future, I hope to
see more jobs created in town, and more opportunities for families to live, work, and play in Wake Forest.

I would be honored to serve you and serve our great town for another term!

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Nick Sliwinski responded:

I have been a resident of Wake Forest for 7 and a half years.  I moved here from Western Pennsylvania with my wife and young daughter in March of 2014 when I was hired as a Purchasing Consultant for a Healthcare Group Purchasing Organization.  In that time, we had a son, my wife started a small business, we helped plant a local church, and we bought our first house (which we recently sold and purchased our current house).

I am passionate about keeping the charm, history, and qualities of what makes Wake Forest unique, appealing, and the reason why so many of us chose Wake Forest as our home.

In the coming years, I would like to see the town heed the advice from residents found in the recent surveys they conducted.  Wake Forest needs to digest all of the new development and assess what is needed to support the increased population along with current residents and businesses.  Growth in Wake Forest should be approached with an emphasis on smart development that only improves on the already great town that I am proud to call home.

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