Raleigh elections — Russ Stephenson gets Sierra Club nod
In the October 9 elections, the Sierra Club’s Capital Group has made its endorsements, and the only surprise is that it’s backing just one candidate in the at-large race, not two. There are a pair of at-large seats on the ballot (and six at-large candidates), which means that every voter can cast two votes … or just one. The club endorsed only incumbent Russ Stephenson.
The single-shot strategy, if voters choose it too, would maximize Stephenson’s chances of winning outright — that is, without getting forced into a runoff. More on that below.
In the only two contested district races, the Capital Group endorsed a pair of challengers: Nancy McFarlane in District A, and Rodger Koopman in District B. It also endorsed Mayor Charles Meeker and District D Councilor Thomas Crowder, neither of whom has an opponent. But it did not endorse District C Councilor James West, who’s likewise unopposed. Ouch.
The local Sierra Club chapter is Raleigh’s most politically influential environmental group. It’s hosting a meet-and-greet to introduce the endorsed candidates on Monday, September 10, 6-8 pm, at Porter’s Tavern, 2412 Hillsborough Street.
Its endorsement statement is on its website, and is excerpted below the fold.
The logic of the single-shot is this: If Stephenson’s your first choice, and you don’t really have a strong second choice, casting that second vote anyway has the effect of decreasing Stephenson’s chances of winning outright by increasing the number of votes he must get to avoid being forced into a runoff. Why? Because in a two-way race like this one, a candidate needs 25% of the total number of votes cast to win in the first round. The more votes cast, in other words, the more your first choice will need to win. Your decision to keep that second vote in your pocket is one less total vote.
If all of the six fall below the 25% threshold, the top four move on to a runoff on November 6. If just the top finisher gets 25%-plus, then the runoff is between the second and third place candidates.
The other five at-large candidates are Paul Anderson, Mary-Ann Baldwin, William Best, Helen Tart and David Williams.
Here’s a bit of what the Sierra Club said:
Raleigh is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation, with the population expected to double by 2030. Rapid development is already straining our sewage treatment plants, causing water shortages and increasing storm-water runoff — the leading cause of water pollution in the State. The resultant increase in traffic has also contributed to the Triangle ranking in the top 20 metropolitan areas experiencing unhealthy air quality. Local government can and should do more to effectively manage growth. The Capital Group Sierra Club believes that nothing is more important to protecting our urban environment than electing “green” City Council members.