WakeUP’s Norwalk to run?

Stan Norwalk, vice chair of WakeUP Wake County and an outspoken proponent of managed-growth policies around here for years, tells me he’s just about decided to run for the Wake Board of County Commissioners. Stan’s a Democrat. He’d be a candidate in the May 6 primary for the seat now held by Republican Kenn Gardner. Gardner’s the only Republican up for re-election this year; the other two incumbents — both of whom are expected to run — are Democrats Betty Lou Ward and Harold Webb. A Democratic sweep would knock the Republicans out of the majority for the first time since 2000. Right now, the GOP has a nominal 4-3 majority; however, the chair, Republican Joe Bryan, was elected by the Ward, Webb and the third Democrat, Lindy Brown, with Gardner and fellow Republicans Tony Gurley and Paul Coble voting against him.

One demographic note (and check my math on this): If it’s a Webb-Ward ticket, adding Stan, who’s 76, will reduce the average age on the Democrats’ side. Which only serves to underscore the point that, for regular folks who don’t sell insurance for a living, running for what amounts to a full-time job but which pays all of $17k a year is virtually impossible before they’re retired. Both parties — but especially the Democrats — have trouble recruiting candidates for local and county offices any more. (Update: Wake clerk’s office reports the salary is now $18.405.)

This entry was posted from Bob Geary on Monday, January 21st, 2008 at 3:59 pm and is filed under Wake's Sake, Cary Cares. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.