Bostic Announces Candidacy for District E Council Seat
Pledges to Make "Quality of Life" Issues the core of his campaign
Richard Bostic, a 41-year old Fiscal Analyst for the North Carolina General Assembly, announced on July 2 that he is seeking the District E seat on the Raleigh City Council. The District E seat is an open seat in 1999 since current seat holder Paul Coble seeks the office of Mayor.
"I am truly excited about offering the voters a real choice on Election Day. My candidacy gives Raleigh voters a candidate with a commitment to the environment and a background in transportation, planning, and government finance."
Bostic's agenda for his candidacy focuses on what he describes as "Quality of Life Issues" which include: (Click on the topics to read more about the issues.)
- Addressing transportation problems - working with regional and state transportation officials to obtain funding for highway maintenance and construction, promoting the Triangle Transit Authority light rail system, coordinating the Capital Area Transit system to work with light rail, promoting walking and biking by building sidewalks and bikelanes, and widening road shoulders on major streets.
- Preserving open space in Raleigh and Wake County - expanding the city parks and greenway system, acquiring land along the Neuse River to protect this important waterway from development, removing the Duraleigh Road Connector from the city thoroughfare plan, and denying high density zoning near Umstead Park.
- Safeguarding our water supply - prohibiting rezoning in the Falls Lake and Swift Creek watersheds and aggressively monitoring erosion control devices at construction sites.
- Protecting our neighborhoods - opposing irresponsible infill development, fighting commercial rezoning in residential areas, and promoting affordable housing so all residents can enjoy home ownership in our city.
- Advocating "smart growth" - guiding economic development in suburban Raleigh according to the City's Comprehensive Plan, reusing and rebuilding Downtown structures, permitting downtown property owners to create Business Improvement Districts to fund infrastructure improvements.
- Promoting the arts - making the arts available to all citizens and using the arts as a catalyst for downtown development.
- Increasing public safety - paying our police, firefighters and paramedics a higher living wage so that morale will not interfere with keeping our streets safe and protecting our families.
"The next Councilperson for District E must be able to balance the needs of the development community, while also protecting our established neighborhoods, our watersheds, and our open space." Bostic said. "In recent years many on our City Council have lived by the motto – Rezone now, ask questions later – and have forgotten their commitment to the citizens of Raleigh to plan growth with prudence and thoughtfulness. I will be that moderate voice that will balance these interests for the citizens." Bostic said.
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