Environment Wins, Democracy Loses in Raleigh Elections

Environmentalists have good reason to celebrate the outcome of the Oct. 11 elections in Raleigh, as all the candidates supported by the local Sierra Club won. Democracy, however, did not fare so well, with a voter turnout that was abysmal.

Charles Meeker was re-elected to a third term as mayor with almost 70 percent of the vote, a clear mandate for his platform calling for greater watershed protections and higher impact fees on development.

In the at-large race, both Sierra-endorsed candidates - Russ Stephenson and Joyce Kekas - won. And in District A, where Sierra backed both candidates, developer Tommy Craven edged out minister Paul Anderson. Voters also awarded new two-year terms to four unopposed candidates: Sierra-endorsed Thomas Crowder as well as Philip Isley, James West and Jessie Taliaferro, all of whom Sierra declined to endorse.

Meeker, Stephenson and Crowder are expected to be consistently pro-environment in their votes, with Kekas and Craven joining them on key issues. Craven, unfortunately, does not support higher development fees.

Meanwhile, the election revealed serious problems with the health of our democracy, as just over 27,000 votes were cast in the race for mayor. That means only 12.5 percent of Raleigh's registered voters weighed in - and only 9.5 percent of the city's voting-eligible citizens.

How (a)pathetic.