Committee to Elect Gary Hartong

06/17/2026

residents are invited to review and comment on draft plans and maps for the Neuse North Area Plan at an upcoming community meeting.

Stop by on Tuesday, June 24, from 4:30–6:30 p.m. at New Hope Fire Station No. 2, 4909 Watkins Road in the Town of Wendell. Planning staff and representatives from other County departments will be available to answer questions and discuss topics such as future land use, agriculture and water quality.

Registration is optional.

We hope to see you there! ⤵️
https://www.wake.gov/events/neuse-north-area-plan-community-meeting-0

06/15/2026

Let’s. Go. Canes.

06/14/2026

WAKEMED–ATRIUM MERGER

After hearing radio ads promoting the proposed WakeMed–Atrium Health merger and attending the public information session at WakeMed North Hospital on May 26, I understand the benefits being presented: investment, growth, stronger competition with Duke Health and UNC Health, and continued nonprofit status. However, what I have not heard clearly discussed are the possible negative consequences of such a major transaction. In my opinion, the proposed combination raises three important concerns for Wake County residents and leaders.

WakeMed has long been viewed as a community hospital system created to serve Wake County. WakeMed says it is not being sold, will remain nonprofit, and that Wake County will continue appointing a majority of WakeMed board members. Even so, the concern is whether meaningful local control will remain once WakeMed is fully integrated into Atrium Health, a much larger system based outside Wake County. Over time, decisions about services, staffing, capital spending, and long-term strategy could be shaped more by Atrium’s systemwide priorities than Wake County’s local needs.

Hospital mergers can reduce competition, which may lead to higher prices for patients, employers, insurers, and taxpayers. Supporters argue the merger will bring major investment and help WakeMed compete. However, residents should ask whether those benefits will actually lower costs or simply strengthen a larger hospital system. The agreement should include clear commitments on charity care, insurance rates, emergency services, and access to care.

The public deserves a full understanding of the legal and financial terms before Wake County approves any documents. The delayed County vote provides more time for review, which is appropriate given the long-term importance of this decision. Before approval, residents should understand future governance, executive pay, charity care commitments, cost controls, and what happens if Atrium’s priorities change. The key focus should be to solidify those terms to best protect Wake County residents.

06/09/2026

The Town Council continues to deliberate over Garner's FY27 budget. Council will hold a special budget meeting tonight, June 8, at 4 p.m. in the Council Chambers in Garner Town Hall. The public is welcome to attend. The meeting will be streamed on YouTube and Facebook. Visit the budget portal to review the budget and offer your feedback.

📺: youtube.com/townofgarner
🌐: GarnerNC.gov/FY27budget

06/08/2026

Campaigning isn't easy. Alas, the blooper reel! Volume ⬆️

06/05/2026

So excited for Savannah to finish her senior year and prepare to embark on her next adventure at UNC Wilmington in the Fall. We are grateful for the Leesville Road High School administration, teachers, colleagues and friends who have supported her through the years.

06/04/2026

The Blue Ridge Loophole comes from a North Carolina court case that allowed a property tax exemption for an apartment complex even though almost all of the ownership was held by for-profit investors and only a tiny share was connected to a nonprofit housing partner. Wake County says the problem is that this exemption was intended to support true affordable housing, but the vague law now allows some older apartment properties - already operating at lower rents - to restructure ownership and avoid paying property taxes, without clear evidence that tenants receive the savings.

Wake County estimates this loophole will cost the County $12.3 million in Fiscal Year 2027. That sounds like a large number, and it is real money, but it should be kept in perspective. Wake County’s FY2027 budget is $2.28 billion, and the County says property taxes provide about 75% of its funding. That means property taxes support roughly $1.71 billion of the budget. So the Blue Ridge Loophole represents 0.72% of Wake County property tax funding - less than 1%.

In other words, the loophole should be fixed, but it is not the primary driver of Wake County’s property tax burden.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A bipartisan bill at the North Carolina General Assembly is looking to close a loophole in affordable housing property tax breaks, which cities like Raleigh say is costing th…

06/02/2026

The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Monday to adopt a $2.282 billion annual budget for FY27 requiring a $90 per home per year property tax increase. Commissioners are adamant that the tax increase is necessary due to a variety of reasons - adding 25 more Medicaid application processing positions, adding 16 more EMT positions, funding a County detention center expansion, covering $500+ million in Wake County Public Schools operating expenses, and adjusting to a shifting Federal and State funding landscape - while maintaining current levels of other programmatic expenses.

Wake County commissioners unanimously approved a budget that includes a property tax increase, raising concerns for residents amid a challenging economic climate.

05/29/2026

15 Battle Stars. Participation in every major naval offensive in the Pacific theater during WWII. And yet it sits quietly on the banks across the river from the City of Wilmington awaiting visitors and friends. Reminder - Memorial Day extends beyond a late May Monday.

05/25/2026

There are thousands of untold heroic stories from our deceased veterans, living veterans and active duty U.S. Military. Many are purposefully untold. Some have been forgotten through the years. And others never had a witness of the heroism that occurred. Today we honor and remember those soldiers who have and will continue to protect our country.