The Garner Chamber of Commerce hosted a forum for the candidates competing for two available seats on the Garner Town Council. The event was moderated by Marshall Keely of Spectrum News 1 and live-streamed on Facebook. The central issue framing the discussion was Garner's rapid population increase, with the town having recently been ranked the 10th fastest-growing city in the United States.

• Host: Garner Chamber of Commerce, represented by President and CEO Matthew Coppage.

• Candidates: Kathy Behringer, Mike McIver, Gra Singleton, Kelvin Stallings, Patricia Uzzell, and Rex Whaley.

• Key Election Dates (2025):

•    Early Voting Begins: October 16th (Wake County Board of Elections) & October 25th (Garner Locations)

•    Early Voting Ends: November 1st

•    Election Day: November 4th

Candidate Platforms at a Glance

Kathy Behringer

20-year incumbent on Garner Town Council; 6 years on Planning Commission.

Respect, civility, and teamwork. Focus on affordable housing, economic development, infrastructure needs, and leveraging partnerships.

Mike McIver

30 years in law enforcement; retired as Deputy Chief of Garner Police.

Four Pillars: Limiting future tax increases, strongly supporting first responders and town employees, incorporating smart growth, and maintaining Garner's quality of life and character.

Gra Singleton

Incumbent on Town Council since December 1993; lifelong resident.

Leadership and experience. Focus on infrastructure projects (trails, sidewalks, stormwater), learning from past decisions, and ensuring the best possible growth for citizens.

Kelvin Stallings

Candidate for Town Council.

Shared growth and people-centered progress. Addressing rising costs and the struggle for residents to afford living in Garner; ensuring growth has purpose.

Patricia Uzzell

Former mayor and former deputy commissioner.

Transparency, accountability, and integrity. A platform of being "here for the people" and working collaboratively.

Rex Whaley

40 years of financial experience (auditor, CFO, CPA).

Public safety, financial management, and development. Prioritizing commercial development to ease the residential tax burden; demanding more value from developers.

Managing Rapid Growth

The primary topic of the forum, all candidates agreed that managing Garner's explosive growth is the foremost challenge.

• Demanding More from Developers: Rex Whaley repeatedly argued that the town must expect more from developers than just "people and traffic." He advocated for focusing on commercial development to bring amenities and revenue, easing the tax burden on residents.

• A "Blessing and a Curse": Gra Singleton characterized the growth this way, noting it brings jobs but also strains resources like roads and public safety. He stated, "The myth about growth paying for itself, that's a myth and has been for some time."

• Preemptive Planning: Kelvin Stallings asserted, "We can't wish away growth." He stressed the need to prepare for it preemptively to avoid sprawl, which he called "a tax on everybody."

• Quality and Character: Mike McIver emphasized the need for "quality growth" that "fits in with the character of Garner" and does not force current taxpayers to foot the bill for expansion.

• An Opportunity for Partnership: Kathy Behringer framed the challenge as an opportunity to form partnerships with developers and NC DOT to find creative solutions through teamwork and persistence.

Public Services and Staffing

Candidates agreed on the importance of maintaining excellent public services amidst population growth, highlighting that Garner's police, fire, public works, and parks departments are all nationally accredited.

• Supporting Employees: Gra Singleton stated that employees must be "number one" and noted the town must remain competitive with salaries, updating its pay plan annually. He pointed to the popular but resource-intensive "unrestricted trash pickup" program as a future challenge.

• Proactive Public Safety Planning: Mike McIver, drawing on his law enforcement background, argued that public safety departments must be included in conversations about new growth before any approval processes.

• Funding Future Needs: Rex Whaley linked service levels to funding, stating that new developments must contribute resources to cover the need for new fire stations, police stations, and a new public works facility.

• A Hands-On Approach: Patricia Uzzell advocated for leaders to "take care of the people that take care of the people," suggesting direct engagement like doing ride-alongs to understand staff needs.

Top Challenges for the Next Four Years

When asked to identify the top three challenges, candidates converged on infrastructure, housing, and fiscal management.

• Capital Improvement Funding: Gra Singleton detailed an immense funding challenge, estimating a need for $150 to $200 million for projects like rebuilding Fire Station 2, a future Fire Station 6, a new public works facility, park development, and road projects. This is far beyond the current Capital Improvement Plan. He noted that bond referendums are currently unpopular with voters.

• The Affordable Housing Crisis: This was identified as a critical issue by nearly all candidates.

• Kelvin Stallings identified it as one of his biggest priorities.

• Gra Singleton revealed that an attempt to hire an affordable housing manager in the current budget "did not pass."

• Mike McIver and Kathy Behringer both acknowledged it as a national crisis that will not be solved in four years but requires persistent daily effort.

• Fiscal Responsibility:

•  Gra Singleton stated he voted against the last two budgets, citing an "8.5 cent tax increase" two years ago and a decision to spend a "$1.3 million gap" this year instead of saving it.

•  Rex Whaley pointed to tax increases in six of the last seven years and called for better control of expenditures.

•  Mike McIver expressed concern about senior citizens on fixed incomes being unable to afford rising property taxes and becoming "tax poor."

Transportation and Regional Collaboration

Candidates discussed the complexities of addressing traffic congestion, which is compounded by commuter traffic through Garner.

• Being the "Squeaky Wheel": Mike McIver argued that Garner must become more vocal and lobby state officials daily in Raleigh "so, every once in a while, we'll quit being bypassed over for Holly Springs, Apex, and Fuquay."

• The Funding Reality: Gra Singleton explained that NC DOT funding priorities changed about a decade ago and that the gas tax "just is not paying for it anymore." He highlighted that 35,000 people commute daily from Johnston County to Wake County, much of it through Garner.

• New Revenue Streams: Rex Whaley proposed lobbying the General Assembly for new municipal revenue sources, such as a share of sports betting revenue. He also stated Garner gets "very little" of the existing room occupancy and prepared meals tax revenue generated in the town and must fight for its share.

• Inter-Municipal Collaboration: Kathy Behringer suggested convening a committee with representatives from other municipalities to collaborate on regional solutions.

Economic Development, Tourism, and Community Identity

The conversation covered attracting investment which support existing businesses and Garner's unique character.

• Major Announcement Pending: Gra Singleton teased a "major announcement here in Garner the next couple days" related to economic development. He also noted the town's tax base has shifted from 80% residential/20% commercial when he was first elected to approximately 56% residential/44% commercial today.

• "Take Care of Garner First": Mike McIver argued for prioritizing Garner's existing small businesses, particularly in the downtown area, stating, "We take care of ourselves first. The rest will come."

• Beautification as an Economic Driver: Kathy Behringer championed public art and beautification, including flowers at town entrances and a planned mural. She quoted artist Peter Max, saying "color makes people happy," and argued that an attractive town encourages visitors to return and spend money.

• Promoting Local Attractions: Rex Whaley suggested more could be done to promote tourism to places like the Garner Area Historical Society museum downtown. Kelvin Stallings praised the town's social media efforts (like "Weekend Garner") and said council members have a duty to publicize local events.

Zoning and Development Codes

Candidates discussed using zoning as a tool to guide growth and address community needs.

• Ongoing Updates: Gra Singleton reported that the town's planning department is actively updating its Unified Development Ordinance, having recently finished commercial zoning and now reviewing residential districts.

• Creative Housing Solutions: Singleton raised the idea of using zoning to allow for "tiny homes," potentially for veterans, as a way to address housing affordability. Kelvin Stallings also mentioned the need to consider zoning changes for "middle housing."

• Improving Gateways: Mike McIver suggested using zoning to improve the appearance of Garner's "gateway" entrances from Raleigh on Highways 70 and 401 to create a positive first impression.

• Learning from the Past: Rex Whaley advocated for reviewing past development approvals to identify where zoning and codes can be tweaked to avoid repeating mistakes, such as a previous lack of focus on green space.

G. Preserving Open Space and Natural Areas

With land values rising, candidates explored strategies for preserving green space.

• The High Cost of Parkland: Gra Singleton stated that purchasing large tracts for new parks is becoming "an incredible challenge because it's so expensive per acre."

• Requiring Green Space in Developments: Singleton took credit for pushing for a requirement that new residential developments include usable, flat open space. He noted this was in response to residents in new neighborhoods saying, "We love our house, but we have no place to play." Most candidates agreed this was a critical strategy moving forward.

• Partnerships and Creative Solutions: Rex Whaley suggested looking for partnerships with businesses for park funding and expressed hope that "sweetheart deals" for land could still be made with longtime Garner families. Kelvin Stallings proposed less costly recreational amenities like "reflexology paths."

Civic Engagement

Candidates offered various ideas for better engaging residents, especially younger and newly arrived citizens.

• Beyond Social Media: Mike McIver warned against relying solely on social media, especially Facebook, to reach younger residents. He proposed partnering with schools to create a local government elective class and using physical mailings for major decisions.

• Meeting People Where They Are: Kelvin Stallings proposed council members conduct "neighborhood walk teams" to see constituent issues firsthand and hold "office hours" at local coffee shops. Rex Whaley suggested holding council meetings in remote locations.

• Youth Council: Both Rex Whaley and Gra Singleton praised the town's initiative in creating a Youth Council to involve young people in civic life.

• Availability and Explanation: Kathy Behringer stressed the importance of being available through roles on various town committees and taking the time to explain the complex processes behind council decisions to residents.