Early voting is underway in Cary. Here’s who is running for mayor, town council

Kristen Johnson
·4 min read

Nine candidates are on the ballot for the Cary Town Council in this year’s municipal election.

Early voting for the town began Thursday, Sept. 21, and runs through Saturday, Oct. 7.

Election Day is set for Tuesday, Oct. 10 in Cary.

The mayor and all council members are elected every four years, but the council positions are split. This year, the mayor, District B, District D and one at-large seat are on the ballot.

Districts A, C, and the other at-large seat will be elected in 2025.

Here’s what to know about the candidates, early voting, and voter ID requirements.

Mayor

▪ Harold Weinbrecht Jr., incumbent

▪ Website: mayorweinbrecht.com

Weinbrecht is running unopposed to continue as mayor. He was first elected to the town council in 1999 and has served five terms over the past 15 years. He is a retired software engineer at SAS Institute. Weinbrecht and his wife, Belinda, have lived in Cary since 1987.

Cary Town Council: At-large

▪ Lori Bush, incumbent

▪ Website: loriforcary.org

Bush holds one of Cary’s at-large seats alongside Councilwoman Carissa Johnson-Kohn, who was elected last year. She is running for her fourth term. Bush was first elected in 2011 and previously held the position of mayor pro tem. Bush works for Cisco Systems as a technical lead and is an avid bicyclist.

▪ Mary Insprucker

▪ Website: maryforcary.com

Insprucker is back on the ballot for Town Council after running for District C in 2022 against incumbent Jack Smith. She is a writer, podcaster and former consultant for the town. Her priorities include affordable housing, public safety and seniors.

▪ Matthew Gronke

▪ Website: matthewgronke.com

Gronke is challenging Bush and Insprucker for the at-large seat.

Cary Town Council: District B

▪ Don Frantz, incumbent

▪ Website: donfrantz.blogspot.com; facebook.com/donfrantznc

Frantz also serves as mayor pro tem. He is running for his fifth term on the council. He was first elected in 2007. Frantz owns Frantz Automotive Center in Cary and authors a blog about the town’s happenings. He wants to continue “to work to make Cary an even better place to live, work and play.”

▪ Michelle Craig

▪ Website: michellecraigforcary.com

Craig, an educator for Wake County Public School System, has served in the Cary community for 10 years and is active in the local PTA and as a volunteer. Her priorities include housing affordability, diversity and inclusion, and improvements to the town’s environment.

Cary Town Council: District D

▪ Ryan Eades, incumbent

▪ Website: ryanforcary.com

Eades was appointed to the Town Council last year after Councilwoman Ya Liu became a State House member. He served on the town’s planning and zoning board before his appointment. His priorities include the growth and development of western Cary, the environment and connectivity.

▪ Sarika Bansal

▪ Website: sarika4cary.com

Bansal was a finalist alongside Eades last year for the vacant District D seat. A local business owner, volunteer and resident, Bansal said some of her issues are public safety, the environment and traffic, and the investment in a community center and parks. If elected, she would be the first Indian American woman to serve on the Town Council.

▪ Rachel Jordan

▪ Website: rachelforcary.com

Jordan is running against Bansal and Eades for District D. She is currently a precinct chair for the county’s Democratic Party and is a volunteer for the Alston Ridge PTA as a cultural arts representative and vice president of communications. She is concerned about Cary’s diverse community, equitable growth and clean energy.

Voter ID now required

An accepted photo ID is required to vote this year. A driver’s license and other forms of identification will be accepted, including a voter ID.

The IDs are free and available at the Wake, Chatham, and Durham boards of elections. Voters can also get a free ID card at the Department of Motor Vehicles. For more information about the requirement, visit the State Board of Elections at ncsbe.gov.

Early & absentee voting

There are two early voting sites in Cary and in Chatham County, including

  • For Cary voters: Herbert C. Young Community Center, 101 Wilkinson Ave., Cary

  • For Chatham County voters: New Hope Baptist Church, 581 New Hope Church Road, Apex

Times for voting at these locations are scheduled for

  • Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

  • Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

  • Sundays, 1 - 6 p.m.

Absentee ballots and other information about early voting can be requested for Cary voters through the Wake County, Chatham County and Durham County Board of Elections.

Precincts can be found on Cary’s Election Day using the State Board of Election voter information search tab.

Candidates forums

Cary’s Community Candidates Forum is now live on the town’s website at carync.gov. Each candidate was given five minutes to share information and their priorities for the town. The forum will be streamed on October 9 on Cary TV at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.