Marilyn Gardner, candidate for Fuquay-Varina Board of Commissioners

Eight candidates are on the ballot for four open seats on the Fuquay-Varina Town Board this year, including that of Mayor Blake Massengill, who is running unopposed.

Jason Ora Wunsch, who served as a town commissioner from 2013-22, is one of two former members running. Charlie Adcock, who served from 2007-18, is the other.

Early voting runs through Nov. 4. Election Day is Nov. 7.

To find polling places and full details on early voting, visit the state Board of Elections, ncsbe.gov, or the Wake County Board of Elections, wake.gov.

Name: Marilyn Gardner

Age: 74

Residence: 621 Walapai Drive

Occupation/Employer: Real Estate Broker, self-employed

Education: BS in Mathematics from Meredith College

Political or civic experience: Eight years, Fuquay-Varina Town Commissioner

Campaign website: MarilynGardner4FV.com

Tell us why you’re running to serve Fuquay-Varina. Why should voters trust you in this position?

My late husband and I moved to Fuquay-Varina in 1986. We raised five children here, all of whom were educated in our local public schools. I have invested time and energy in this community for more than 30 years as a volunteer for numerous civic and faith-based organizations, working to help find ways to make this great place even better. Over time, I developed a deep, abiding love for Fuquay-Varina. I had the opportunity to observe needs in our community and to find resources to help meet them. I also learned that community improvement projects were more successful when collaboration and cooperation with others was present. In 2015, I decided I might be more effective in these efforts if I had a vote, and I filed to run for a Fuquay-Varina Town Commissioner seat. I won that election and was re-elected to a second term in 2019. Serving as your voice on the Town Board of Commissioners has been one of the greatest honors of my life.

What is the town of Fuquay-Varina doing right to manage growth? What could be improved?

It is critical that we be intentional as we address the effects and implications of unprecedented growth on our town. The most important thing Fuquay-Varina is doing right to manage growth is that we recently updated most of our major plans, and have implemented policies to review them frequently to ensure that they remain relevant and timely. Among the plans we have updated and are monitoring more often are our Land Use Plan, our Land Development Ordinances, our Community Transportation Plan, and our Parks and Recreation Master Plan. We are also in the process of developing a Downtown Generational Plan to provide a long-range, cohesive guide for future development in our downtown core. Another thing that we are doing right to manage growth is that we started phasing our water allocations for new construction, rather than approving the entire allocation in the beginning. This has helped reduce undue stress on our water supply and provides a more realistic picture of our water requirements. Growth and a highly volatile housing market have had a profound effect on the available of affordable/attainable housing in our area. One viable solution for this issue could be to tweak town land use plans and development ordinances to be sure we are offering a variety of housing options for developers and builders to consider. We could also support incentives for builders and developers to include affordable/attainable housing inventory in their plans.

If elected, how would you approach an existing or new issue differently from your fellow council members?

It is difficult to determine exactly what approach fellow council members are using for existing or new issues. I can only say with certainty how I approach these issues. I like to first research what is readily available online concerning the issue. Then I like to consult with staff for the most credible and up to date information available on the issue. I like to find out how towns comparable to ours have addressed the issue. Sometimes I consult one of my personal networks (such as a comparable volunteer service organization) to see how they feel about the way the issue has been addressed in their town. Occasionally, I ask for additional time to research and consider the issue.

How do you plan to make local government in Fuquay-Varina more inclusive and equitable for all residents in the town who feel their voices are underrepresented?

I think that Let’s Talk Fuquay-Varina has been quite effective in increasing citizen engagement, as well as the numerous public engagement opportunities that town staff has been hosting around the community on various subjects, such as transportation issues, updated Plans, and citizen input asking for suggestions or opinions on any number of subjects. I do think that a number of senior citizens are excluded from most of the information that is being offered through technology. I am hoping that with the construction of the new Community Center North and its dedicated senior space, we can increase engagement and programming opportunities for those who have felt excluded and underrepresented.

Please list any endorsements you’ve received.

I have been endorsed by the Wake County Democratic Party.

If there is anything you would like to address to voters, please do so here.

We must be intentional as we address growth. Careful planning for transportation, future water and sewer needs, and more balanced economic growth are key if we expect to preserve the charming character and sense of community we have all come to love and expect in Fuquay-Varina. Together, we can accomplish this and much more. I am proud to be your voice on the Fuquay-Varina Town Board of Commissioners, and I hope to have your continued support!