Who’s running for Fuquay-Varina town board, and what’s in the parks bond referendum?

Kristen Johnson
·4 min read
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Voters in Fuquay-Varina will decide on a mayor, three town commissioners and a $60 million parks and recreation bond in November.

Mayor Blake Massengill is running unopposed for another term in the western Wake County town of over 43,480 people.

Seven other candidates, including two incumbents and two former commissioners, are running for three open seats on the town board.

Larry Smith, who has served on the board since 2019, is not seeking re-election.

Election Day is Nov. 7 in Wake County.

Early voting runs Oct. 19 through Nov. 4.

Mayor

▪ Jonathan “Blake” Massengill

Massengill was elected in 2021 having served on the Fuquay-Varina Board of Commissioners as mayor pro tem for six years. He was first elected to the board in 2013.

He owns the small service building company Massengill Design-Build in Fuquay-Varina. His priorities for the town include downtown revitalization, economic growth, public safety, traffic and transportation.

Commissioners

▪ Charles “Charlie” Adcock

Adcock served as commissioner from 2007 to 2018. He also chaired the Fuquay-Varina Planning Board prior to his town board service.

Adcock is a branch manager and business banker at FNB Bank in downtown Fuquay-Varina. Some of his priorities for the town board are fiscal management, funding the police department, the town’s infrastructure and revitalizing the town’s residential communities.

▪ Michael Ferig

Ferig is a cybersecurity threat analyst and the vice chair of the Wake County Young Republicans.

He moved to Fuquay-Varina seven years ago and participates in the town’s recreation activities for youth and adults. According to his website, Ferig wants to focus on economic development, infrastructure and public safety.

▪ Marilyn Gardner (incumbent)

Garnder was elected to the town board in 2015 and re-elected in 2019.

She is a real estate broker with Century 21 Triangle Group and is active in various groups in the town including the Fuquay-Varina Women’s Club and the Friends of the Fuquay-Varina Museums.

▪ William “Bill” Harris (incumbent)

Harris has over 30 years of experience as an elected official first serving Fuquay-Varina in 1987. He is also a member of the Community Engagement and Empowerment Team in the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, where he retired in 2020.

If re-elected, Harris said he plans to continue being an advocate for fairness and transparency, promoting regional collaborations, managine growth and engaging with the community.

▪ Nolan Perry

Perry is a local attorney and co-owner of Morgan & Perry Law, PLLC in Fuquay-Varina. He is involved with the town’s Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, and the Downtown Association.

If elected, Perry plans to support the town’s business community and public safety, improve transportation, and preserve Fuquay-Varina’s small-town charm.

▪ Elizabeth Parent

Parent is a beekeeper, mother and community advocate. She is a former candidate for the N.C. House District 37 and the former secretary for the Artists Alliance of the Triangle.

On her website, Parent said she holds progressive views and is a childhood sexual assault survivor. If elected, her priorities include growth, housing affordability and infrastructure.

▪ Jason Ora Wunsch

Wunsch served on the Board of Commissioners from 2013-2022. He is the current chairman of the town’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and mans the Today in the Quay Facebook page and This Week in the Quay newsletter.

In 2001, Wunsch founded the Wunsch Law Firm, PLLC in Fuquay-Varina, and practices in the District and Superior Court with criminal and civil cases.

2023 Parks and Recreation Bond

A $60 million Parks and Recreation Bond will be on the ballot this year to fund improvements to existing parks and recreation facilities including enhancements to Hilltop Needmore Town Park & Preserve. The bond would add two fields, pickleball courts, resurfacing of trails and more parking.

A 70-acre park with baseball, softball and soccer fields, shelters and restrooms is also included in the bond.

Other projects include greenways, a sports complex, and renovations to the Fuquay-Varina Community Center.

If approved, residents could see a property-tax increase of 8 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

Upcoming forum

The Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce will hold a candidates forum at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, 123 E. Vance Street.

Voter information

This year, voters must have a Voter ID or another form of identification at the polls.

There are no early voting sites in Fuquay-Varina but voters can go to surrounding areas to vote during the early voting period, Oct. 19-Nov. 4:

  • Wake County Board of Elections, 1200 N. Hope Road, Raleigh

  • John M. Brown Community Center, 53 Hunter St., Apex

  • Avery Street Recreation Center, 125 Avery St., Garner

For more information see the Wake County Board of Elections website.