Newcomers top incumbents in Cary’s district races, but runoff possible in District D

Challengers bested two Cary Town Council incumbents in district races Tuesday night, but one may be headed to a runoff to secure the spot.

Newcomer Michelle Craig defeated four-term council member Don Frantz in District B.

Sarika Bansal and Rachel Jordan finished first and second ahead of incumbent Ryan Eades in District D.

Mayor Harold Weinbrecht ran unopposed, and at-large incumbent Lori Bush finished far ahead in her council race.

Mayor

Weinbrecht took 95% of the vote with all 44 precincts reporting to win his sixth term as mayor.

At-large

There were three candidates for one of the council’s at-large seats.

Bush led opponents Mary Insprucker and Matthew Gronke with nearly 71% of the vote.

Insprucker finished second with 24% of the vote. Gronke had 4%.

District B

With all 12 precincts reporting, Craig won 61% of the vote, to incumbent Don Frantz’s 39%.

Craig, a substitute teacher for the Wake County Public School System and a former pre-K teacher, moved to Cary 10 years ago with her young family.

Frantz, first elected in 2007, has served four terms on the council.

Craig told The News & Observer that she was “filled with gratitude” and was grateful for Frantz for the time he served on the town council.

“I am grateful to the voters who chose to invest in me and our community,” she said. “We saw a vision of making Cary more affordable, equitable and sustainable, and with the help of many volunteers, we worked to share that vision throughout Cary, District B.”

District D

With all six precincts reporting in Wake and Chatham counties, Bansal finished with 49% of the vote, followed by Jordan with 28%.

Because Bansal did not reach the 50% plus one vote threshold required to win, Jordan may call for a runoff. If she does, the runoff will be held on Election Day, Nov. 7.

Eades, who was appointed to fill a seat vacated by Ya Liu in December, finished third with 23%.

Jordan has been a Democratic Party precinct chair and served on the Alston Ridge Elementary Schol PTA.

If elected, Bansal will be the first Indian American and the second woman of color to serve on the Cary Town Council.