2024 North Carolina Election Guide

In the last four years, Sage Turner has been a consistent force for housing justice, taking a broad view on zoning decisions even in the face of NIMBY opposition. She's also supported subsidies increasing the number of homes available for all kinds of working Ashevilleans. On the campaign trail, Tod Leaven and Kevan Frazier have shown themselves to be clear-eyed and serious about the need for a multi-pronged approach to solving Asheville’s housing crisis. We believe that all three candidates are committed to seeing a greater diversity of housing types both on our transit-supportive corridors and in our core neighborhoods, for an Asheville that is more walkable, more affordable, and more welcoming.

We endorsed Dr. Terrance Ruth because he has clearly stated pro-housing policy solutions. Ruth has focused on the need for stronger policies and data-driven decision-making to ensure housing remains affordable and accessible for all residents, particularly as the city continues to grow rapidly. Ruth’s responses to our questionnaire indicate that he supports YIMBY solutions while his approach emphasizes equity, smart growth, and community engagement.

We endorsed Corey Branch because he has been a consistent advocate for affordable housing and equitable growth since joining the Raleigh City Council in 2015. He has supported key policies like Accessory Dwelling Units, the Missing Middle policy, and increased density along transit corridors. Branch expresses support for improving the permitting process to accelerate housing projects and for leveraging city-owned land for mixed-use developments. He also backs programs that promote homeownership, such as Habitat for Humanity, and emphasizes the need to balance development with infrastructure investments to ensure community stability.

We endorsed James Bledsoe because he advocates for reducing Raleigh’s restrictive zoning and permitting barriers that slow housing development and increase costs. He supports more flexible zoning laws to enable diverse housing types, streamlining the permitting process, and reducing regulatory costs, which are key housing solutions to attract more local developers and increase the housing supply. His commitment to cutting red tape and encouraging higher-density development aligns with YIMBY Action's principles of expanding housing opportunities for all.

We endorsed Megan Patton because she has been a consistent pro-housing voice on the City Council since 2022. She expresses her support for pro-housing policies including missing middle housing and transit overlay districts to encourage density and affordability. She emphasizes streamlining the permitting process through better staffing and technology while focusing on increasing affordable rental options. Patton also supports leveraging Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors for mixed-use growth and advocates for tenant protections and eviction prevention to ensure housing stability. Her approach balances smart growth, housing diversity, and affordability in Raleigh.

We endorsed Mitchell Silver because he brings decades of experience as a public servant and urban planning professional, including his role as Raleigh’s Planning Director. Silver has consistently advocated for increasing housing density, especially in areas close to transit and amenities, to create mixed-use, walkable communities. He supports expanding affordable housing options like duplexes and townhomes, streamlining the permitting process to lower costs, and incorporating more housing in Raleigh’s Comprehensive Plan. His deep understanding of urban planning and commitment to affordable, accessible housing make him a strong advocate for YIMBY principles.

We endorsed Jonathan Lambert-Melton because he has been a leading advocate for pro-housing reforms since joining the Raleigh City Council in 2019. He was instrumental in passing Missing Middle housing policies, which ended single-family zoning and expanded options like duplexes and triplexes. He also championed parking reforms, including eliminating parking minimums, to increase affordability and accessibility. Melton continues to support legalizing single-room occupancy (SRO) housing, enabling ADUs, and incentivizing affordable housing, all while promoting anti-displacement measures and using city-owned land for affordable housing projects.