Civic Letter
to Cary

My family moved to Cary after our military service for its thoughtful planning, safe neighborhoods, top-rated schools, amazing parks and greenways, and wonderfully diverse population – all of which offered unparalleled quality of life that made our community special.

However, in the past few years, things began to change…

The town Council repeatedly raised property taxes while overspending its budget, down to symbolic decisions like replacing Cary’s dogwood logo, rooted in our founding principles, with a generic red star at a cost of millions. This rebrand was neither requested nor worth the expense, given that crime rose 15% and no law enforcement officers were hired over the past couple of years during substantial population growth. Meanwhile, development shifted toward dense rental housing that failed to improve affordability, overwhelmed existing infrastructure, and worsened traffic.

I stepped up to serve on the Economic Development Committee, where I saw continued overspending and a threat to the town’s AAA bond rating—details anyone can verify in the public budget. I believe we should seek the well-being of the place where we live (Jeremiah 29:7) and decided to throw my hat in for the At-Large seat.

I sought to return fiscal responsibility, affordability & safer community, ensure all voices were heard, and preserve Cary’s hometown charm. In my statement at the Cary Chamber of Commerce candidate forum, I was not shy in standing on these values, saying pointedly, “the math did not math,” and we needed Councilmembers who are trustworthy and unafraid to ask hard questions.

Unfortunately, the 2025 election was overtaken by national partisan anger. Despite Cary’s nonpartisan system—and my being the only bipartisan-backed At-Large candidate—the race became a referendum on national politics. Multiple voters told me at the polls, “I agree with you on local issues, but I’m voting based on national politics.” The election became infected with partisanship, losing the better design of democracy, which is typically alive at the ground level, where voters choose the neighbor with the best credentials and local values.

I knew, regardless of the outcome, I would stay engaged and committed to my community. And I encourage you to do the same.

Especially now. Just after the election, anonymous tips and brave town staff spoke up, sharing disturbing details about corruption entangled with the Town Manager and some Councilmembers. I attended one of the first council meetings after earnest local reporting revealed questionable land purchases totaling $1 million, among other things. At the same time, property taxes were being hiked, Councilmember Lori Bush had taken nearly $40,000 from the town for her master's degree, only returning the money after a public information request landed in the town's inbox. The state auditor and a private law firm are now investigating a long list of items.

Like so many of you, I find this all to be outright egregious, disappointing, and sad.

What can town residents do? Attend Council meetings and share what you think, submit your own request for public information, or reach out to WRAL to provide them with information if you have details on the corruption.

As John F. Kennedy wrote in Profiles in Courage, “For, in a democracy, every citizen, regardless of his interest in politics, “holds office”; every one of us is in a position of responsibility; and, in the final analysis, the kind of government we get depends upon how we fulfill those responsibilities.”

I’m with you,

Marjorie