Clark Rinehart

In general, I believe Raleigh should welcome innovation and the economic investment that comes with new technology, but growth cannot come at the expense of affordability, public health, or our natural resources. Before approving major data center development, local government should evaluate its full impact on our electricity and water systems and then still proceed cautiously as we investigate all of the details surrounding these projects, including who pays for necessary infrastructure upgrades and whether those costs could ultimately be passed on to residents.

I would support clear, transparent standards with accountability for large-scale developments, including responsible water use, energy efficiency, environmental protections, and meaningful community engagement. We should also work with Duke Energy, Raleigh Water, regional governments, and state regulators to ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with growth.

My approach is simple: if a development creates jobs and investment, that’s good for Raleighites — but it should also make a fair contribution toward the infrastructure and resources it requires and not pass costs downstream nor irreversibly deplete important resources and pollute the environment.

North Carolina’s greatest economic asset is its people. If we want to remain a national leader in biotechnology, life sciences, and technology, we need to start preparing students for those opportunities well before they reach college.

I would support stronger partnerships between K–12 schools, community colleges, universities, and local employers to expand STEM education, career and technical education, internships, apprenticeships, and hands-on learning. Community colleges, in particular, can serve as a bridge between students and the high-demand jobs being created across our state. I believe they will play a vital role in workforce preparedness for our younger generations.

At the local level, Raleigh can help bring schools, employers, nonprofits, and higher education institutions to the same table and make sure students from every neighborhood — including students who may not see themselves as future scientists or technologists — have access to these opportunities.

We should make sure that North Carolina’s innovation economy creates pathways to the middle class and robust opportunities for North Carolinians who are growing up here.

Government has a fundamental responsibility to protect public health and make sure people can live, work, and raise their families in safe communities. That means taking evidence-based action on issues ranging from vaccine access and disease prevention to environmental hazards such as PFAS, asbestos, contaminated water, and air pollution.

I believe government should focus on three things: prevention, preparedness, and access. We should invest in public health infrastructure before a crisis occurs, make essential health resources accessible to people regardless of income or neighborhood, and communicate clearly during emergencies.

At the same time, public policy should be grounded in the best available scientific evidence and implemented in a practical, transparent way. Local government cannot solve every public health challenge alone, but Raleigh can be a strong partner with Wake County, healthcare providers, schools, and state and federal agencies.

Protecting public health isn’t about government telling people how to live; it’s about making sure everyone has a fair opportunity to live in a safe, healthy community.

Elected officials should not expect the public to trust science simply because we say, “the experts agree.” Trust is earned through transparency, honesty, and consistency.

I believe elected officials should work directly with scientists and public health professionals to explain not only what we know, but how we know it along what we still don’t know. We should communicate uncertainty honestly rather than pretending every question has a simple answer.

Just as importantly, scientists and government need to meet people where they are. That means listening to community concerns, engaging trusted local institutions, making information understandable, and being willing to correct mistakes when new evidence emerges.

My role as an elected official would not be to be the scientist in the room. It would be to make sure scientists are heard, evidence is respected, and residents have clear, honest information they can use to make informed decisions.