When Martin Luther was upset with the church's positions, he posted his 95 theses on the church door.

Republican commissioner candidate Michael Luther sent his out by e-mail.

This Luther only has three:

1. Stop busing. He opposes the school board's policy of shifting a small percentage of students in order to maintain economic diversity. "This busing has to stop......." he writes.

2. Stop the TTA. He believes the Triangle Transit Authority's $810 million commuter rail project should be ended. "The train commission needs to be shut down."

3. Slow growth. He says the county does not have the infrastructure or the land to continue to add residents at its present rate. "Wake County cannot grow to one million people in ten years," he writes.

We're still working on getting a full bio of him, but for now we can tell you that he is 45, lives in Cary and is taking distance-learning courses at N.C. State on genetics.

02/27/06 at 14:19
Isn't the rail-line related to infrastructure to grow?

Our roads are clogged because there is no serious alternative to driving. And we could build more densely if we did have that alternative. So these positions are contradictory unless Mr. Luther has an alternative way to provide public transportation.

02/27/06 at 14:21
Also, how can a Cary resident be anti-growth. Cary is the definition of suburban growth (read "sprawl") in the Triangle.

02/27/06 at 15:15
Targater - We have numerous problems in our area. And many ideas were floated around to make TTA a better deal for all, but at this rate the train was not the answer. Anyway, my test is simple:

Mr. Luther, do you support a county-wide APF (Adequate Public Facilities) Ordinance on all new residential construction?

Yes or No

Fancy term for "Impact Fees."

Uncle Ruckus
Gadfly

02/27/06 at 18:47
Uncle Ruckus:

Your fancy term for "impact fees" --- Adequate Public Facilities as you term them--- is incorrect. Imact fees are charged on the impact of a use on infrastructure. Adequate public facilities ordinances are in place to address whether their is adequate infrastructure to meet the demands of a proposed development. If a developer cannot demonstrate that the new development will not affect the infrastructure, then he/she must make various improvements---not pay a fee.

But regardless, both APFO and Impact Fees are just two tools used to slow or stop growth. Both were deployed by Glen Lang and others in the late 90s to stop growth. While Lang stopped the growth, which is what he promised, he also hurt the economy in Cary.

02/27/06 at 20:51
Were Cary's impact fees as far behind surrounding municipalities as Raleigh's currently are?

02/28/06 at 00:24
Stephanie - at once point they were much higher than Raleigh's. But since the Developer's Srill, Mayor Ernie took office, it was deleted. Now Cary has to built a $135 million dollar Waste Water Treatment plant, because they have commited to over 20,000 units of housing in the next 10 years. I know that Apex, Morrisville, and maybe Holly Springs also have a stake in this.

What is truly needed is a county-wide APF to help cover the cost of schools and other infrastructure needs. The cost of development should not be bourn by current taxpayers, thru the use of bonds. Development is suppose to pay for itself, but it hasn't, hence $1.3 billion dollars just in school bonds (what about the jail, social services, etc.).

Chris, if you are who I think you are, please add your website to your name:

http://www.hbawake.com/

By the way, you have your dates wrong above. It people like you Chris that are destroying the quality of life for the rest of the residents of Wake County. And for what, a beach condo, bigger car, private schools and maybe a mistress or two on the side.

Uncle Ruckus
Gadfly

02/28/06 at 12:30
Luther has three points, too bad at least 2 of them are not the responsibility of the county commission seat he is running for.

If that's what his campaign is going to be about might as well tack on abortion, the death penalty, and a few other issues the Wake County Commission has no control or responsibility over as well.

Where do we get these people?

1. Stop busing.

2. Stop the TTA.

3. Slow growth.

03/01/06 at 16:56
Johnb - I have to agree with you on this. Where are the real good candidates? Has the political system and the media chased off all the people who are just that - "real" people. It is truely sad for Wake County that with over a million people, this is what comes out.

Uncle Ruckus
GadFly

03/01/06 at 19:21
Ruckus--Why don't you run for County Commissioner?

03/06/06 at 13:32
Chris wrote: "Ruckus--Why don't you run for County Commissioner?"

I could ask the same of you. However, I am an "Independent" and "poor woking man" (Charlie Cisco is poor WC voter, while Joe Pinot Noir is average WC voter, and Louie R. Cristal represents "inside the beltway" crowd (what about Wakefield Plantation? - Mark Julep?)).

No doubt Chris, while you may dine daily at the Cardinal Club, the best I can do is look at the building.

Uncle Ruckus
Gadfly

03/06/06 at 16:23
BTW, Ruckus, Raleigh has a "Beltline." Washington D.C. is the one with the "Beltway."

03/07/06 at 23:48
Ruckus,
You never answered the question: Why don't you run for county commissioner? I think having a "gadfly" on the ballot and a name like Ruckus would get lots of votes, and make the campaign fun!