I know a lot of people are down on Stef and I share some of the concerns about her thin skin. She's far from perfect. However there are a few reasons why she still gets my vote over Knight.
First, I have never seen a more responsive local politician. She is quick and reliable to respond to constituent contacts and gets concerns people bring to her handled.
But most importantly, she knows what she is doing. I attended a forum with candidates for all seats, where she was the only person at the table to:
- Understand that mental health is a large part of the homeless equation
- Acknowledge that the state legislature ties Raleigh's hands on tree protection
- Understand that the city can't do everything and has to prioritize.
For example at that forum David Knight said "I don't think any sidewalk request should be turned down" which like most of his answers is a happy-talk remark that shows no knowledge of how government and its funding actually works. One of the issues that David Knight supporters have been hitting Stef on is her support for trying to stop the RDU quarry, but then in an N&O questionnaire Knight agreed with Stef that the city should file a lawsuit to try to stop it! This is trying to have it both ways. Also in the N&O questionnaire Knight supported using taxpayer money for a boondoggle soccer complex in SE Raleigh. (see N&O questionnaire here)
Because of some of Stef's thin-skinned behavior in council I was leaning toward Knight until that forum, but I came away realizing that despite her rough edges Mendell actually understands governing and how it works, and Knight understands how to give glib crowd-pleasing answers.
It's also a little embarrassing to see how quickly and enthusiastically progressives will choose the glib man over the competent woman.
