Cary Mayor Rumors for 2027, Cary’s Slow Growth, Cary Tennis Classic Board, Honor A Teacher, Campaign Kickoff, and Ivey Ellington House Ribbon Cutting

Cary Mayor Rumors for 2027

Rumors that these next two years on the Cary Council will be my last are simply not true. I fully intend to seek re-election and am grateful to have the unwavering support of my family, friends, and constituents.

As the only living Mayor who has led Cary through a recession and some of the most challenging financial times, I see it as both my responsibility and my calling to continue my service on the Cary Council. I am committed to working alongside my colleagues to help guide our community through today’s uncertainties.

In the coming six months, I encourage all citizens to focus on the important Cary Council election ahead, where three seats are up for decision. Once those choices are made by our community, we can then look ahead to November 2027.

Until then, I remain dedicated to my oath and to serving as Cary’s Mayor. I’m excited for what lies ahead—tomorrow and beyond.

Cary’s Slow Growth Rate and Other Wake County Municipal Growth Rates

According to numbers supplied by the U.S. Census Bureau this week, Cary is the slowest growing municipality in Wake County with a growth rate of under 1%. The data also shows we are the 146th largest municipality in the nation.

Garner is ranked as the #10 fastest growing municipality in the country. Other growth rates in Wake County include Fuquay-Varina at 5.1%, Holly Springs at 4.5%, Apex at 4.4%, Wake Forest at 4.3%, and Raleigh under 2%.

WUNC Due South Interview

Monday I was interviewed by Leoneda Inge of WUNC for Due South. Some of the topics covered in the interview of about 45 minutes include how I came into politics, my journey to becoming mayor, successes and challenges as mayor, Downtown Cary Park, the role of sports and recreation in the town’s identity, why Cary is a town and not a city, and the challenges and opportunities of growth.

I really enjoyed talking about Cary and probably could have talked for another hour. The broadcast of this interview is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20th.

Manager’s One-On-One

Monday, I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. Some of the topics we discussed included a criminal matter, a staff issue, utilities, a proposal in Regency, the Waverly proposal, and the budget.

Cary Tennis Classic Board

Monday night I met with the Cary Tennis Classic board. The Cary Tennis Classic will be June 29th through July 6th and have both men’s and women’s professionals. The tournament will have electric line calling (not common for an event our size). There will be a new Stadium LED Board sponsored by John McCabe. Our topics of discussion included community events during tournament week, food options, additional sponsors, a new VIP area, and ticket sales which begin June 1st.

Honor A Teacher

Tuesday evening, I joined several council members in the Cary Chamber’s Honor a Teacher Award Ceremony. This was the 25th year this has been held. There were 37 teachers award from different schools that have Cary students. Each recipient received a glass plaque and a $1200 check. Cary sponsored two of the awards. One for Green Hope Elementary and one for Green Level High School. Thanks to the sponsors for honoring these great men and women.

Jury Duty

Thursday, I did my civic duty as part of a jury pool for a criminal case. The lawyers picked the 12 jurors and an alternate in about two hours, and I, along with several others in the jury pool, was dismissed. While serving in a jury is an inconvenience to all of us, it is a vital part of our democracy, and I was honored to do my part.

Jennifer Bryson Robinson’s Campaign Kickoff

Thursday evening, I attended the campaign kickoff for Mayor Pro-Tem Jennifer Bryson Robinson. Jennifer is serving in her 26th year and is the second longest serving council member behind Jack Smith. She has been key in major decisions on how Cary has grown over the last 2+ decades. If there were such a thing as a Cary Council Hall of Fame, she would have to be in it. We have been blessed with her service.

Since Cary is almost built out, most of our future decisions will be on redevelopment. It is very important to have a council with a depth of knowledge to make the best decisions. I hope our citizens view her as I do and re-elect her on November 4th.

Ivey Ellington House Ribbon Cutting

Sunday afternoon I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Bryson Robinson, council member Kohn-Johnson, council member Craig, and council member Bush for the Ivey-Ellington House Rehabilitation ribbon cutting. Built in the 1870s, it was relocated from Chatham Street to Academy Street in 2023, and began the rehabilitation process in 2023. Much of the interior was restored and the house was updated to be enjoyed by the public and serve as Downtown Park offices.

The ceremony included comments from me, council member Craig, a member of the Historic Preservation Committee, and a member of the Friends of the Page-Walker. After the remarks the ribbon was cut by council members in attendance and the other speakers. To find out more about the Ivey-Ellington House go here.

Council Member Updates

There were no updates for this week.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

Today, we wrapped up a busy week by celebrating our team at Appreciate the Best—a chance to recognize the people who keep Cary at the Top of the Arc. I’m especially grateful to those who couldn’t attend because they were hard at work keeping things running — thank you.

A big thank you as well to HR, Public Works, Cary Tennis Park, and everyone who helped make the event a success.

Enjoy your weekend.

Sean

Cary Chamber Intercity Visit

Last week, Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Councilmembers Lori Bush, Jack Smith, and Carissa Kohn-Johnson, along with Town Manager Sean Stegall and several staff members, participated in the Cary Chamber InterCity visit to Chicago.

The trip offered valuable insights and sparked thoughtful discussions on innovative approaches to development and community partnerships. Most importantly, it served as a meaningful opportunity to strengthen connections among Cary’s local government leadership, elected officials, and the business community—reinforcing a shared commitment to Cary’s continued growth and success.

Affordable Properties Housing Tour in Chicago

Following the Cary Chamber InterCity trip, Councilmember Lori Bush joined Director of Housing and Community Partnerships Heather Whelehan, and Dorcas Ministries Executive Director André Anthony, in Chicago to visit affordable and mixed-income housing developments. The tour included redeveloped former public housing sites, properties with integrated daycare and other commercial uses, and developments with activated rooftops and urban farms. The group also met with several developers and community organizations to learn more about the financing models and partnerships they have created to develop housing.

Honor a Teacher

Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Bryson Robinson, and Councilmembers Carissa Kohn-Johnson, Sarika Bansal, and Michelle Craig attended the Cary Chamber’s Honor a Teacher program on Tuesday night. Councilmember—and teacher—Michelle Craig delivered welcoming and inspirational remarks.

The Town of Cary extends its gratitude to all local teachers and schools for their continued dedication to the community’s youth.

UNC Due South Interview

Mayor Harold Weinbrecht joined Leoneda Inge in the studio for a WUNC Due South Mayor Series interview, where they discussed his upbringing in Cary, path to public service, and Cary’s transformation over time. Topics included Cary’s growth, diversity, Downtown Cary Park, tech industry presence, and the Mariah Carey proclamation.

Light Up the Night Ride

On Thursday evening, Cary hosted a Light Up the Night Ride in partnership with Oaks and Spokes to celebrate Bike Month. Councilmember Lori Bush, Greenway Committee members, and staff  joined approximately 30 community members for the mile-long ride through downtown.
To see what else is happening for Bike Month, visit Bike Cary.

Indian Wells Railroad Crossing Permanently Closing

As the final step in the agreement between Cary, CSX Railroad, and NCDOT, the Indian Wells Road (formerly Morrisville Carpenter Road) crossing will permanently close on May 19. To maintain traffic flow, Saunders Grove Lane will be restriped to connect with Carpenter Upchurch Road and permanent turnarounds will be installed on both sides of the track. Residents and businesses have been notified via postcards and electronic message boards are currently on site. For more information on the agreement, visit carync.gov/indianwells.

CAMPO Blueprint for Safety Leadership Summit

Staff from Transportation and Transit attended a leadership summit where Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) presented their progress toward finalizing a regional multi-modal safety action plan, the Blueprint for Safety. This action plan, scheduled for adoption by CAMPO this summer, will help Cary and other local agencies implement the principles of Vision Zero in future capital projects. In addition to the presentations, attendees participated in an exercise on how to utilize the tools from the Blueprint for Safety to prioritize locations and improvements.

Lewey Drive Utilities and Street Improvements Meeting

On Wednesday, residents had the opportunity to speak directly with staff from Utilities, Transportation, Fire, Police, 311, Neighborhood Services, Finance, and Public Works about the upcoming Lewey Drive Utilities and Street Improvements Project. 
Key topics included the installation of a 24-inch water main, anticipated traffic impacts during construction, and planned sidewalk improvements near Turner Creek Elementary School. Residents shared valuable feedback on neighborhood access and school-related concerns, which has been incorporated into ongoing construction planning.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2025 and continue through Winter 2027.

Aviation Parkway Widening Project Meetings

On Monday, NCDOT held two informational public meetings for the Aviation Parkway Widening Project (STIP #U-5811). The first was a meeting with local officials, where NCDOT staff and their consultants presented specific design elements of the project, along with the data used to inform those design decisions, to municipal and county staff.
Following that, a public open house gave residents the opportunity to view proposed design plans and ask questions.

To address congestion and safety concerns along the corridor, the project will widen Aviation Parkway from two to four lanes between N.C. 54 in Morrisville and I-40 in Cary – a distance of approximately 2.4 miles. The project will also add pedestrian and bicycle amenities, including a 10-foot-wide multi-use path and pedestrian signals at intersections. 
Construction is expected to begin in Summer 2029.

Sewer Rehabilitation Work on Lochmere Drive

Rehabilitation of sewer lines along Lochmere Drive near Lake Lomond will begin the week of May 19. The project will be completed by SAK Construction and will involve installing cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liners to upgrade the existing sewer infrastructure. This work will limit the amount of digging needed; however, temporary pumps and above-ground piping will be set up to divert sewer flows. Crews will then clean the lines and install the CIPP liners through existing manholes.

During construction, the bicycle lane adjacent to the westbound driving lane will be closed. Motorists and cyclists will be directed to share the road, and appropriate traffic control signage will be in place. Paved walking trails within the work area will also be closed for the duration of the project. The project is expected to be completed this summer.

Oakwood Heights Infrastructure Renewal Complete

Last week, Cary completed its annual water main replacement project in the Oakwood Heights neighborhood, with work wrapping up on Sycamore Street and Red Bud Court. The project included installing new water and sewer mains and successfully transferring services to the new lines. Both streets were resurfaced following the underground work.

Southeast Sustainability Director Network’s Annual Meeting

As a member of the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network (SSDN), Cary participated in this year’s annual meeting, held last week in Richmond, VA. During the event, staff connected with sustainability professionals from other local governments, sharing Cary’s environmental achievements and learning from the experiences of municipalities across the Southeast.

Scout Troop Virtual Tour of Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility

On Tuesday, Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility (CAWTF) Manager Ryan Lambert presented a virtual tour of the CAWTF to Scouting America Pack 312. The 3rd and 4th graders were very engaged as many of them are studying the water cycle in school.

Ritmo Latino Festival

On Saturday, the 22nd annual Ritmo Latino Festival brought lively Latin beats and delicious eats to downtown Cary, drawing more than 3,000 attendees. Presented by Diamante Arts and Cultural Center in partnership with Cary, the festival celebrates Latino and Hispanic cultures through music, dancing, cuisine, and shared community experiences.

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting – June 4th

The following neighborhood meetings will be held on Wednesday, June 4, at 6:30 p.m.

For more information and to register visit the Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting page.

Upcoming Meetings

Planning and Zoning Board
Monday, May 19
6:30 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Work Session)
Tuesday, May 20
5:30 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Work Session)
Thursday, May 22
5:00 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Regular)
Thursday, May 22
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

  • Several complaints about the Waverly proposal 23-REZ-12. Unfortunately, most of these complaints are based on information that is inaccurate or misleading.
  • Complaints about the two Regency rezoning proposals.
  • A request for recognition of a student athlete.
  • A request not to provide water to a development near Lake Crabtree (all annexed properties in town must be provided with water/sewer by request)
  • Kudos to our firefighters for helping someone at a rehabilitation center.
  • A complaint about the tennis court reservation application.
  • A complaint about the closing of the Indian Wells Road railroad crossing.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Wake County Mayors Association meeting, a ULI (Urban Land Institute) Americas Awards for Excellence event, two council work sessions, a CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) Executive Board meeting, the Cary 101 graduation, the last regularly scheduled council meeting of May, and a NC Metro Mayors meeting.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, May 25th, 2025. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts, those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@carync.gov and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.