Where the Candidates Stand on Dix Park

In September of 2009 DIX 306 sent the following question to each of the candidates for Raleigh City Council and to the candidates for mayor:

Our goal is to save all 306 acres of the Dorothea Dix Campus for a World Class Destination Park for future generations. Will you act to support this goal if you are elected to City Council?

We would like to thank all of the candidates for their thoughtful responses, which are detailed below.

September 29, 2009

Raleigh Mayoral Candidates

Mark Enloe	NO
I'll aggressively pursue the continued and expanded use of Dix Hospital as a mental hospital. The gentrification stops when it comes to mental patients.

Larry Hudson	YES
I believe that the Dix Property would be a valuable asset as a Destination Park and would provide an additional catalyst for growth in the downtown area.

Gregg Kunz	YES
I support DIX 306 without reservation. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to add to the greatness of our city for our citizens and guests, and it should be a priority of the city council

Charles Meeker (incumbent)	YES
The City should work with the Governor and the rest of the Council of State to create a destination park.

Raleigh City Council Candidates

At Large:
Mary Ann Baldwin (incumbent)	YES
I have worked on this issue for the past year and a half with the Mayor and am totally committed to seeing Dix preserved as a Park.

Robert Champion Claris	YES
Yes, I look forward to maintaining our necesary care for those with mental illness. However, I can't wait to take my kids to Dix in the future when it has become a world class park.

Ricky Lee Sartain	NO
I do support the spirit of Dix 306. However, until Wake Mental Health needs are fully addressed, as well as a collaborative solution with the state, I do not believe the current goal of a full 306 acre park can or will be achieved.

Russ Stephenson (incumbent)	YES
Yes, I will continue working actively as I have since 2004, toward preserving the 306 acre Dorothea Dix property as a world class destination park. For additional information: http://sites.google.com/site/russforraleigh09/dix-park.

District A:
Nancy McFarlane (incumbent)	YES
This is an opportunity that we cannot let slip away. I fully support all efforts to save the Dix property as a park.

District B:
John Rodger Koopman (incumbent)	YES
Yes, preserving Dix is very important to me.

John Odom
I was the Merchants Association Director when we actually did a forum on the Dix 306, so I am in support of it being a park totally. But there is a caveat with some of this because there are a variety of things that haven't been answered yet. And its how do we help the mentally retarded or mentally handicapped because that's what the park was originally set up for. That being said, there are many ways to do a lot of great things over there. And I would love the opportunity to help make that happen. That being said, the park is actually not for sale yet - in case anyone is interested in that little point. And there hasn't been a price tag put on it and who pays that price tag. All of those things come into play of how the decision's going to be made. But I do see the vision of those who want to keep all or part of the park as a park for the people of Raleigh and Wake County and North Carolina to enjoy. I'm behind that. I'm a big parks advocate. I'm not an extremist. I'm not one of those who says its got to be all. I want to make sure you know that. So I can't answer a yes or a no for the basic reason the park is really not for sale at this point and what we do to help the mentally handicapped has not been resolved. And who pays has not been resolved. But if I had the option, my personal belief is that it ought to remain a park.

District C:
Charles Reisinger	YES
Yes, this of course is subject to the opinions of the citizens of District C whom I would be representing.

James West (incumbent)	YES


District D:
Thomas Crowder (incumbent)	YES
I am proud to have been the first city councilor to publicly commit to the remaining 306 acres of Dorthea Dix is turned into a world-class urban park once the State of North Carolina announced they would be closing the hospital. I am also a strong advocate for mental health, which is woefully under funded and served by the State of NC, and I fully understand and support that this matter must be addressed prior to closing Dix. However, when the State truly closes the hospital, this property is too great a treasure and resource not to be preserved for the future generations of Raleighite's and North Carolinian's. As Raleigh and her downtown increases in size over the next 25-30 years, preservation of quality open space will continue to one of our greatest challenges. With vision, careful planning and the highest quality design, Dix Park can be the crown jewel in an emerald necklaces stretching from Lake Johnson to Pullen Park, as well as the center piece of the entire Raleigh Park's system. I am fully committed to seeing this vision becomes a reality.

Theodore Van Dyk
I support a world class park. I believe there is an ongoing need, and heritage, to consider, and that a continuing mental health facility on the campus may be both needed and respectful of the property's original purpose. I also understand that the State of NC may have its own plans. I will work hard to secure as much of the campus, as soon as possible, for the enjoyment of Raleigh and all of NC's citizens.

District E:
Bonner Gardner Gaylord	YES
The opportunity to provide a landmark park at this location is not one that we, as a city, can miss.

Waheed Haq	YES
This is truly a once in-a-lifetime-opportunity. "Capitalize on it"