{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Jevon Smith-Cook","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"","person":{"biography":"Jevon Bernard Smith\u2011Cook is a candidate for Raleigh City Council representing District\u202fD in the 2026 municipal election, which will be held on November\u202f3,\u202f2026. The District\u202fD seat is slated for a two\u2011year term as part of the city\u2019s transition to staggered four\u2011year council terms, with the next full term beginning in 2028 [4].\n\nSmith\u2011Cook will be challenging incumbent council member Jane Harrison, who has held the District\u202fD seat since 2022. According to the reporting, Smith\u2011Cook does not yet have a campaign website or a publicly listed campaign presence [4].\n\nThe available sources do not provide details on Smith\u2011Cook\u2019s education, professional background, prior public service, or policy positions. As a result, his personal and career history remain unspecified in the public record at this time [4].\n\nHis candidacy is noted in coverage of the upcoming Raleigh City Council races, which are undergoing a shift to staggered terms to increase continuity in city governance. The race is nonpartisan, and the primary is scheduled for March\u202f3,\u202f2026, with the general election on November\u202f3,\u202f2026 [4][7].\n\n## Sources\n- [4] [Here's who is running for Raleigh City Council in 2026 - Axios Raleigh](https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/12/19/whos-running-for-raleigh-city-council-in-2026)\n- [7] [Who's Running for Raleigh City Council in 2026?](https://indyweek.com/news/whos-running-raleigh-city-council/)\n- [11] [Who is running for election in 2026? - NCLocal](https://nclocal.org/2025/12/22/who-is-running-for-election-in-2026/)","firstname":"Jevon","lastname":"Smith-Cook","middlename":"Bernard","suffix":null,"token":"639a121ff61687e0"},"token":"BT8HpjAa0_P0LT9s"},{"candidatename":"Jane Harrison","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"","person":{"biography":"Jane Lindsay Harrison is a member of the Raleigh City Council representing District\u202fD and is seeking re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election. She began her first term on December\u202f5,\u202f2022 and was appointed Mayor Pro Tem in December\u202f2025. In her council role she chairs the Growth and Natural Resources Committee and serves on the Economic Development and Innovation Committee, with her term set to end in 2026\u30101\u3011. \n\nHarrison earned a B.A. in International Studies and an M.S. in Environmental Economics from The Ohio State University, followed by a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Management from Oregon State University\u30105\u3011. The APNEP profile confirms her doctoral work in Forest Engineering, Resources & Management (2013) and her earlier graduate work in Agricultural, Developmental, and Environmental Economics (2008)\u30107\u3011. \n\nProfessionally, she is a coastal economics specialist with the North Carolina Sea Grant program, a NOAA\u2011affiliated initiative at NC State University, and holds a faculty appointment in the College of Natural Resources, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at NC State\u30105\u3011\u30107\u3011. Prior to her academic and research positions, Harrison worked for Wisconsin Sea Grant as a social\u2011science outreach specialist and has served on the Natural Resource Policy & Economics team for the state\u2019s APNEP program\u30107\u3011. \n\nBefore entering elected office, Harrison co\u2011chaired the West Raleigh Community Advocacy Council (CAC), advocating on rezoning, land\u2011use, and public\u2011safety issues for District\u202fD residents\u30105\u3011\u30109\u3011. Her community\u2011engagement focus continues on the council through monthly District\u202fD Neighborhood Alliance meetings, restored city support for CACs, and initiatives that have contributed to year\u2011over\u2011year declines in violent crime in hotspot areas\u30108\u3011. \n\nHousing affordability is a central priority. Harrison supports community\u2011benefit agreements for new developments, participates in the ONE\u202fWake coalition, and has helped advance an $80\u202fmillion bond that funds income\u2011restricted housing. Since 2021, the city has added roughly 3,000 \u201cmissing\u2011middle\u201d units, pursued land acquisitions such as the former DMV site on New\u202fBern Avenue for affordable housing, and expanded eviction\u2011prevention and rental\u2011assistance programs\u30108\u3011\u301012\u3011. \n\nEnvironmental stewardship also defines her agenda. She promotes protection of waterways, expansion of the city\u2019s tree canopy, and investment in transit infrastructure to reduce fossil\u2011fuel dependence. As chair of the Growth and Natural Resources Committee, she advocates for climate\u2011adaptation measures and natural\u2011amenity investments across Raleigh\u30105\u3011\u30108\u3011\u301012\u3011. \n\nHarrison\u2019s campaign platform emphasizes \u201call voices at the table,\u201d seeking inclusive development, stronger community engagement, expanded affordable housing, and sustainable environmental policies. She has received endorsements from local groups such as Run\u202ffor\u202fSomething and the Next\u202fGen Slate, as well as community\u2011focused voter guides\u30101\u3011.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Jane Harrison - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jane_Harrison)\n- [5] [Jane Harrison | Raleighnc.gov](https://raleighnc.gov/city-council/jane-harrison)\n- [7] [Jane Harrison | APNEP](https://apnep.nc.gov/jane-harrison)\n- [8] [Jane Harrison for Raleigh City Council District D](https://janeforraleigh.com/)\n- [9] [Jane Harrison - Run For Something](https://directory.runforsomething.net/candidate/2851/harrison-jane/)\n- [11] [Jane for District D (@JaneForDistrictD)](https://www.facebook.com/JaneForDistrictD/)\n- [12] [Candidate Info - Jane Harrison - Wake County Democratic Party](https://www.wakedems.org/election-central-2024/candidate-info-jane-harrison/)","firstname":"Jane","lastname":"Harrison","middlename":"Lindsay","suffix":null,"token":"6a89ba96050a87a3"},"token":"9ygTeZ2uwiw-l34F"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"city_council","o.office":"city_council","office":"city_council","officedescription":"A city council member (alderman in some towns) serves on the municipality's legislative body, approving the city budget, setting the tax rate, and passing ordinances and resolutions. Members represent a district or the city at large.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment on city matters \u2014 ordinances, services, and land use.\n- Budget literacy: the council approves the city budget and sets the city property-tax rate.\n- Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on ordinances and resolutions; committee work.\n- Constituent relations within the district or city.\n- Familiarity with the city charter and municipal issues such as utilities, transit, development, and blight.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"City Council Member","partisan":0,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"City Of Raleigh City Council District D"}