March 14, 201903/14/2019

After four terms in office, Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane announces she will not run for re-election

Under McFarlane's long tenure as the city's second female mayor, she oversaw lots of significant change in North Carolina's capital. Raleigh has been one of the fastest growing city's in the nation and was routinely cited as a top place to live, work and start a family. 

In a statement announcing her decision, the mayor listed a number of key achievements she is proud of. Among them were the Union Station downtown, the greater productivity of the entrepreneurial sector, increased funding for arts, low income housing and a plan to build the Dorothea Dix property into a destination park. 

On this last point, some believe a recent controversy involving her husband may have something to do with her decision to leave and her comments that, "We used to fight together for the things we cared about. Now it seems like we fight with each other."

I have loved being your mayor, and now I look forward to being your neighbor.

At the Feb. 6 unveiling ceremony of the Dix Master Plan, McFarlane's husband reportedly had a verbal and physical altercation with a Raleigh city councilwoman, Kay Crowder. 

Crowder, as well as witnesses, say the mayor's husband confronted Crowder about not thanking the mayor in her comments about the park. Crowder says Ron McFarlane grabbed her by the shoulder and spoke aggressively into her ear, while waving his other hand. 

Mayor McFarlane was at home recovering from a surgery, but released a statement on the incident saying, 

"My husband, Ron, was understandably stressed that evening due to my surgery the previous day. He was upset that I was not recognized, as the rest of the council was, in the remarks given by Council member Crowder at the Dix Park Community Meeting. He expressed to Council Member Crowder how upset he was in a way that I believe was too strongly worded. I’m sure that Council Member Crowder understands that he was tired and stressed that night. Ron has reached out and made numerous attempts to apologize for his behavior. Ron and Kay have known each other over 30 years and I am sure that they will be able to put this aside."