A man wearing a suit
Credit: Contributed by Stephon Ferguson

Name as it appears on the ballot: Stephon Ferguson

Previous elected offices held: N/A

Age as of Election Day: 57

Occupation (employer, where you work, what you do): Self-Employed; Speaker; Author; Veteran

Best phone number and email for voters to reach you. Website and campaign social media:

1. Give us your elevator pitch in 200 words or less. Why are you running for this office? What makes you the most qualified candidate?

Because I believe in The Vision. The Vision I have for District 1 and the city of Fayetteville is one of Growth, Safety, and Opportunity. I want to help build a community where people feel safe and secure in the own neighborhoods, businesses can thrive, and everyone has a voice in shaping our future. I am committed to listening first – to the concerns of our residents, collaborating with community leaders and taking action that benefits all residents.

Experience: I have worked closely with local government on various boards and commissions. I am a graduate of Leadership Fayetteville, The Institute for Community Leadership, Cumberland County Citizens’ Academy, and Fayetteville PD’s Citizens Police Academy. I am a lifelong resident of Fayetteville who honorably served our nation as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army here at Fort Bragg. I worked as a news reporter for nearly a decade at Fayetteville’s first radio station, WFNC (W-Fayetteville North Carolina) covering and reporting Fayetteville news. I went by the name Steve Blackmon.

Relationships: My experience, above, has afforded me the awesome opportunity to gain many great relationships with community leaders and elected officials – solid relationships that would serve me well as a member of the Council.

Dedication to Service: From my service to this nation, the state of NC, and the city of Fayetteville, I’ve been honored to receive three Presidential Volunteer Service Awards (Gold) and in August of 2023, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Governor Roy Cooper.

2. What do you view as the three most pressing issues facing your district and the city as a whole? How will you address them as a city council member?

For the city as a whole – Economic Development, Economic Well-Being, and Public Safety.

While Fayetteville is moving in the right direction, as mentioned in question #6, My top priorities for enhancing economic growth opportunities are fostering a stronger workforce through training and support for existing businesses and entrepreneurship, revitalizing neighborhoods, affordable housing, and enhancing transportation and infrastructure connectivity.

When you deal with economic development, you are essentially dealing with most all other areas of concern. When you have a community where businesses are thriving, there is enhanced workforce training, residents have good paying jobs, and affordable housing, guess what? Crime goes down and quality of life goes up. You attract and retain more investments into your community.

3. What’s the best or most important thing the Fayetteville City Council has done in the past year? Additionally, name a decision you believe the council should have handled differently. Please explain your answers.

Attracting a high paying Titanium plant, breaking ground for a medical school, and passing a budget with the lowest property tax rate in 30 years.

The initial passage of the Youth Protection Ordinance (Curfew) that included criminal penalties potentially putting our young people in the criminal system. This could have proven to make matters worse. Council did, however, later remove that language.

4. Last year, the City of Fayetteville sued a contractor for abandoning over $6 million in construction projects. The city has since hired new contractors to finish the projects. What steps will you take to ensure Fayetteville is able to successfully complete capital projects in the future?

A more assertive approach to project management and the evaluation process for potential contractors, ensuring they have the qualifications, resources, and financial stability to complete the project(s).

Making sure that recent adjustments to the process are carried out. Contractors now are based on experience, financial stability, past performance, compliance with local regulations, and commitment to diversity and safety records. Additionally, contractors must provide financial disclosures and client references.

I am also a proponent for more local contractors. Doing so supports local business and helps boost the local economy by creating jobs and keeping money circulating within the community Furthermore, local contractors have a vested interest in the future of Fayetteville.

5. While overall crime in Fayetteville has decreased by around 13% this year, the number of homicides and incidents of juvenile crime have increased. The Fayetteville City Council recently enacted a youth curfew ordinance. Would you have voted in favor of it? How will you work to improve public safety and reduce crime in the city?

I would have voted in favor of the curfew in its current form. When initially passed, it included language that could have resulted in the youth being charged and entering the juvenile justice system. That language has been removed. The one-year probationary period will allow enough time to gauge its effectiveness or lack thereof. We must be mindful that its success will be dependent upon community involvement, parental education, and providing safe and structured alternatives for our young people.

Support our Police Chief Roberto E. Bryan Jr. who is focused on reducing crime by engaging the community and partnering with other agencies and organizations to address the root causes of youth crime, with an emphasis on transparency and community trust.

Continue to support the newly implemented Office of Community Safety (OCS) which focuses on these root causes.

Support, strengthen, and in some cases implement neighborhood and community watch programs and heavily promote community engagement.

Implement an organizational hub for all youth, safety, and anti-crime organizations and initiatives in the city.

6. How will you work to attract and retain new businesses and other development to Fayetteville? Name another municipality you believe has made smart decisions about sustainable growth and development, and describe what it has done that could be implemented in Fayetteville.

My top priorities for enhancing economic growth opportunities are fostering a stronger workforce through training and support for existing businesses and entrepreneurship, revitalizing neighborhoods and affordable housing, and enhancing transportation and infrastructure connectivity. With these three things working together, we would create a more attractive community for businesses and residents, ultimately leading to a more prosperous and stable economy.

I would continue to work closely with the city’s Economic and Community Development department, which supports small businesses through loans, grants, technical assistance, and programs, focusing on job creation and economic growth. I would continue to work closely with the Greater Fayetteville Chamber, which serves as a catalyst in growing a healthy business community.

The city has made affordable housing a key part of its 2025 legislative priorities. I would continue to support this effort. Investing in and revitalizing existing neighborhoods to make them more desirable for residents and businesses is vital.

I would focus on continuing to improve the city’s transportation and overall connectivity. This includes evaluating and expanding transportation options, which helps businesses and residents connect more effectively and encourages economic activity.

Raleigh is an excellent example of a city making smart decisions about sustainable growth that Fayetteville could learn from. With a “triple bottom line” approach focused on environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic strength, Raleigh has implemented numerous successful programs and earned national recognition for its sustainable initiatives.

7. The county and city have often struggled to determine who is responsible for addressing homelessness. How would you work with the Cumberland County government and other community partners to decrease homelessness in the city?

There should never be a struggle to determine which is responsible. Both the city and the county governments share responsibility for addressing homelessness by working together with various community partners. This collaboration is primarily coordinated by the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Continuum of Care, a non-profit organization.

I would continue to support and work to enhance the programs and partnerships currently in place. While there are churches across the county already involved, I would work to partner with more of the more than 500 churches in Cumberland County to help eliminate homelessness.