Name as it appears on the ballot: Jeremy Wright

Previous elected offices held: N/A

Age as of Election Day: 53

Occupation (employer, where you work, what you do): Executive Director of a nonprofit

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

  • 910-482-4430

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?

I have lived in Fayetteville for 35 years, raising my family here and working every day to strengthen our community through business, nonprofit, and faith-based leadership. I’m running for City Council because I believe politics should be about people. Too often, residents feel disconnected from decisions that impact their daily lives. My campaign is focused on listening, building trust, and ensuring every voice in District 3 is represented.

What makes me the most qualified candidate is my proven ability to bring people together and get results. Through the AsONE Prayer Walk, I’ve helped unify thousands across lines of race, denomination, and background. Through Brother Strong, I’ve built spaces for dialogue, mentorship, and healing among Black men and families. I have experience managing budgets, leading organizations, and holding teams accountable, skills critical to City Council service.

Fayetteville is full of potential, but we need continued leaders who will put community first, protect our neighborhoods, expand economic opportunity, and ensure our government is transparent and effective. I am committed to serving District 3 with integrity, vision, and action.

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?

The three most pressing issues are public safety, economic opportunity, and neighborhood revitalization.

Public Safety: While crime overall is down, homicides and youth crime are up. I will support community policing, youth mentorship, and prevention programs that focus on trust and opportunity, not just punishment.

Economic Opportunity: Too many families still struggle with low wages and limited access to jobs. I will champion small businesses, workforce pipelines through Fayetteville State, Methodist University and FTCC, and investment in minority- and women-owned businesses.

Neighborhood Revitalization: Infrastructure neglect hurts both safety and pride. I will prioritize repairing our stormwater system, roads, sidewalks, and lighting, while also pushing for beautification and property preservation that lift every part of the city.

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.

The most important thing the City Council has done in the past year is taking steps to reduce overall crime and improve community safety. The 13% decrease is progress that should be recognized and built upon.

That said, one area I believe the Council should approach differently is assisting in addressing our police department vacancies. We cannot sustain long-term safety gains without ensuring our department is fully staffed and supported. Filling these vacancies, not just with officers, but with the right training and community-policing focus, will help reduce response times, ease strain on current officers, and strengthen trust between residents and law enforcement. By being proactive about recruitment and retention, Fayetteville can continue to move in a positive direction for public safety.

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?

To ensure Fayetteville successfully completes capital projects, I will push for stronger contract oversight, milestone-based accountability, and regular public updates. Contractors should be vetted not just on cost but also on proven capacity and reliability. We must protect taxpayers by requiring performance bonds, stronger penalties for abandonment, and tighter project management from city staff. Transparency with residents about timelines and progress will also rebuild trust.

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 youth curfew because early results show it has helped reduce incidents. However, I believe it’s only part of the solution. To improve public safety long term, we must invest in prevention: mentorship programs, after-school opportunities, job training, and safe community spaces. I also support strengthening community policing and building deeper trust between law enforcement and residents. Safety comes from accountability, but also from opportunity.

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.

To attract and retain new businesses, Fayetteville must be both business-friendly and family-friendly. That means streamlining city processes, offering incentives for small and minority-owned businesses, and improving infrastructure and quality of life in neighborhoods. A city that is safe, clean, and thriving is a city where businesses want to invest.

We must continue to successfully revitalize our downtown while preserving local culture. By pairing economic growth with community investment, ensuring development benefits residents as much as it benefits developers.

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?

Homelessness cannot be solved by the city or county alone—it requires collaboration. I will work with Cumberland County, nonprofits, faith-based groups, and service providers to coordinate resources, expand transitional housing, and connect people to mental health and job training programs. The goal should be moving individuals from crisis to stability, not just shifting responsibility back and forth between governments. Fayetteville can lead by being the connector—bringing partners together and ensuring resources are used effectively.