RAY FUENTES
County Commission District 4
About Me
I was born and raised amongst the cotton and oil fields of West Texas. With a proud Latino heritage my hard-working parents instilled in us the dignity of hard work, the critical importance of education and the values of faith, family, and frugality. As farmers, we learned the value of preserving and protecting our environment.
I moved to Charlotte over 35 years ago and worked for Charlotte Water for 8 years and the past 27 years as the Environmental Compliance Manager for Coca-Cola Consolidated. As a leader in our community, I have proven that clean water, air and land are both essential and economically viable.
ISSUES
District 4 includes the heart and arteries of Mecklenburg County. Included in our district are the hard-working blue, grey and white-collar people that embody the diversity and energy of our county. The people in our district are the hardest hit by skyrocketing inflation, failing schools, soaring crime, and rising taxes.
The people in District 4 deserve a safe, clean and affordable place to live and work. That is what motivated me to run for this office. That is what will energize me to provide the common-sense leadership our district and county deserve.
SAFE
“Doing more of what isn’t working will not work”
The soaring crime rates are a failure of policy, leadership and accountability. The majority of crime victims in Mecklenburg County are minorities. The four pillars of safe communities are:
STRONG FAMILIES
Safe communities begin with strong families.
• Children from 2 parent homes are 70% less likely to commit crimes.
• County policies should encourage, nurture and support strong families.
EDUCATION
Safe communities depend on a safe and effective education system that:
• Does not trap kids in failing schools.
• Teaches our children discipline, respect and equips them with the skills to fulfill their potential.
• Is accountable and responsive to the parents, students and tax payers that fund them.
• Does not tolerate violence against teachers, staff or students.
• Provides a learning environment that suits the unique abilities of each child.
• Empowers bottom up decisions at the school level rather than top down administrative bureaucracy.
“It is easier to build stronger children than to repair broken men.”
~ Frederick Douglass
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Safe communities rely on well trained partners in law enforcement to:
• prevent crime when possible, and
• investigate and apprehend criminals when not.
JUSTICE SYSTEM
Safe communities require fair, swift, and certain justice for those that murder, rape, rob, and terrorize the innocent.
CLEAN
ENVIRONMENT
My entire professional career has been devoted to ensuring that we protect our water, land, and air.
• I was awarded the Pacesetter Award in 2017 for accomplishing a Zero-Waste goal at one of the largest manufacturing facilities in the county.
• We can use technology and innovation to improve our water, our air and reduce solid waste in a manner that is both friendly to the environment and economy.
AFFORDABLE
“Affordable housing is housing that people can afford”
PROPERTY TAXES
• Property Taxes are pushing our older neighbors out of their homes and preventing younger families from being able to afford a home.
• Some homeowners in District 4 saw their valuations increase by 400% with the 2019 revaluation.
• I oppose spending another $40 million for a 2023 revaluation. Inflation is outpacing wages. The cost of every necessity of life is increasing by levels we haven’t seen in 50 years. Our families and business need time and stability to recover from COVID and inflation.
• If you are buying the median priced home in Mecklenburg County, you are paying more for Property Taxes, Water and Sewer than you are paying on interest or principal.
• If you are renting, 1/4 to 1/3 of your rent is going to pay property tax.
• Property Taxes are hidden in every thing we eat, drink, wear, buy, rent or own. No one is exempt.
My Experience
In addition to my leadership experience with the City and Coca-Cola, I am an active and engaged member of the community and served:
- 7 years on the Planning and Zoning Board
- 9 years on the Mecklenburg County Air Quality Commission
- 4 years on the Crescent Resources Land Grant Selection Committee
- ISO 14001 Environmental Management Lead Auditor
- Six Sigma Certification
- Radiation Safety Officer Certification
0
Years of Experience
Contact Me
Join our campaign to make Mecklenburg a safe, clean and affordable place to live.