The City of Raleigh issued a press release Wednesday morning on my election as Chair to the Raleigh Citizens Advisory Council. It’s nice to get some recognition, and I’m looking forward to working with my fellow CAC chairs to improve our effectiveness.
Mark Turner, outgoing chair of the East Citizens Advisory Council, has been elected to lead the Raleigh Citizens Advisory Council (RCAC) in the coming year.
The RCAC is made up of the chairs and other leaders of each of the 18 geographically based Citizens Advisory Councils in Raleigh. It provides a forum for these leaders to discuss citywide issues.
“The dialogue between the City and the community is the most valuable thing the RCAC provides,” Mr. Turner said. “It’s been the traditional role for the RCAC.”
Members of the RCAC elected Mr. Turner as their chair this month. His term begins in January. He will succeed outgoing RCAC Chair William Allen III, who also chairs the Hillsborough Citizens Advisory CouncilMr. Turner, who lives in the Bennett Woods neighborhood, became involved in the East Citizens Advisory Council after he attended the Raleigh Neighborhood College in 2008. The Raleigh Neighborhood College is a series of classes sponsored by the Community Services Department to inform residents about the workings of City government and how they can have a role.
“I have to credit the Raleigh Neighborhood College for really showing me the kinds of things that could be done and who to talk to,” Mr. Turner said. “I like solving problems for the neighborhood, and when you get a little bit of education as far as how the City works, applying it is fairly easy. People start to look to you to provide leadership when there are needs to be addressed in the community.”
Mr. Turner, 42, also serves as chair of the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board. He has lived in Raleigh for nearly 20 years and works as a systems administrator for TeleTracking, a health care technology company.
As RCAC chair, Mr. Turner said he hopes to help Citizens Advisory Council chairs use technology to improve communications with their members and among themselves. His larger role, he says, is to serve the Citizens Advisory Council chairs. “I don’t want to set the full agenda. I want to find out from the chairs how we can make the RCAC better,” he said.
In his new position, Mr. Turner will likely be called on to explain the role of Citizens Advisory Councils in Raleigh. Each Citizens Advisory Council, he says, “brings the community and the City together in one place where issues can be resolved.”
“It is the eyes and ears of the community, a place to voice your questions or concerns about things going on in your neighborhood, whether it is development or crime or economic opportunity,” Mr. Turner added. “It is the place where these types of things get discussed, and it offers benefits for both sides – the citizens and the City.”