Raleigh Entrepreneur Clark Rinehart Enters Race for At Large Seat

Clark Rinehart told supporters he would seek an at large seat on Raleigh City Council, joining a field that is expected to be competitive when candidate filing opens December 1. The announcement came after current at large council member Jonathan Lambert Melton opted to run for the Wake County Board of Commissioners, leaving open a seat that could reshape the balance on issues such as housing, transit and community engagement.

Rinehart, 38, lives downtown with his wife Laura and their two children, ages seven and nine. A native of Miami, he moved to the Triangle in 2009 to attend Duke Divinity School. After working in ministerial roles at Edenton Street United Methodist Church and Grace Community Church, he transitioned into the local startup sector with roles at The Loading Dock and Innovate Raleigh and through consulting work. He is currently serving as interim director of the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership while remaining active in Raleigh civic matters.

He framed his candidacy around expanding housing supply and increasing resident engagement, saying "I feel like I've grown up with our city," and "I want to see more and more people have the opportunities like I've had" in Raleigh. He said the council is on the right track but needs to press on affordability, add housing and offer multiple transit choices so more people can benefit from the city's growth. "We've built layers of density over the years, but I still think there's room for improvement," he said.

One near term decision facing the council is the future of the old Division of Motor Vehicles headquarters on New Bern Avenue. The city purchased the site from the state and it sits beside an under construction bus rapid transit line. Rinehart has served on a city appointed working group to guide redevelopment and described conversations with long time neighbors who have "seen Raleigh change and not always the best ways." He warned that displacement concerns remain pressing, saying "One of my concerns is around displacement, particularly for Black and brown people who live on the east side of town. ... [the city council is] going to have to be keyed in on this."

For Wake County residents, Rinehart's bid underscores how local races will shape whether Raleigh manages growth in ways that preserve affordability and community cohesion. As the election ushers in staggered four year terms the top at large vote getter will receive a four year term and the second place finisher will receive a two year term, making this contest consequential for policy direction and neighborhood outcomes for years to come.