Scott Black

Economy
Black points to the city's recovery from a roughly $83 million budget shortfall in the early 2010s to a multimillion-dollar surplus as evidence his approach works, and he's asking voters to trust that record going forward. He frames his priority as steady continuity rather than a dramatic new direction, saying he wants the city to "stay focused on our opportunity." His growth strategy centers on drawing warehouses, distribution and data centers, and light manufacturing to expand the tax base, including through the large Apex Industrial Park project he says could bring thousands of jobs paying roughly $32 an hour on average.

Health
Black highlights a crisis-response team embedded with the fire department that connects residents dealing with behavioral health issues or addiction to services rather than relying solely on emergency response, part of a broader push against overdose deaths. He also backs plans for a freestanding hospital and wellness campus on a roughly 135-acre site near the VA hospital, arguing the growing city needs more health infrastructure to match its population.

Security
Black supports continued investment in police and fire staffing and facilities, pointing to a 2024 voter-approved funding measure as a foundation to build on. He also touts the fire department's behavioral-health crisis team as a public-safety tool, framing it as a complement to traditional enforcement rather than a replacement for it.

Immigration
On immigration, Black has emphasized following federal law and cooperating with federal enforcement efforts, positioning himself as more supportive of a strict enforcement posture than his opponent. He has pointed to community successes such as the reopening of the Broadacres Market as evidence the city can manage growth and change without destabilizing existing neighborhoods.

Infrastructure
Beyond industrial projects, Black wants to expand parks and recreation amenities and attract more restaurants, shops, and services for the growing population, alongside continued affordable-housing construction — he cites roughly 1,400 units built since 2017 with 500 more in the pipeline. He opposes a one-size-fits-all rent-control approach, preferring that housing-cost measures be handled at the state or regional level rather than city by city.

Governance
Black casts himself as an accessible, communicative leader at City Hall, arguing that nine years on the council have prepared him to be "ready to go on day one" as mayor. He has argued that a four-year mayoral term is enough time to keep the city's current momentum going without a steep learning curve for a newcomer.