View online News and Observer
Archived Articles about Neal Hunt

Public Quotes:

News and Observer

Relative to the Easley’s travel expenditures: 7/2/08
Neal Hunt, a Raleigh Republican, said the trips showed a lack of appreciation for the economic struggles of state residents. "I know we need this cultural exchange, but on the other hand, why buy everything and spend everything you can spend?" Hunt said.

Relative to Highway Revenues not being spent in congested urban areas: (7/1/07)
State Sen. Neal Hunt, a Republican and former Raleigh City Council member, blames the General Assembly for not allocating enough money to the Triangle's congested roads. He opposes new taxes to help pay for growth on the ground that higher taxes would hinder it.

"My first suggestion would be to stop the annual transfer from the Highway Trust Fund to the General Fund. That's $172 million-plus, annually, that should go back into our highway program. Second, our so-called 'equity formula' shortchanges Wake County and other urban areas. We're also spending a lot of money on things that are not urgent. Meanwhile, we need more revenue for urgent needs such as transportation, schools, open space, and water and sewer systems. Those should be our priorities."

Regarding Bus Service for Brier Creek: (7/3/07)
State Sen. Neal Hunt, a Raleigh Republican who led the city's Planning Commission in 2000, did not recall the specifics of Brier Creek's approval. He said bus access would not have been a front-burner issue, but he said, "I would think if it was in the zoning records they would be required to do it."

Regarding the Dix property being made a park with leasing being the most viable option: (6/25/07)
Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake, who showed up at last week's Raleigh City Council meeting to voice his support for turning Dix into a park, also said leasing the property is a viable option.

"I think the city needs to be in a position to pay what the land's worth," said Hunt, who estimated its value at $40 million.

Regarding Raleigh’s Tree Ordinance: (July 04)
Hunt, a champion of tree preservation and a possible swing vote, leads a council committee that is expected to study the ordinance. He said he'd like to cap his council career with a decision on the ordinance.

"I think we need one," Hunt said. "But it needs to be simple so that developers and homeowners and other property owners can understand it without hiring a lawyer and some kind of consultant."

Endorsed by the N&O: 2004
This district [15], which includes northern Raleigh and the northern part of Wake County, has been represented for five terms by businessman John Carrington, a Republican. Carrington was criticized by a GOP primary opponent as not being in touch with constituents. That opponent, Neal Hunt, 62, of Raleigh, must have made his case pretty well, because he beat Carrington.

Hunt, who has served two terms as a Raleigh City Council member, owns a real estate management company. He is an experienced public servant likely to live up to his promise to be more in touch with those he wishes to represent. His opponent is Libertarian Lee Griffin, 45, who works in software research for IBM.

Hunt agrees with the lower-taxes doctrine of his party. But he's hard to label, which is healthy, because he's also been a strong environmentalist. He shows an ample amount of common sense and is a good listener.

Open Fayetteville Street: (July 04)
Council member Neal Hunt supported the plan and said the mall is linked closely with the planned new convention center on the south end of the mall.

Discussing the Convention Center: (May 04)
Council member Neal Hunt pointed his finger in the air and said "up" is the way to go. One problem, he said, is making a tunnel out of McDowell Street. "I don't like that tunnel," he said.

Tree Preservation: May 22, 2002 N&O article "Trees Win Council's Favor".
"Neal Hunt, a property manager, developer and former Planning Commission member who has argued for the economics of tree preservation, said the 1996 (tree) ordinance wasn't tough enough to withstand years of intense development. 'Raleigh looks great now, but if we're not careful, it won't in the future,' Hunt said."

New Convention Center: August 6, 2002 article "New Civic Center Touted".
Even skeptics, such as City Councilman Neal Hunt, said they were impressed (with the consultants presentation) -- albeit cautiously. 'Its a good report and a good presentation, but I'm interested in the numbers', Hunt said. 'What will be the deficit? What will be the additional tax revenue?'

August 8, 2002 N&O editorial.
City Councilman Neal Hunt and other skeptics do the taxpayers a service by carefully examining all of the consultants' projections.

An alternative to affirmative action: August 15, 2002 N & O article "Basics of Development". Every Wednesday this month, they will gather to learn and chat about ways to bring more businesses and homes to Raleigh's southeast sector. They meet at the Raleigh Business and Technology Center, an incubator to nurture small-business ventures in Southeast Raleigh. The two teachers are veteran real estate developers Bill Mullins and Neal Hunt. Mullins is co-chairman of the assembly, and Hunt is an at-large member of the Raleigh City Council."

Mixed Use Developments (the new North Hills Mall): September 23, 2002 N & O article "Urban Planners Fuss Over Fit for Big-Box Retailers". "This is the kind of big-box development that Raleigh officials want more of, said Neal Hunt, a City Council member and former planning board chairman. They figure they can reduce traffic if more people live within walking distance of where thy shop or work. 'Its really innovative,' Hunt said."

Calming Debate: July 5, 2003 N&O article "Oh, deer, what to do?". Neal Hunt, always quick with a joke, responded, 'We're not going to talk anymore about different classes of people. I'm sorry."

WRAL-TV

November 2005:
“It is inappropriate to raise the gas tax while at the same time continuing to raid the Highway Trust Fund”.

June 19, 2008
"A rented limo with a chauffeur. It seems extravagant to me," said state Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake, one of a number of Republicans to criticize the taxpayer-funded trip.

May 28, 2008 re tax on lottery proceeds
"This is just an effort to make sure that the proceeds of the lottery, some of the proceeds of the lottery, go to teachers to enable the best teachers to be rewarded to help them cover classroom expenses and other expenses associated with being a teacher," Hunt said.

Feb. 29, 2008
In criticism of spending $120 million for the Ahoskie By-Pass State Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake, questioned the need for the bypass and said the money would be better spent easing traffic congestion in Raleigh or Charlotte.

"Don't build the Ahoskie Bypass. Put the money in Wake County and Mecklenburg County, where they've got traffic congestion," Hunt said.

Feb. 29, 2008 re:  Leandro Decision on under funding schools in NC
"We're just going to have to build it into the budget. We're going to have to cut out some earmarks," Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake, said in December.

Feb. 8, 2008 Re construction delays at DOT
State Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake, said Easley has not made transportation a priority, and he said the governor should be more outspoken about the audit.

"I think he'd want to acknowledge the deficiencies of DOT," Hunt said.

Hunt said he was not surprised by the audit's findings but added that he believes the DOT is addressing the issues. Still, he said, Easley and state lawmakers deserve some of the blame for the department's troubles.

"I think not only the governor, (but also) the Senate and the House deserve (blame) because they have not addressed it. They have not put anybody's feet to the fire," he said.

Jan. 21, 2008 Re the Fetal Homicide Bill
"A public outcry is really about the only way we have to get these things done," said Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake County, a co-sponsor of one of two fetal homicide bills – Senate Bill 295 and House Bill 263 – that have stalled in committees in the General Assembly.

On Jan. 11, Lauterbach's charred remains were found in a backyard pit at the home of a fellow Marine, Cpl. Cesar Laurean. Investigators described the remains of her unborn child as tragic and disgusting.

"The fetus was developed enough that the little hand was about the size of my thumb," Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown said. "The little fingers were rolled up."

When the bills were introduced, various women's rights and pro-choice groups spoke against it. Opponents said they worry that a pregnant woman could be held responsible if she doesn't protect her fetus from an abuser. Others argue the bill could step on the abortion debate.

"Some people think it might impact a woman's right to choose, which it absolutely does not," Hunt said.

Nov. 20, 2007 re:  $3.7 million study of DOT
“Frankly, I'm not sure it's absolutely needed,” said state Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake, a member of the Senate Transportation Committee.

Hunt said he thinks state agencies are spending more time studying problems than solving them.

October 31, 2007 Re:  DOT Missteps
"If this was a corporate structure, heads would have rolled," said state Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake, a member of the Senate Transportation Committee. "There are too many political appointees sitting around acting like engineers, and they're not."

August 20, 2007 re:  Highway spending priorities
"There's no sense in bringing back 170 legislators to discuss something in a hodge-podge manner," Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake, said. "Go ahead and have the transportation committees from the House and Senate come back and discuss what our needs are."

July 26, 2007 re:  Increase vehicle registration tax
"It just seems like, every time we turn around, we've got some kind of increased tax. (It's) always for a good purpose, but you've got to look at the big picture, you know. When do you stop adding on these additional taxes?" said state Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake.

May  14, 2007 re Government  Spending
The budget growth far outstrips population growth. The state's population increased only 6 percent during the same period.

"We've spent 25 percent more money than we needed to keep up with population growth, plus inflation, over the last 10 years," said state Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake. "Something's wrong in the kitchen sounds like to me."

Jan. 19, 2007 on Funding Highway Construction
State Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake County, said a better option for getting more roads built would be to rework the state highway funding formula so more money goes to heavy traffic areas like the Triangle.

"If we have an alternative, I would say, 'Let's do the alternative,'" Hunt said. "We absolutely need to change that equity formula so that the money goes to urban counties as opposed to the rural counties."

Nov. 14, 2006 re the Funding I-40 $20 million Repair for Construction Mistake
"There's no doubt it should be re-allocated to the whole state," said Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake. "DOT engineers made a huge boo-boo. They don't work for Wake County or the Triangle's Division 5 -- they work for the whole state."

Sept. 29, 2005 RE:  Criminal background checks for state employees
NC Senator Neal Hunt said it's time for the law to change.

"Anyone who works for the state of North Carolina should have a criminal and credit check," Hunt said. "It doesn't make any sense not to do that."

Just to compare, the Wake County Public School System performs background checks on all employees and volunteers.

Hunt said if it was good enough for Wake County and most businesses, it should be good enough for the state.

April 14, 2005

Julian Quesada, 16, says reciting the pledge is a tradition that should not be forgotten.

On Thursday, a bill that would incorporate the pledge into the school day moved through the N.C. General Assembly. The bill would give students a chance to recite the pledge, but would not require them to do so.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake County, says there is not much opposition to the plan. The North Carolina School Boards Association, however, thinks local school systems should have an option.

April 12, 2005 Re:  The Equity Formula for Transportation Spending

Just a few months ago, state Sen. Neal Hunt was a Raleigh Councilman. He says the Wake County legislative delegation will lobby the Department of Transportation for a better way to distribute road money.

Hunt say larger cities including Raleigh should have an edge.

"That's where the cars are, that's where the traffic is and DOT is designed to fund traffic improvements, so you have to put the money where the need is," Hunt said.

March 11, 2005 re:  The Pledge of Allegiance

"This is a basic fundamental thing that our children need to be aware of -- that we are a great country and our public schools should have no problem reminding them of that fact," Hunt said.

Even if the bill passes, students will not have to recite the pledge if they do not want to. They can simply sit it out. The North Carolina School Boards Association opposes the proposed legislation.