Mayor's Award for Commitment to Community | Town of Knightdale ...

Shannon earned a bachelor's degree in communications from James Madison University as well as a master's degree in educational leadership and administration from East Carolina University. She has lived in Knightdale since 2001.

Shannon is a math teacher at a Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy.


Shannon Russell Hardy (Knightdale Town Council, North Carolina ...

Shannon's campaign for Knightdale Town Council Member is her first entry into politics. 

Supports reducing property taxes to alleviate financial burdens on homeowners, noting that many municipalities in Wake County have lowered taxes, with Knightdale's rate being one of the highest despite minimal reductions.

Supports re-evaluating Knightdale property tax rates, saying the current rates "destabilize the 65% of residents that are homeowners."

- Supports re-evaluating Knightdale property tax rates, saying the current rates "destabilize the 65% of residents that are homeowners."

Economy

As of September 4, 2025, Shannon Russell Hardy’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Services

Supports most of Knightdale’s 2024 “Affordable Knightdale & Housing” plan, including partnering with nonprofit developers, creating mixed-income neighborhoods, and promoting permanent affordability through community land trusts.

- Supports most of Knightdale’s 2024 “Affordable Knightdale & Housing” plan, including partnering with nonprofit developers, creating mixed-income neighborhoods, and promoting permanent affordability through community land trusts.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Aims to integrate housing with walkability, transit, and nearby services.

- Aims to integrate housing with walkability, transit, and nearby services.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Believes child welfare should not be solely the responsibility of schools and supports community efforts to creatively enhance children's opportunities through various programs and partnerships.

Believes child welfare should not be solely the responsibility of schools and supports community efforts such as expanding childcare centers, academic camps, and non-profit partnerships.

- Believes child welfare should not be solely the responsibility of schools and supports community efforts such as expanding childcare centers, academic camps, and non-profit partnerships.

Education

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Shannon Russell Hardy

Supports researching and publishing the truth about Wake County's only documented lynching.

Advocates for using the Education Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS) to focus on growth, conducting audits of Knightdale's schools, and supporting Hodge Road Elementary's transition to a dual language school.

As of September 4, 2025, Shannon Russell Hardy did not have a website or any information online.

Shannon Russell Hardy moved to Knightdale in 2001. As a classroom teacher in an innovative charter school, she has promoted and advocated for Knightdale’s schools. In 2007 she co-founded Knightdale 100 working to ensure that Knightdale schools are the first, and best choice for our children. This group’s work included advocacy for the use of EVAAS to focus on growth, a 2013 audit of Knightdale’s schools, and lobbying for Hodge Road Elementary to become a dual language school. As a sports mom, she was the Planters Walk Swim Team volunteer coordinator, manager for East Wake Soccer teams, and served as team mom for Knightdale High’s swim, soccer, and football teams. For the past eight years she has been a dedicated member of the Knightdale High School for Collaborative Design’s PTSA Board. Ms. Hardy is a certified math, social studies, ELA, gifted teacher with a Principal I (one) license, a Masters in Education in Educational Leadership from East Carolina University, and has received National Board Certification three times in 2000, 2010 and 2019. She is a statewide trainer and champion for Design for Change, a global movement that empowers students to transform the world using a framework: FEEL, IMAGINE, DO, and SHARE. Her students just returned from Rome where they were recognized by Pope Frances for their work to end racism. This includes a campaign to get Joseph Holt’s Story told, researching and publishing the truth about Wake County’s only documented lynching, and assisting in the resettlement of a Syrian refugee family. Hardy is one of the co-founders of the Wake County Truth and Reconciliation Committee and continues to work diligently to ensure that our hard history is included in the curriculum.

Shannon is a classroom teacher at an innovative charter school in Knightdale. She has also worked as a certified math, social studies, ELA, and gifted teacher.

Zachary Odom

Walter Ley

Grady Bussey (Knightdale Town Council, North Carolina, candidate ...

Grady Bussey is from West Hempstead, New York. He has a bachelor's degree from St. Augustine University. He lives with his wife, Wanda, and their three children in Knightdale. Grady is Christian.

Grady is a community engagement specialist at the City of Raleigh, where he leads the Citizens Leadership Academy. He previously worked in the City of Raleigh's Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department and spent over a decade in the real estate industry as a realtor and mortgage company owner.

Grady's campaign for Knightdale Town Council Member is his first entry into politics.

As of September 4, 2025, Grady Bussey’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports building a new community center in Knightdale.

Supports transparency and accountability in local governance.

- Supports building a new community center in Knightdale.
- Supports transparency and accountability in local governance.

Supports smart growth, mixed-income housing, and programs like Bridge Builder and Place Saver loans to help first-time buyers and working families.

- Supports smart growth, mixed-income housing, and programs like Bridge Builder and Place Saver loans to help first-time buyers and working families.

Supports the recruitment and retention of highly qualified first responders.

- Supports the recruitment and retention of highly qualified first responders.

Supports increased funding for schools, partnerships between local government and educators, and expanded access to after-school and enrichment programs.

- Supports increased funding for schools, partnerships between local government and educators, and expanded access to after-school and enrichment programs.

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Grady Bussey

Grady Bussey is from West Hempstead, New York. He has a bachelor's degree from St. Augustine University. He lives with his wife, Wanda, and their three children in Knightdale. He is a Christian.

Grady Bussey is from West Hempstead, New York. He has a bachelor's degree from St. Augustine University. He lives with his wife, Wanda, and their three children in Knightdale.

Supports smart growth, mixed-income housing, and loans to help first-time buyers and working families.

Latatious Morris is originally from Pensacola, Florida. She has a bachelor's degree in communications from East Carolina University and is pursuing a master's degree in public and nonprofit administration at Metro State University. She moved to Knightdale in 2014.

Latatious has worked in project coordination, property management, and administrative leadership for companies both locally and nationally.

Latatious is currently a member of the Knightdale Town Council. She was appointed in 2021 and is serving her first term.

Supports following the Knightdale Next2035 Comprehensive Plan to attract successful businesses and promote economic-friendly developments in Knightdale.

Supports following the Knightdale Next2035 Comprehensive Plan to attract successful businesses and promote economic development in Knightdale.

- Supports following the Knightdale Next2035 Comprehensive Plan to attract successful businesses and promote economic development in Knightdale.

As of September 4, 2025, Latatious Morris’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports building more sidewalks to keep pedestrians off roadways and ensure resident safety.

- Supports building more sidewalks to keep pedestrians off roadways and ensure resident safety.

Supports more sidewalks, bike lanes, walkable spaces, and fully connected greenways in Knightdale, along with consistent, reliable public transportation.

Supports creating more sidewalks, bike lanes, walkable spaces, and fully connected greenways in Knightdale.

Supports expanding public transportation options.

- Supports creating more sidewalks, bike lanes, walkable spaces, and fully connected greenways in Knightdale.
- Supports expanding public transportation options.

Advocates for a Youth Enrichment & Recreation plan to expand activities, resources, and spaces for youth aged 15-18, including after-school programs, weekend events, and leadership opportunities.

- Advocates for a Youth Enrichment & Recreation plan to expand activities, resources, and spaces for youth aged 15-18, including after-school programs, weekend events, and leadership opportunities.

Latatious Morris

Latatious Morris was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida. She has a bachelor's degree in communications from East Carolina University and is pursuing a master's degree in public and nonprofit administration at Metro State University. She moved to Knightdale in 2014.

Latatious is a project coordinator and property manager. She spent nearly 12 years in New York City building her career. She later worked in project coordination, property management, and administrative leadership for companies both locally and nationally.

Advocates for a Youth Enrichment & Recreation plan to expand activities, resources, and spaces for young people, ages 15-18.

Supports following the Knightdale Next2035 Comprehensive Plan to attract businesses and promote economically friendly developments.

Mark Swan is from Knightdale, North Carolina and attended East Wake High School. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He lives with his wife and their three sons.

Mark is an accounting director at the North Carolina Department of Information Technology.

Mark Swan (Knightdale Town Council, North Carolina, candidate ...

Mark is currently a member of the Knightdale Town Council. He was first elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2017 and 2021. 

Aims to reduce emissions, create jobs, and diversify the tax base.

Aims to create jobs and diversify the tax base in a sustainable manner.

- Aims to create jobs and diversify the tax base in a sustainable manner.

Supports diversity and inclusivity, highlighting new cultural events, accessible playgrounds, and extended public spaces like the greenway connecting Knightdale Station Park to Anderson Point Park in Raleigh.

- Supports diversity and inclusivity, highlighting new cultural events, accessible playgrounds, and extended public spaces like the greenway connecting Knightdale Station Park to Anderson Point Park in Raleigh.

As of September 4, 2025, Mark Swan’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As a council member, increased fire staffing by 48% and police staffing by 45%.

- As a council member, increased fire staffing by 48% and police staffing by 45%.

Supports creating attractive options for walking and biking.

- Supports creating attractive options for walking and biking.

Mark Swan

Mark Swan is from Knightdale, North Carolina. He attended Lockhart Elementary, East Wake Middle, and East Wake High School. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He lives with his wife and their three sons in Knightdale.

Mark is currently a member of the Knightdale Town Council. He was first elected in 2013 and has been re-elected in 2017 and 2021. 

As of September 4, 2025, Mark Swan did not have a website or any information online.

Believes in creating dense areas where active transportation is part of daily life.

Steve earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

Steve is vice president of community development for Smithfield Foods.

Stay In The Knightdale Know - July 2024

Town Council | Town of Knightdale, NC

Steve is currently a member of the Knightdale Town Council. He was appointed to the council in 2023 and is serving his first term. He also serves as Mayor Pro Tem.

As of September 4, 2025, Steve Evans did not have a website or any information online.

Steve Evans

- Town council members serve as the governing body of the town, along with the mayor. 
- The town council members make policy decisions for the town, including creating ordinances, policies, and making agreements with other governments. 
- The town council can amend and revise town policies, as well as approve or reject the town budget. 
- The town council is also in charge of the appointment of advisory boards, commissions, task forces, committees, the town manager, and the town attorney. 
- Members of the town council are elected to staggered 4 year terms. 