Council Scorecard · Updated after every meeting

Where each Council member stands, on the record.

Every public vote and statement each member of the Apex Town Council has made on plate cameras and police drones, with the date and the source. Three votes end the Flock contract. Two are on record. Two members decide it.

DeFlock Apex·Last updated October 18, 2026, after the October 13 meeting
2 of 3
Votes on record to remove Flock: Mahaffey and Reese
2
Swing votes: Sue Mu and Arno Zegerman. Either one makes three
Dec 3
Committee returns. Only Council meeting in December is Dec 17
How we score this

Only public votes and public statements count: meetings, news interviews and written statements. Where a member has not spoken on a question, we say so rather than guess. The Axon vote on October 13 was a voice vote announced as 4 to 1. Shane Reese’s remarks before the vote and the count identify him as the no. If a Council member believes anything here is wrong, email contact@deflockapex.org and we will correct it and say so.

The count

For removal · Next ballot November 2027
Terry Mahaffey, Mayor Pro Tem

Flock: on record for removing Flock, and opposed to ALPR technology rather than this contract alone. Drones: asked for the policy, then voted for the contract without it.

  • Aug 2026. Explained publicly that Public Safety Committee meetings are open and that the committee only makes recommendations. Source: News & Observer, Aug 25.
  • Oct 13. Called the drone concerns a proxy for “larger issues, privacy issues.” Asked whether APD has a policy on when and where drones fly that “could be checked against the log.” Said that without the policy, “imaginations run wild.” Voted yes on Axon. Source: meeting video.

terry.mahaffey@apexnc.org

For removal · Term to 2029
Shane Reese

Flock: on record for removing Flock, with concerns about the surveillance model rather than only Flock’s handling of it. Drones: the only no vote on Axon.

  • Oct 13. “The urgency should be matched with comprehensive reporting.” Asked twice when the current contract ends. Said Axon has “woven their tentacles throughout” town systems, and that anything going to the public “should be airtight.” Voted no. Source: meeting video.

shane.reese@apexnc.org

Swing vote · Term to 2029
Sue Mu

Flock: no public position. Drones: pulled the Axon contract in August to hear about safeguards. Voted yes in October without them.

  • Aug 11. Asked that the Axon agreement go to the Public Safety Committee instead of passing on consent, after “a number of emails from residents expressing concerns.” Wanted a presentation on “the technology and its safeguards before the town moves forward.” Said it is worth considering whether Apex needs guidance for “consistency and transparency” on police technology. Source: News & Observer, Aug 25.
  • Aug 2026. On LeadsOnline, a separate police data tool approved without committee review: it “did not raise the same questions for me at the time.” Source: News & Observer, Aug 25.
  • Oct 13. Asked whether Council was “fully aware” the drones are not used for surveillance. Gray answered with a question. Voted yes on Axon. Source: meeting video.

sue.mu@apexnc.org

Swing vote · Next ballot November 2027
Arno Zegerman

Flock: no public position on the contract. Drones: made the Axon motion, and was the only member to ask for a way out of the five years.

  • Oct 13. “An efficiency tool, not a new drone or surveillance program.” “We are not here tonight to debate the use of the drone program.” Made the motion. Asked, “if it is at all possible,” for a termination for convenience clause so the town is not “beholden to a 5-year contract.” Source: meeting video.

arno.zegerman@apexnc.org

Leaning keep · Public Safety Committee · Term to 2029
Ed Gray

Flock: has spoken in support of ALPR technology. No stated position on the contract. Says he has not made up his mind. Drones: led the case for Axon.

  • Jun 9. Made the motion to refer ALPR policy and program updates to the Public Safety Committee. Passed unanimously. Source: meeting video.
  • Oct 13. Claimed “a critical gap” if Axon did not pass that night. Said residents would be able to look up whether a drone is APD’s. Called residents’ concerns “conflating” issues that create “panic, paranoia, and unnecessary stress.” Proposed sending the policy question to his committee after the vote. Voted yes. Announced an Oct 22 town hall: “contrary to what you may have heard on the internet, I haven’t made up my mind.” Source: meeting video. Claims checked here.

ed.gray@apexnc.org

Votes only to break a tie · Chairs the Public Safety Committee · Next ballot November 2027
Mayor Jacques K. Gilbert

Flock: supports ALPR as a tool, wants safeguards through policy, has not defended Flock specifically. Drones: co-signed the Axon recommendation.

  • May 22. Written statement: supports ALPR as a law enforcement tool, citing 29 years as a police officer, and wants “multi-layered safeguards” and accountability through policy. Source: the statement.
  • Aug 2026. Named the three options: “Do we continue with ALPR flock in our town? Do we consider moving to a different provider for ALPR? Or do we just discontinue ALPRs in Apex?” Source: WRAL.
  • Oct 1. Committee made no recommendation. “We’re not there yet, but I think it’s important that we took the time and we got to look at the balance of public safety, privacy.” Source: ABC11.
  • Oct 13. “No recommendation was made regarding the continuation or discontinuation of the program.” Said Axon “had no relationship with the ALPR discussion.” Asked staff to explore livestreaming or recording Council committee meetings. Source: meeting video.

jacques.gilbert@apexnc.org

Votes on surveillance technology