A man who helped rescue a woman from the World Trade Center during the Sept. 11 attacks is running for Raleigh City Council. John Cerqueira, 44, announced his candidacy for the council’s District E seat Wednesday.

Bringing a fresh perspective to Raleigh’s political landscape, John Cerqueira has declared his intention to run for a seat on the City Council under District E. As a Raleigh stalwart and change-management expert, Cequeira’s campaign is grounded in responsibly balancing Raleigh's rapid development while preserving its cherished community feel.