City Council Candidate Questionnaire Response-- Robbie Perkins

I have received a response from Robbie Perkins to the questionnaire I circulated among City Council candidates.  Mr. Perkins is running for an at-large seat.

His responses are as follows, unfiltered:

1. What do you regard as the single most important function or purpose of local government?

Protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens within its jurisdiction.

2. What would be your specific plan or approach to attract new employers, and retain existing employers, in the City of Greensboro?

i) Create a better working environment between the city of Greensboro and economic development organizations.

ii) Provide a business-friendly, "can do" attitude toward large and small business at City Hall.

iii) Put the utility and transportation infrastructure in place so that the private sector can do its job.

3. What would be your specific plan to reduce crime in the city of Greensboro?

i) Restore public trust in the Police Department.

ii) "Target" solution for the increasing gang problem.

4. Would you ever vote in favor of a tax increase? Yes.

5. Are you going to seek or accept the endorsement of the Simkins PAC? Yes.

6. Are you going to seek or accept the support of TREBIC? Yes.

7. Do you support same-sex domestic partner benefits for city employees? Yes.

8. What would be your specific plan to clean up the Greensboro Police Department?

i) Fully disclose the nature of the problems to regain public trust.

ii) Assign responsibility of clean-up to the City Manager along with a timetable and reporting schedule, and hold him responsible for the job.

My comments: I thank Mr. Perkins for responding to the questionnaire.  He must be considered a formidable contender for an at-large seat on the basis of name recognition alone.

His response to the first question provided a broad description of his conception of the mission of city government, but the question was looking for the single most important function.

The response to the second question was good, but does not address tax policy as a component of the recruitment and retention of jobs; and elsewhere in the questionnaire, he regrettably admits that he would vote in favor of tax increases.  This will tend to undermine job recruitment/retention efforts.

The response to the third question, regarding crime, leaves the reviewer wondering how increasing public trust in the Police Department will reduce crime.  The gang problem is only one component of the overall crime picture.

His indication that he will seek the support of both the Simkins machine and TREBIC raises warning flags.  I personally disagree with his stance in favor of domestic partner benefits for city employees.

The response with respect to cleaning up the Police Department is good, as far as it goes.  But it does not reveal in which direction he would take the current handling of the situation-- continuing the present course, or reversing it.

There are many contenders for the at-large seats.  We will need to see whether the responses of other candidates improve upon what Mr. Perkins has offered.

The other candidate responses are found here.

Comments

[Eddie Felson]

Get out the hook and jerk this bum off stage. Another Joe Williams sock puppet. Not even a single reason to give this hack your vote. Hiss! Boo !

[Margaret Banks]

Hey, I'm finally getting around to reading your election coverage (yeah, I should have read it earlier, but things have been so darn busy). Anyway, you're doing a great job - both in asking questions and providing your take on the answers. This is what blogs were made to do.

[Joe Guarino]

Eddie, I get the feeling you may not like the guy. Thanks for commenting.

Margaret, thank you also for your kind words. Even though I rarely comment, I have been a longtime reader of Inside Scoop. I hope what I am doing here will help to clarify further what these folks are all about, what drives them, and how that will be reflected in how they perform if elected.

[Bubba]

"Provide a business-friendly, 'can do' attitude toward large and small business at City Hall."

Like more rezoning in opposition to previous land use standards, and more business as usual for NAI?

No thanks, Robbie. We're suffering from too much of that kind of "attitude" from your previous handiwork already.

Tell us about your agreement with other people, specifically Tom Phillips, about control of the District 3 seat for the last decade or so.

[tonywilkins]

The very likable Perkins, probably the most polished, well oiled, political machine among the 33 candidates, might be awarded a question #9.
9. Would you take a polygraph with unlimited questions concerning the Project Homestead fiasco that assaulted the Greensboro tax payers during your first term?
That polygraph may, in his words, "fully disclose the nature of the problems to regain public trust."
Perkins will probably win an at large seat on his way to running for mayor in 2009 as voters tend to have short memories.
Joe, I think your questionnaire revealed a lot about Perkins. Even though he is a registered Republican (I know, I know...they're non partisan elections) don't you think his answers here slant left?

[Joe Guarino]

Tony, unfortunately, I agree. And I think that his opponents should remind voters, vociferously, about his role in blocking the audit of Project Homestead.

[joe wilson]

I think it's important that the voters take the time to remember what has been done to them in the past by "community Leaders". I spoke today at a luncheon and the questions I was asked reflected
the same sentiments expressed here.I stated in my blog,this kind of abuse of power is the most abhorent kind of betrayal and in my opinion should be rewarded with tough-love instead of re-election. Joe, You can't expect political candidates to fight your battles for you.The citizenry must expose these people who have abused their position of authority to line their pockets and prevent it from happening again. The subject of this post ain't the only stinker in the woods just perhaps the most smug about it.Search public land records and decide for yourself how the timing seems to coincide with council briefings and decisions. Project Homestead isn't the only show in town . The truth is out there.

[Joe Guarino]

Joe, your points are well taken. I appreciate your commenting.

I think there is a role, however, for the type of campaigning that seeks to differentiate a given candidate from his/her opponent.

[Brenda Bowers]

If y’all want another term or two for the Skunk in the woodpile then by all means sent Robbie Perkins back to the woodpile!