City Council Candidate Questionnaire Response-- Lance A. Jones, Sr. for District 2

I received my first response today to the candidate questionnaire I had mailed to candidates for City Council.  It was sent by Lance A. Jones, who is challenging Goldie Wells for the District 2 City Council seat.

I will present the responses unfiltered, and then comment:

1. What do you regard as the single most important function or purpose of local government? To ensure the deliverance of essential services efficiently, i.e., safe streets (police)- attractive economic development incentives and basic services hassle free.

2. What would be your specific plan or approach to attract new employers, and retain existing employers, in the City of Greensboro? Our city has an excellent talent base which is feed by our colleges.  I am in favor of economic development zones and other incentives offered to business through a marketing process which emphasized our qualified graduate base coupled with land and contract incentives.

3. What would be your specific plan to reduce crime in the City of Greensboro? As an officer myself I have a no nonsense approach to our cities growing crime and gang problem which has multiple layers.  My talk with gang members (incarcerated) has concluded. 

1. Strict punishment for all violent gang-related crime.

2. Constant surveillance and intelligence gathering.

3. Increase gang task force detectives for our city.

4. Renewed social services and summer youth job programs.

4. Would you ever vote in favor of a tax increase?  No (last resort).

5. Are you going to seek or accept the endorsement of the Simkins PAC?  No. (But a small check mark was present just above the space for "yes" also).

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?   No.

8. What would be your specific plan to clean up the Greensboro Police Department? I approve of and am excited about have Chief Bellamy as our new police leader/chief.  I support all of his request thus far for additional gang detective which was refused by city council.  I think he is a man of high standard and I agree with his restructuring of the Greensboro P.D. via shuffling personnel.  I support the establishment of a police review board with subpoena powers.

Comments: I had the opportunity to see Mr. Jones at the candidate forum last night held at the Greensboro Public Library.  He seemed like a reasonably solid individual.  His opponent, Goldie Wells, was Simkins-endorsed during the last election season, and may therefore likely be the machine candidate.  I had high hopes for Ms.Wells during the campaign last year, but have been disappointed.

Positives for Mr. Jones?  He opposes same sex domestic partner benefits.  He denies he will vote for tax increases, except as a last resort (yes, I know, last resorts come about every year around budget time).  His proposal for incentives and economic empowerment zones for businesses merits further discussion.  He had some good responses on the gang issue.  He seems to deny he will seek the Simkins machine endorsement (although the manner in which the questionnaire is completed is a bit confusing).

Negatives? Although he emphasized his career in law enforcement during the candidate forum, I was concerned about his responses with respect to the Greensboro Police Department, and his advocating for a police review board.  I do not regard seeking TREBIC's support as a positive.  He responded to the question regarding the single most important function of local government by listing multiple functions.  The crime question seemed to draw responses regarding gangs, the topic du jour, but did not seem to address the larger crime problem not involving gangs.

It is unclear to me, at this early stage, whether Mr. Jones would represent an improvement over Ms. Wells, but there are some appealing aspects to his profile and his responses.  He may very well turn out to be the candidate I prefer, especially given the choices.  I appreciate very much his taking the time to complete and return the questionnaire.

The other responses are found here.

Comments

[Sue]

Joe, is your long-term denunciation of the Simkins PAC extended to all PACs or just to this particular one?

[Joe Guarino]

Sue, in the second to last paragraph, I indicated, "I do not regard seeking TREBIC's support as a positive."

The degree of my displeasure with the Simkins PAC does not necessarily extend to all PAC's. We have had some serious problems in this community over the last several years that trace back to the Simkins machine's nefarious influence on local politics.

[Geoff]

Where are the rest of the candidates? Are you playing favorites?

Why do the candidates tell us what they want? Why don't they say that they are here to represent the people of Greensboro, and that they want to hear from them?

[Joe Guarino]

Geoff, thanks for visiting. Mr. Jones only has one opponent-- Goldie Wells-- and she has not responded to the survey thus far.

Thus far, 12 candidates have responded, and these may be accessed by clicking "Council Candidates" at the top of the right column. All 32 candidates have been mailed a survey and given the opportunity to respond.