I have received a response from Zack Matheny, who is running for a City Council seat in District 3. The following is the text of his response, unfiltered:
1. What do you regard as the single most important function or purpose of local government?
Maintain and improve quality of life for the citizens of Greensboro. The single most important purpose is to provide essential government services to meet the needs of the citizens of Greensboro in maintaining quality of life.
2. What would you specific plan or approach to attract new employers, and retain existing employers, in the City of Greensboro?
First, we need to have a City Council that will listen to our business community and the new businesses that are considering Greensboro. With my professional experience and community involvement I believe I can bridge that communication gap and help get us all on the same page in maintaining and building with our current corporations as well as aid in recruiting new business. I had a meeting today with a large corporation that has added 200 jobs to Greensboro. They are having parking problems and want help from the city, but they have had no response. These are issues we need to change through communication and action. Also, on City Council, I will be accessible to meet with and recruit businesses to show that our City is accessible and we are open for business with great citizens to hire.
3. What would be your specific plan to reduce crime in the City of Greensboro?
First and foremost, I would work to ensure we continue to have an open dialogue with the Police Department, City Manager, and Council to prioritize the issues facing our city in regard to crime and safety and determine a plan of action for addressing each. Gangs are a high profile problem, and it is my opinion that we need to relocate current police officers onto a Gang Task Force to begin addressing the situation. This will give immediate help in gang related crimes. I do believe that the city needs to add people to the police force to keep up with our cities and train to the best of their abilities. Downtown is an area that we need to have continued focus. With the growth we are experiencing, also comes the need for increase protection. Building morale within the Police Department is also a critical step in the overall trust and prevention for the citizens of Greensboro.
4. Would you ever vote for a tax increase?
I have no intention of voting for a tax increase, but to answer this, I would have to be in a specific budget situation. I do not believe in speaking in absolutes when it comes to these types of issues. Hypothetically, if it made sense for the citizens of Greensboro and the City Council has exhausted all our resources in hopes to avoid a tax increase, but had no choice, then yes, I would most likely vote for a tax increase. Please, understand that I consider myself a fiscal conservative, and when I refer to the City exhausting all other resources, that will be an extremely high standard to meet.
5. Are you going to seek or accept the endorsement of the Simkins PAC?
Yes, I will meet with the Simkins PAC just as I will meet with any individual or group to discuss my vision for the city and my qualifications and aspirations to represent my district on City Council.
6. Are you going to seek or accept the support of TREBIC?
It is my understanding when I did my interview that it is not TREBIC that gives an endorsement. I did meet with the members of TREBIC that had representatives from the many groups that make up the interview process that give the endorsement. These meetings are beneficial to me in keeping an open mind and learning the needs and desires of all citizens so I can best represent the interest of my district, however, no single group or individual defines my position on the issues facing Greensboro or how I address those issues.
7. Do you support same-sex domestic partner benefits for city employees?
This is an issue that was already decided and amended in the City’s Policy dated January 1, 2007. Yes. I support same-sex domestic partner benefits in that our city should model the non-discriminatory behavior of many large and small companies. In today’s world, Greensboro needs to act like the big business we are, and a lot of companies, to offer benefits that do not discriminate to ensure we hire that best possible candidates.
8. What would your specific plan to clean up the Greensboro Police Department?
The bad conduct of a few individuals is not representative of the entire organization. To fully understand the extent of the problems of the police force we all deserve to know the issues that actually took place; thus the SBI report needs to be released, and if I was a current council member I would be pushing for that to be done. Before, we can really tackle issues; we need to know the truth.
Another area on which we need to focus is working with Chief Bellamy and the City Manager to build morale inside the police department. That is an area when accomplished, will spill over into the community and the police force will regain trust from the citizens.
My reaction:
I want to thank Mr. Matheny for taking the time to compose and submit his thoughtful responses.
He says that maintaining quality of life is the most important function of local government, and other candidates have made that statement as well. Is that really the most important function of city government, and what does that mean in terms of how we spend money?
His response to the question on recruiting and retaining employers was very good. Elsewhere, however, he admits he might raise taxes, which would tend to undercut at least partially any gains potentially to be accrued by trying to recruit and retain employers.
His response on crime control was good. It does not discuss techniques or methods of policing or reducing crime, however.
He states he is a fiscal conservative, and that is very positive. He leaves the door open, however, for voting in favor of tax increases.
Unfortunately, he indicates he is seeking the support of both the Simkins machine and also TREBIC-affiliated organizations.
He supports same-sex domestic partner benefits, suggesting it would be discriminatory if we did not do so. He says we should emulate various private employers in this regard. Many Greensboro residents likely do not feel that the city was discriminating prior to the recent implementation of its new policy.
The response to the question regarding the GPD, while defensible at some level, seems insufficient. It is unlikely that the SBI report will be released. We will ultimately learn whether or not officers will be indicted, and if it goes to court, we will learn even more. The city has had greater than two years to come forth with all the information regarding this matter, and city councilpersons need to be able to act. The response given, unfortunately, supports the status quo by default.
The question of the degree of morale within the GPD is an interesting phenomenon. We were told that it rose dramatically when David Wray was pushed out. We were also told that it increased considerably when rotating shifts were eliminated. If there are still problems with morale, why would that be? I thought we had fixed the problems that beset the GPD that led to poor morale.
I appreciate, once again, Mr. Matheny's responses. The remainder of the candidate responses may be found by clicking "Council Candidates" below or in the upper right hand corner. Or you can find links for all the candidates on this page.
After reading Mr Methaney's responses, the candidate who is the best choice for District 3 hasn't changed.
Posted by: Bubba | September 01, 2007 at 03:47 PM
Bubba, we have now heard from Joe Wilson and Berkley Blanks in addition to Zack Matheny. We have not yet heard from Bobby Coffer or Cyndy Hayworth. I think Gary Nixon has dropped out of the race.
Joe Wilson appears pretty strong from the standpoint of the positions he has taken as reflected on the questionnaire.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | September 01, 2007 at 08:15 PM
"We have not yet heard from Bobby Coffer or Cyndy Hayworth."
I can't say anything about Coffer because I have no idea about his positions.
However, a visit to Cyndy Hayworth's site is not too inspiring.
Generalities about beliefs might be ok in this era of the sound byte, but all it does is remind me of the old Miller Lite tag line: "Tastes great, less filling."
In either case,confidence is not (yet) inspired for either candidate.
Posted by: Bubba | September 02, 2007 at 10:36 AM
Joe Wilson is still the man for my district I believe. Now if he will just get out and let people see and know him personally; that is "press the flesh", he might very well take the election. BB
Posted by: Brenda Bowers | September 02, 2007 at 02:34 PM
To better know Zack Matheny, its best to see how he responds to you on a one on one basis.
A few years back, I wanted to rollover a small 401k into an IRA. I talked to him and he said he would help. I called back a few times and he never bothered returning my calls. I guess since it was only a few thousand dollars he couldnt be bothered. Imagine what he would be like if elected to the city council
Posted by: CSilva | October 05, 2007 at 11:49 AM