Eleven candidates are running for the three At Large seats on the Greensboro City Council. I received questionnaire responses from seven of those candidates.
Overall, the candidate field consists of some very impressive people with whom I disagree on many issues. There was not a single clean choice in this race from my perspective. Each of the candidates had some positions that are at least somewhat troubling. Each of them seems more than happy to accept the endorsement of special interest groups and PAC's. We are familiar with the performance of the two incumbents, Robbie Perkins and Sandra Anderson Groat.
Two candidates, however, seem to distinguish themselves from the rest.
Danny Thompson said he would not raise our taxes and fees. He advocates zero-based budgeting. He wants to have more cops on the beat, and "less butts polishing seats". He favors pay-as-you-go for capital projects. He supports bringing the city attorney under the control of the city council. And he opposes providing tax dollars to Action Greensboro and the Greensboro Partnership.
Nancy Vaughan says that public safety is the primary function of local government. She opposes incentives for private real estate development. She favors a "business friendly environment". Unfortunately, she is open to tax and fee increases even though our taxes are already too high relative to much of the rest of the southeastern US. She opposes giving Action Greensboro and the Greensboro Partnership increased standing in the formulation of policy. She supports bringing the city attorney under the control of the city council.
But I am going to vote for Nancy Vaughan primarily because I perceive that she will be stronger than the rest of the pack with respect to GPD-related issues. If she is elected, I hope that I turn out to be correct on that point.
I do not plan to cast a third vote in the At Large race.
What?
No endorsement of Ryan Shell, Mr. Consistency and Good Judgment personified?
Posted by: bubba bu | October 03, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Bubba, this particular race was probably more difficult to analyze than any of the others. None of the candidates who responded to the questionnaire appear to be consistently conservative with respect to local government issues. In fact, it is difficult to identify a candidate who is even remotely conservative among the bunch.
It is very unfortunate that each of them is willing to accept the endorsement of the Simkins PAC.
John Hammer endorsed Gary Nixon, although this particular candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | October 04, 2009 at 12:22 AM
Nixon is a Democrat.
Posted by: Roch101 | October 04, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Nixon got my vote...although he has no campaign structure right now
Posted by: GuilfordFella | October 06, 2009 at 05:31 PM