Guarino

Does Zack Matheny Have a Napoleon Complex?

It was interesting to see that Zack Matheny felt a need to complain to the media about Danny Thompson's campaign ads.  After all, they are both Republicans; and we are even supposed to believe they are both conservatives.  Are we not?

Zack spent the first three years of his time on the city council as a member of the Melderec con Simkins majority.  Over the last nine months or so, he has dipped his toes in the waters of conservative governance under pressure from the local GOP and perhaps C4GC. 

Of course, it seemed from afar that he never really wanted to vote on the landfill issue very much.  And in fact, when push came to shove over the last several weeks, it became clear he would not vote in favor of reopening the landfill to residential trash if Waste Industries was brought up for a vote.  That had the effect of killing any possibility of switching vendors in order to salvage the effort.

We are led to believe that he is somehow "controlled" by his employer-- a huge real estate concern-- and therefore could not vote on the landfill.

From the earliest days of this city council session, it has been apparent that Matheny, for some reason, has felt the need to undermine Danny Thompson.  It began with his childish insistence upon sitting next to the mayor at council meetings even though he is only a district representative.  It seems there has been a need to drag someone else down in order to boost himself up.

Now, he appoints himself to sit publicly in judgment of Thompson's campaign ads, even though the two men are not running against each other; and even though they are nominally members of the same party.  Somehow, we are to believe that it is Matheny's role as an incumbent District 3 candidate to judge openly other people's campaigns.

Surely, the News and Record loved publishing the story.  Unlike many of their recent local stories, they made this one available online without a hitch.

When Thompson voted for the budget, he voted for many of the things cited in the campaign ads, and helped make them happen.  One of his opponents this fall, dear Nancy Vaughan, voted against the budget.  So she voted against all those things.  He was part of the majority that passed the budget, and she was not.

I don't know whether Matheny intensely dislikes Thompson; or if he merely has felt threatened by him.  But Zack is now behaving, once again, like a Perkinette.  He is falling back in line.  The Melderec con Simkins tool is re-emerging.

It appears that the local Republican party leadership has a problem on its hands once again.  Perhaps it is long past time for them to usher Matheny toward the friendly confines of the local Democratic Party-- where he belongs.

Update: Triad Watch raises questions about Matheny's involvement in a land deal off HW 68; and asks about some of Zack's campaign donations and reporting.

The Greensboro City Council District 4 Race: Mary Rakestraw

For the Greensboro City Council primary in district 4, I will be voting for Mary Rakestraw.

I had a chance to hear Ms. Rakestraw and one of her opponents, Tony Collins, speak at the C4GC forum last night.

She explained that her philosophy is be careful with governmental spending.  She stated, correctly, that there has been no tax increase during the four years she has served on the Greensboro City Council.  This reversed a longstanding pattern of repeated, predictable tax increases.  In addition, she stated that she had been part of an effort to keep water rates down.  Finally, she indicated she wanted to make Greensboro a place where businesses would want to locate by reducing unnecessary rules and regulations.

With respect to the landfill/waste disposal issue, she stated correctly that the effort by the council included the involvement of attorneys from within city government as well as outside; department heads; and consultants.  She indicated that RFP's had been advanced.  In fact, alternative technology/energy proposals were sought and considered.  (Some parties have spoken as if this was not even entertained.  That is blatantly false.)

One of her opponents, Nancy Hoffmann, did not show for the forum.  But Tony Collins was present.  Although he presents a confident, pleasing demeanor, one must discern the messages he is transmitting.

He emphasizes that we need growth.  I don't disagree with that, but the question is what you perceive you need to do to achieve that growth.  Unfortunately, Mr. Collins is allying himself with folks like Keith Holliday and Robbie Perkins.  The answer we have seen from that crowd in the past is massive public investment on bond projects of questionable value; higher governmental spending; higher taxes; and a crony capitalist/Melderec approach from the standpoint of real estate development. 

He claims that he wants to make government more efficient; but I tend to judge candidates by the nature of their alliances.  He claims that growing the tax base will take the pressure off existing taxpayers.  It does not always work that way, however.  Growing the tax base can merely increase the appetite for spending, as it had with his crowd in the past.

He talks about "laying out a good atmosphere", treating people fairly and hearing everybody.  That all sounds great.  But in essence, it basically means caving to the demands of the east Greensboro political establishment.  Collins is a liberal Republican.  

He said he did not like the process that led to the decision to reopen the White Street Landfill to residential trash.  But as Mary Rakestraw pointed out, it was an entirely legitimate process.  He claims that, by using the landfill, we would consume precious landfill space and lose our opportunities to renegotiate effectively with out-of-town landfills.  But he fails to point out that limiting the landfill to Greensboro-only waste would extend its lifespan to 15 years, leaving ample time to develop a long-term plan.  He also neglects to mention that we pay a premium for those out-of-town landfills.

Notwithstanding Mr. Collins' protestations, the conservative coalition on the city council has had a number of significant achievements.  I will write more about that later.

We had previously posted to some extent regarding Mr. Collins here, here and here.

We had also posted here previously about Ms. Hoffmann.

Mary Rakestraw is the clear conservative choice in my opinion. 

Life Chain 2011

Greensboro's Life Chain will take place this Sunday, October 2.  This annual event is the nation's largest pro-life witness.  Participants gather along Battleground Ave. holding signs in opposition to abortion.

The event takes place from 2:30 - 3:30 PM.

I plan to be there in front of Krispy Kreme where members of my church gather every year. 

Robbie Perkins Watch: The Good Wife

Within the last week, the News and Record had an article on the Greensboro mayoral race.  Surprisingly, the paper reported in a grey inset box that Robbie Perkins' marital status is "separated".  This was buried among numerous other factoids, and could have been easily missed.  It is still not entirely clear to me at this point whether Mr. Perkins abandoned his wife.

Last night, I received an e-mail unexpectedly.  More about that later.

We previously discussed here the fact that Perkins' wife Carole had written for the GoTriad section of the News and Record.  A couple of weeks ago, I discovered, via the magic of Google, that she has also had a blog.

And it turns out that Ms. Perkins has discussed the issue of depression on her blog.  She openly describes how she and a friend had both struggled with this condition:

I'm no expert in matters of depression, but I do know the serious grip of that python who tries to strangle its victims, sometimes successfully.

A while back, I found myself sitting in the pit in the dark with my legs drawn up to my chest. I knew I wasn't alone...

(I)t was of great comfort to me to know I had my girlfriends who meet on Wednesday mornings to talk, pray, laugh and sometimes cry.

Of course, having a spouse who is prone to this type of condition would make any act of abandonment even more ethically problematic; and potentially quite harmful.

I had posted here a couple of weeks ago about lessons transmitted by my dad regarding the type of man who abandons his wife and kids.  We talked about how it can reflect on a man's character and integrity and honor and trustworthiness.  The manner in which marital and family obligations are handled strike at the very core of a man's life.

We previously had also discussed here in a comment thread the ethical justifications for divorce.  I suppose it is possible for reasonable people to disagree on these questions.

The fact is, however, that people get hurt in various ways... sometimes very badly.  It can be life-shattering to be betrayed, to have vows and commitments broken.

The e-mail that I discovered in my inbox last night was a bit unsettling to discover.  It had come from Carole Perkins. 

(A friend of mine, entirely outside of the political and blogging realm, had met her recently; and told me that she seemed to be a wonderful lady.  But I honestly don't know how she learned about this blog.) 

In any case, it was obvious from her e-mail that Mrs. Perkins had seen my most recent post on this topic.  That post argued that the News and Record should report about this particular marital separation.  It also commented on the phenomenon of Robbie Perkins running for mayor in the midst of a separation, and what that might say about the man.

Mrs. Perkins thanked me for my complimentary words about her writing.  But here is what she also wrote to me:

"I read your blog last night and really appreciate your insight into this situation. I totally agree with you on all counts."

I encourage readers to lift up Mrs. Perkins and her family in prayer. 

Gipper Humor

(ht: Tony Grapes)

Hardister Boosts Lawyer

Read about it here.

Conservative Board/ Commission Members

When you elect conservative members to the Greensboro City Council, you also have the potential to add conservative members to the various boards, authorities and commissions that have some influence.  These groups otherwise can remain hotbeds of liberalism.  Consider, for instance, what we have recently learned about the "human relations commission".

At the last city council meeting, there was a recommendation by the Greensboro Transit Authority to discontinue two routes that are very sparsely used.  The council took this action, saving the taxpayers money.

I am told that one of the key members of the GTA board who helped move this change was Lawrence Mann-- a fiscal conservative.

It is possible for voters-- and for those assisting city council candidates-- to make a real difference.

Yvonne Johnson

I had the opportunity to observe former Mayor Yvonne Johnson in action at the forum on Monday night.  She is running in the at-large race.  She was interesting to watch.

One contention she made is that she had previously expended considerable energy fighting political division in the city of Greensboro, and did not want to see it arise once again.

Later, she demagogued the landfill debate.  She indicated it should be regarded as a major problem when there is no public dialogue, when no explanations are offered, and when proponents lose in court.  She suggested that means something must be wrong.  In addition, she stated that some council members did not listen, had disregarded some people and treated them differently.  She said it was necessary to restore trust, show consistency, treat people right and explain things to people first.

That all sounds very nice.  But here are the ugly realities.

Yvonne Johnson was part of the city council that closed the landfill to residential trash.  That was a terribly mistaken decision.  It was partially grounded in identity politics.  But note should be made of where Ms. Johnson resides-- in reasonably close proximity to the landfill.  This raises the question as to whether that decision was rooted, at least in part, in perceived self-interest.

Of course, she has adopted many of the disingenuous political talking points of the landfill opponents that we have heard repeatedly.  But it should be emphasized that Yvonne Johnson is in no position to preach about political division and trust.

She is-- in the background-- part of the crowd that brought all of the disorder and horrendous behavior to council meetings during recent months.

She is part of the Melderec con Simkins crowd that gave us Project Homestead, the GPD fiasco and various other improprieties.  As noted above, she helped bring us the closing of the landfill in the first place.  It was in the course of the GPD fiasco that many Greensboro residents first understood the nature of the local machine politics of which Johnson has been part.  The quality of the decisionmaking, the intransigence and the wrongheadedness were just shameful.

Yvonne Johnson several years ago traveled to the Harvard School of Government, participated in a seminar, and bashed our police department from afar-- essentially accusing it of racism.  Yvonne Johnson has advocated collective bargaining for public sector employees.  This raises major issues including skyrocketing costs for Greensboro taxpayers and the potential for crippling strikes. 

Ms. Johnson recently received the endorsement of the Replacements Ltd. PAC.  This means she favors the gay sociopolitical agenda.

All of these are divisive positions.  She poses as a uniter, but allies herself with a faction that divides people.  She adopts political positions that are divisive.  With the GPD fiasco, she took a position supporting Mitchell Johnson that had the effect of disregarding some people and treating them differently.  There was little public dialogue and explanation.

The fact is that Yvonne Johnson is a political partisan who chooses to wage the identity politics wars; and who divides people.  Her comments might have pleased the left-wing crowd on Monday night; but don't allow yourself to be deceived. 

Gov. Perdue: Suspend the Constitution?

Our illustrious governor received some national media attention today.  She suggested that we forego congressional elections next year so incumbents can focus on the economy.  (HT: Stormy, Jodi)

I wonder if she would be making this suggestion if Democrats were not expected to have a tough year at the polls.

Of course, she has one little problem-- the Constitution.

Now, her office says it's all a joke.

Update: Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger of Eden responded.  He said he wanted to state clearly on the record that he does NOT support suspending our next gubernatorial election.

Nancy Pushes Mandatory Recycling

There was an interesting policy position adopted by a candidate during the League of Women Voters forum last night.  Limousine liberal Nancy Vaughan, who lives in old Irving Park, was speaking on the issue of waste disposal.  She said that recycling for Greensboro residents, which is currently optional for the most part, should be made mandatory.

The theory is that a reduction in waste volume will save the city money on tipping fees when we have to pay others to dispose of our trash.  In addition, it is asserted that we can generate city revenue from the recycled items.

Dear Nancy, of course, was not nearly as concerned about saving money when she moved to block the reopening of the landfill.

I think going to mandatory recycling will arouse the resentment of many city residents.  It is typical liberal command-and-control compulsion.  How is it going to be enforced?

I have seen how the most extreme mandatory recycling regimes can play out.  Residents often have to separate their trash into three or more color-coded receptacles.  Folks who have small living spaces must endure the inceased clutter caused by having several separate receptacles.

Of course, people who live in old Irving Park like Nancy typically have plenty of space.  And they might even have household help who handle the trash for them.

But for "enlightened" reasons, it is considered to be a great idea to require the mere plebes to separate their trash-- at risk, perhaps, of incurring hefty fines.

 

Chris Lawyer Shines at Greensboro College Forum

Tonight, there was a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters at Greensboro College involving the at-large candidates for the Greensboro City Council.

The League has become a partisan organization; and tonight there was a predominantly liberal crowd that showed up for the forum.  In fact, it seemed that I saw many of the same folks there who had been showing up at city council meetings because of the landfill issue.  They formed a cheering (or jeering) section as various candidates spoke.

One political newcomer who had a particular opportunity to shine tonight was Chris Lawyer.  Lawyer is a fiscally conservative candidate; and apparently has been doing very well during the various forums.  Tonight, his presentation was very impressive.  It was obvious that he was well-prepared.  In addition, his speaking skills are quite good.

Lawyer had previously responded to our questionnaire.

Chris is a physician's assistant.  I should disclose that, several years ago, I had the opportunity to work with him a bit at what used to be Battleground Urgent Care.  That was long before I was aware of his political interests.

I will be reporting more over the next couple of days regarding the forum.  Among the candidates present who I hope survives the Oct. 11 primary, one of them is Chris Lawyer.

No Recommendations: Districts 1, 2 and 3

In the past, we have made recommendations at this blog for Greensboro City Council races.  I have had the opportunity to review the field of candidates for districts 1, 2 and 3.

These districts pose a dilemma because, for each respective race, there is no true conservative running.  Any effort to "endorse" a candidate for these races would have the effect of recommending someone who would predictably vote the wrong way on the big issues with a considerable degree of regularity; or who would cling to unsavory political alliances.  While it is possible with each race to select the "lesser of two (or three) evils" or the least objectionable candidate, my position is that I only want to recommend conservatives.

Accordingly, I will only be making recommendations this year for the mayoral, districts 4 and 5 and at-large races.  (It should be noted that district 5 should be a no-brainer for nearly everyone because Trudy Wade has no credible opposition.)

I expect to be discussing and reporting this latter group of races here over the next several weeks.

Wreckage

 

(click to enlarge)

Lefty Vandalism on Conservative Signs

I am hearing that campaign signs in front of the GOP headquarters are being vandalized repeatedly.  Signs for the incumbent city council members, including Mayor Knight and Mary Rakestraw, are being torn down and/or sprayed with the message "KKK".

I guess we shouldn't be surprised.

Note the Categories: "Candidates 2011" and "Robbie Perkins Watch"

I wish to point something out for readers.

In the upper right hand corner of this blog page, you will find several "categories" listed. 

One of these is "Candidates 2011".  By clicking this link, you will be able to access all of the candidate questionnaires that we have received and posted thus far.  (You will also find the post in which I linked to some of the old questionnaire responses from 2009 and 2007.)

The other category of interest is "Robbie Perkins Watch".  Long-term readers will recognize that this is a recurring feature at this blog.  If you click this particular category, you will find all of the Robbie Perkins Watch posts I have made here since the feature's inception on April 8, 2008.  These posts should be of particular interest during this election season.

What is "Divisive" in Greensboro?

I want to continue my discussion of the district 4 City Council race.

Within the last several days, I provided a preliminary assessment of the candidacies of Tony Collins and Nancy Hoffmann, both of whom are challenging Mary Rakestraw for the district 4 seat.

It is interesting that both Hoffmann and Collins are making claims about themselves that apparently seek to make an unstated comparison with Rakestraw.

Hoffman claims she will "respect the citizens", "listen to all the people", "reach across divides and bridge differences".

Collins states that "we can do better by ... dialing down the rhetoric on the issues that divide us.... We need leadership that listens and responds when people speak."

I think this is all disingenuous nonsense.

I am not aware of a single instance in which Mary Rakestraw, in her official role as council member, has ever treated a citizen in a manner that was even one iota less than respectful.  There is not one bit of evidence that she has not listened to the people at council meetings; or that she has not listened to her constituents.

In fact, during council meetings, she always respects decorum, and consistently refrains from making comments that could be regarded as inappropriate.  She speaks with restraint and uses good judgment.  Sometimes I wish she would debate more, but the fact is that her voting record is fairly exemplary.

So what are Hoffmann and Collins talking about?  Perhaps it is the landfill issue.  Perhaps they are suggesting that Mary Rakestraw should have caved, and adopted the position demanded by landfill opponents.

But let's remember one thing.  It is the landfill opponents who behaved poorly at city council meetings over a period of many months.  It is that group that attempted to make it a spectacle to win their cause.  Ms. Rakestraw did not cause the awful tactics they used.  They did.

They are the parties that behaved in a divisive fashion-- not the city council conservatives.

Tony Collins and Nancy Hoffmann are apparently of the opinion that council members should simply relent and give in to the other side when enough people show up at meetings and make a huge scene.  Or else they are of the opinion that council members should never adopt a position that might provoke such extreme behavior in the first place.

In the process, both Collins and Hoffmann throw a bone to the city's racial identity politics, and suggest they will play along.

That is what Greensboro's politics had been for decades.  That is what gave us Project Homestead and the GPD fiasco and all the instances of corruption and impropriety that had been blithely tolerated.  Collins and Hoffmann apparently yearn for a return to those days.

If my interpretation is correct-- and I think that it is-- then this is pretty disgusting.  They are placing the demands of one particular group over the interests of the taxpayers.  They are deliberately creating a mistaken impression of their opponent. 

Council Candidates: T. Dianne Bellamy-Small

I have received a questionnaire response from T. Dianne Bellamy-Small, who is running for reelection to the District 1 Greensboro City Council seat.  I appreciate her participation.

1. What, in your opinion, is the single most important activity in which municipal government engages? (Please identify one program area only)

Providing services for the citizens.  

2. Do you support granting incentive monies for private real estate development?

When there is a partnership. 

3. What steps do you propose to enhance the Greensboro Police Department’s ability to reduce crime levels in the city of Greensboro? 

1. Strengthen community watch

2. Support C.O.P.

3. Support programs to assist ex-offenders not re-offend. 

4. Do you favor allowing the Greensboro Coliseum to continue hosting the Superjam event?  Yes. 

5. Do you favor using the White Street Landfill for residential trash?  No.

6. Will you seek or accept the endorsement of the Simkins PAC?  No. 

7. Will you seek or accept the endorsement of TREBIC-affiliated organizations?  They ask, I don't ask.  (Editor's note: A yes-no response was requested.) 

8. What steps do you propose to spur the recruitment and creation of jobs in the city of Greensboro? What steps would you not propose?

1. Planning for growth in east Greensboro.

2. Support small business office. 

9. Would you ever vote in favor of increasing taxes for Greensboro residents?  Yes. 

10. Would you ever vote in favor of increasing water rates for Greensboro residents?  Yes. 

11. What measures would you favor to limit the cost of benefits for city employees?  Allow city manager and staff to make recommendations. 

12. Do you support adding more police officers to the Greensboro Police Department; and if so, how many? 

Yes.  As city grows recommendations by staff of how many. 

13. Do you believe the computers in the Greensboro Public Library used by adults should be filtered to prevent the inadvertent viewing of pornography by minors who are nearby?  

I think problem is being address.  In the last year the problem has represented less than .09%. 

14. Which city activities or programs should be reduced or cut back? 

Those programs that we no longer feel are needed or are better provided by private/ non-profit organizations. 

15. Which types of projects should be funded through bonds for economic development; and which types should not be supported?

What our policy already does. 

16. What steps would you propose to eliminate the operating deficits at the Greensboro Coliseum complex?  

The complex's economic impact for the first 8 months of this year is approx. $80-90 million. 

17. Do you favor proposing bonds for capital projects, or do you support pay-as-you-go?

Both when recommended by staff. 

18. Do you favor giving Action Greensboro, the Greensboro Partnership and/or Downtown Greensboro Inc. special, increased standing in the formulation of policy decisions?

Whose policy?  (Editor's note: A yes-no response was requested.) 

19. Do you favor taxpayer funding of Action Greensboro, the Greensboro Partnership and/or Downtown Greensboro, Inc.? 

DGI should be phased out.  (Editor's note: A yes-no response was requested).

20. Do you favor expanding mass transit services in the city of Greensboro?  Yes. 

21. Do you believe the City Council should vote for the first time on the matter of whether or not taxpayer-provided benefits should continue to be extended to the partners of gay city city employees?

We already provide benefits.  (Editor's note: A yes-no response was requested.)  

Council Candidates: Deborah Fae Brogden

I have received the following questionnaire response.  The response was mailed unsigned, although the return address suggests it came from Deborah Fae Brogden, who is running for an at-large seat.  I appreciate her participation.

1. What, in your opinion, is the single most important activity in which municipal government engages? (Please identify one program area only)  Crime prevention. 

2. Do you support granting incentive monies for private real estate development?  Yes. 

3. What steps do you propose to enhance the Greensboro Police Department’s ability to reduce crime levels in the city of Greensboro?  

I. Curfews

II. Many more jobs for everyone

III. Bullying prevention classes (for both adults and children)

IV. Clothes police

(more to come) 

4. Do you favor allowing the Greensboro Coliseum to continue hosting the Superjam event?   Yes. 

5. Do you favor using the White Street Landfill for residential trash?  No. 

6. Will you seek or accept the endorsement of the Simkins PAC?  Yes. 

7. Will you seek or accept the endorsement of TREBIC-affiliated organizations?  Yes. 

8. What steps do you propose to spur the recruitment and creation of jobs in the city of Greensboro? What steps would you not propose?

More entrepreneurial classes, magnet schools for entrepreneurship, the continuation of all other methods of job creation (more to come) 

9. Would you ever vote in favor of increasing taxes for Greensboro residents?  No. 

10. Would you ever vote in favor of increasing water rates for Greensboro residents?  No. 

11. What measures would you favor to limit the cost of benefits for city employees?  

I would propose a sales tax to be enacted to take up the slack for the cost of benefits.

12. Do you support adding more police officers to the Greensboro Police Department; and if so, how many?  Yes.  125.  The fire dept. issues also needs to be addressed. 

13. Do you believe the computers in the Greensboro Public Library used by adults should be filtered to prevent the inadvertent viewing of pornography by minors who are nearby?  Yes. 

14. Which city activities or programs should be reduced or cut back?  NA. 

15. Which types of projects should be funded through bonds for economic development; and which types should not be supported?  

Funds should be given to community colleges as well as magnet schools to encourage program development of economics. 

16. What steps would you propose to eliminate the operating deficits at the Greensboro Coliseum complex?  Sales tax enactment. 

17. Do you favor proposing bonds for capital projects, or do you support pay-as-you-go?  Pay-as-you-go. 

18. Do you favor giving Action Greensboro, the Greensboro Partnership and/or Downtown Greensboro Inc. special, increased standing in the formulation of policy decisions?  Yes. 

19. Do you favor taxpayer funding of Action Greensboro, the Greensboro Partnership and/or Downtown Greensboro, Inc.?  No. 

20. Do you favor expanding mass transit services in the city of Greensboro?  Yes. 

21. Do you believe the City Council should vote for the first time on the matter of whether or not taxpayer-provided benefits should continue to be extended to the partners of gay city city employees?  (I am heterosexual).  Undecided.  

Hillary vs. Obama, Part II

There has been increasing concern among the mainstream media and also among Democrats regarding the great Obama's chances for reelection.  Some have been talking up the idea of Hillary running instead of Obama.

And this week, Bill Clinton is openly questioning Obama's economic policies even though his wife serves in the administration as Secretary of State.

Americans who yearn for the economic success we had as a nation when Clinton was president would be misleading themselves if they think that Hillary could restore it.  The conditions that enabled our nation to be successful at that time are no longer present; and those conditions had very little to do with anything the Clinton's did.  And she would merely seek the preserve the socialist gains achieved under Obama.

It remains to be seen what would happen to the Democratic Party's African-American base if Obama is pressured not to run for reelection; or if he is challenged in the primaries and overtaken. 

But here is a great question.  If the mainstream media and some Democrats push for Hillary over Obama, would that make them racists?

Nancy Hoffmann

Nancy Hoffmann is facing Mary Rakestraw and Tony Collins in the District 4 Greensboro City Council primary.  She responded to our questionnaire; and it is found here.  We had discussed Tony Collins' candidacy yesterday.

I think it is fair to say that Tony Collins is a Melderec-style liberal in the failed North Carolina tradition of "business progressivism".  It appears that Nancy Hoffmann, however, is more of a standard/modern liberal.

She recently received the endorsement of the Replacements Ltd. PAC suggesting that she is an unequivocal supporter of the gay sociopolitical agenda.  She tends to bow before the city's identity politics.  She opposed the reopening of the White Street Landfill to residential trash; and in fact, she spoke in opposition at least one time at a city council meeting.  She has served on the city's "human relations commission" that took a strident position in opposition to the landfill.  She plans to seek the Simkins endorsement; but interestingly distances herself from TREBIC. 

Like Collins, she uses the "quality of life" code words; and also suggests she will be a "partner" with the city's "economic development team"-- presumably at the Greensboro Partnership, which takes a liberal approach to the formulation of policy. 

She admits that she would vote in favor of tax and fee increases.  She also favors bonds for capital projects.

She has a business background, but that does not mean she would vote as a conservative.  Her community activities have included a stint as board president of the YWCA, which is a pro-abortion organization. 

Yet, in spite of all of the above, she claims on her website not to have any ideology.  She claims she will not be a part of any faction in spite of her stated intention to seek the Simkins endorsement.

Only two candidates will survive the primary.  I do not know which of the three candidates are likely to survive at this point.