Residential address: Wild Partridge Court (map)
Incumbent or challenger? Challenger
Age: 33
Campaign website: lawyerforcouncil.com (link)
Endorsements: Mike Barber, Conservatives for Guilford County, Joe Guarino and Rhinoceros Times
Occupation and employer: Physician assistant, Moses Cone Health Services
Previous elective experience (including election campaigns): Volunteer for George Allen campaign for Virginia governor (1993) and for US Senate (2006), volunteer for Jon Hardister’s NC House campaign (2010)
Civic and volunteer experience (including service on city commissions and boards): Member, Society of Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants; has supported ALS and muscular dystrophy causes
Education (highest degree attained and name of institution): Master’s in physician assistant studies, King’s College
Party registration: Republican (nonpartisan contest)
What is the city of your birth? Martinsville, Va.
What year did you move here? 2005
Paid consultants working on your campaign: None
Campaign manager: Jon Hardister
Treasurer: Carolyn Hardister
Do you favor or oppose reopening the White Street Landfill for household waste, beyond the small amount of sewer sludge currently accepted? Briefly explain your position.
I believe that we will have to temporarily re-open the landfill with the belief that we move aggressively to seek out a long-term regional solution. We have to be responsible with our efforts in re-opening the landfill by using technology that will curb odor and rodent issues. This issue is more complex than just open versus close. This mentality of short sightedness got us to the point where we are now. It is time for us to take ownership of our responsibility and save money. The transport cost will only continue to rise. I do not feel that an urban area is a suitable place for a landfill long term. We also need to expand our recycling efforts to help cut down on the overall waste that will be placed in any landfill.
Where do you stand on the “strong manager” form of city government and why?
I feel that the strong manager form of government is an effective model because it allows the council to drive the goals and vision with an expert to effectively deliver them within that framework. The strong manager model allows council to take into account the ideas of the citizens and construct those ideas into the city vision. This allows the manager to integrate them into the overall city plan. The council and city manager have to realize that strong communication is the key to this form of government.
Should the city of Greensboro place more or less emphasis on maintaining a healthy water and sewer fund to plan for future growth? Why or why not?
Infrastructure is a necessity and key component of our city government. There is no need for water rate increases if our budgets are responsible and fiscally sound. Citizens should not carry the burden of rate increases if we are not being fiscally responsible.
The city’s tax base has remained flat for the past two years in a row, and the foreclosure crisis continues unabated. As a member of city council, how would you balance the need to fund services such as police patrol, fire protection and park maintenance that citizens care about with the reality that the revenue picture remains bleak?
We have to realize that there are necessities and there are wants. We have to use taxpayer dollars responsibly. It is our responsibility to take care of our true necessities first and foremost. This concept is no different than we all incorporate with our own budgets. Police, fire and infrastructure are necessities within our government here in Greensboro. These areas are of utmost importance.
Do you believe that city staff deserves council support to implement a program to spend federal grant money to improve the energy efficiency of residences and businesses, or does this program warrant additional oversight from council? Briefly explain your position.
I think that council should be a part of the discussion on how to best utilize these funds and how they are appropriated.
How would you assess the value and effectiveness of Greensboro’s Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy program, which is now prohibited by state law?
I can attest to the fact that RUCO is a program that attempted to raise the standard of housing here in Greensboro. RUCO was proactive in attempting to identify problem structures before they became major issues. The problem that I will state is that this was not as comprehensive as it should have been. There are landlords that did not participate in this program. Some of the greatest offenders of substandard properties were allowed to still run housing that in no way is acceptable. I have driven around this city and looked at properties that seemingly were untouched by RUCO. These properties were well below acceptable standards of living. No citizen in any country should live in these conditions and they are right here in our city. If I can ride by these properties and identify code violations without stepping foot inside then we know what the interior must be like. We need to be very vigilant in having the code enforcement go on the offensive to every substandard housing unit. We also need to enforce better in regards to properties with trash littering their yards. Furthermore, the vast majority of landlords do an exceptional job of maintaining their properties, but there is a minority that have allowed properties to fall below anyone’s standard of living.
How should the impasse over management and operation of the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market be resolved?
The city should find the best private group that will stick to the beliefs of a traditional farmers market. This is a stream of revenue for farmers and should be managed with the local farmer in mind.
What, if anything, should be done to resolve racial tensions, and to enhance professionalism, integrity and fairness within the Greensboro Police Department?
This is an internal issue within the department. The standard for this department has to be set by the leadership. City council should ensure that we are supporting this department in our budgets to make us as strong as possible.
What would you change about Greensboro’s land use patterns if the decision were yours to make? Please answer the question in terms of places people live, work and shop, in terms of the modes of transportation people use to get from point to point and the vitality of neighborhoods and commercial corridors?
The bus system here in Greensboro needs to be as efficient as possible. We should maintain the integrity of neighborhoods based on citizens’ input as it pertains to development in and around there area.
What is Greensboro’s greatest asset? What is Greensboro’s most pressing problem?
Our greatest asset is our great citizens and abundant infrastructure. I feel that our most pressing issue is reining in our budgets to make them as responsible as possible. Along with this we need to create a business environment that is conducive to small/large business through lower taxes and streamlined regulations. Also maintaining sound infrastructure along with public safety would make our business climate more attractive as well.
Articles about this candidate:
2011 general election voter guide (link)Taxes and spending: Where Greensboro City City Council candidates stand (link)
Danny Thompson's specious landfill numbers (link)
Greensboro primary: at-large analysis (link)
Mayoral challenger Perkins swamps incumbent Knight (link)
2011 primary election endorsement & voter guide (link)
Wade, Knight make no apologies for landfill decision (link)
At-large candidates in Greensboro municipal election struggle to differentiate themselves (link)
