Zack Matheny

Residential address: West Newlyn Street (map)

Incumbent or challenger? Incumbent

Age: 38

Campaign website or blog: zackmathenyforcouncil.com (link)

Endorsement: Greensboro Police Officers Association, News & Record, Professional Fire Fighters of Greensboro, Replacements Limited PAC, Rhinoceros Times, Simkins PAC

Occupation and employer: Director, Bell Partners

Previous elective experience (including election campaigns): Greensboro City Council, 2007-present

Civic and volunteer experience (including service on city commissions and boards): 40 Leaders Under Forty Award, 2005; advisory board member, UNCG Business Administration; fundraising chair, Greensboro Bicentennial; financial teaching instructor, GTCC; executive committee member, Chrysler Classic of Greensboro; loaned executive, Greensboro United Way; Chamber Operating Group and Member Services Council, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce; co-chair, Civil Rights Museum Golf Tournament Organizing Committee; member, Greensboro Sports Council; Future Fund Steering Committee member, past social chair and past Chrysler Classic chair; Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro; K for Kids member; Can’t Wait for the Ballpark committee chair and Making Connections Around the Table host, Action Greensboro; Greensboro Opera Board member; board member and past Master Plan Oversight Committee member, Downtown Greensboro; Big Brothers, Big Sisters; former Prelude Steering member and 2005 Vanguard Fundraising Chair, United Arts Council; former Citizen Advisory Board member, Guilford County Comprehensive Plan Update; former zoning commission member, city of Greensboro

Education (highest degree attained and name of institution): BS, NC State University; series 7, 63 and 66 licenses; life and health insurance and long term care insurance licenses

Party registration: Republican (nonpartisan contest)

Where were you born? Shelby

When did you move to Greensboro? 1999

Paid consultants working on your campaign: None

Campaign manager: Lauran Matheny and Elizabeth Rankin

Treasurer: Brad Fields

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.

Due to a conflict of interest, I am not allowed to discuss aspects of the White Street Landfill.

Where do you stand on the “strong manager” form of city government and why?

I agree with the strong manager for of city government as it relates to the city of Greensboro. City council members, including the mayor, are a part time job (although it takes a full-time schedule). The city manager is the main full-time job that oversees all aspects of the city of Greensboro from an employee standpoint to the basic needs and services. The city manager is a CEO role with the city council representing the overseeing board of directors.

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?

Of course we should place more emphasis on our water and sewer plan as it is one of the backbones the city of Greensboro runs for our citizens. This includes existing lines our citizens are using as well as expansion for future economic development as well as future neighborhoods.

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?

Since I was elected in 2007, we have maintained a strategic initiative to keep our tax rate at the same rate, with little effect to our residents on the basic needs and services the city of Greensboro provides. There is a fine line in municipal government between cutting across the board and not investing in the community. In my opinion from a budgetary and invest perspective, the city council, through much debate, has performed well and needs to stay on the same path.

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.

As the overseeing body of directors for the city of Greensboro, and the fact that we have to vote to approve these financial measures, yes, the council does warrant additional oversight since we are held accountable.

How would you assess the value and effectiveness of Greensboro’s Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy program, which is now prohibited by state law?

RUCO has done a great job in bringing our housing inventory above average. In my opinion, the RUCO program is in need of an upgrade to create better efficiencies and effectiveness. We are in need of creating a RUCO 2.0 version and hope we can get it passed at the state level.

How should the impasse over management and operation of the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market be resolved?

It is a shame that the farmers market had such a disruption in the first place. In my opinion, the city council made a good decision recently in awarding the management to a diverse group of market vendors, shoppers and supporters.

What, if anything, should be done to resolve racial tensions, and to enhance professionalism, integrity and fairness within the Greensboro Police Department?

In my opinion our police department is creating a more open community involvement towards building an even better relationship with our citizens. The Greensboro Police Department and their officers work with high integrity, professionalism, and fairness. With continued community initiatives, the community has significant trust in our GPD.

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?

Land use patterns are a constant change. You have infill needs and projects and outward growth. Mass transit is a great goal to have to for numerous such as personal expense, and environment; however, we must also recognize that we as Americans like having our own transportation. It will be a constant evaluation that also depends on the economy and any potential job growth the area may experience.

What is Greensboro’s greatest asset? What is Greensboro’s most pressing problem?

Greensboro greatest asset is our people. Generally speaking we are a very caring/giving community, thus making Greensboro a great place to live.

Greensboro weakness is our job growth and per capita income for our citizens. In the past, we largely depended on the textile and furniture industries for jobs and growth. In the late ’80s through 1990s that changed drastically and we were caught without a great plan.

Articles about this candidate:

Taxes and spending: Where the candidates stand (link)

Candidate profile: Zack Matheny (link)

District 3 candidates spar over teen curfew (link)

Matheny and Ovittore on teen curfew, youth activities, jobs (link)

2011 primary election endorsement & voter guide (link)

Vendor selection in landfill decision questioned (link)

Greensboro mayoral race expands (link)