A Letter to the Editor From Rhino Reader Lynn Andrew
Okay Greensboro, the filing deadline for City Council has passed and it’s time to begin evaluating the candidates. The purpose of an election is to place the right person in the right job. First, one must consider the core responsibilities of a city government.
- Fire
- Police
- Trash
- Sewer / Water
- Some Roads
- Zoning
- Building Codes Inspection & Enforcement
Secondly, one must match the qualifications and experiences of the candidate to the position.
How has the existing council done in these categories? Are these items the focus of their meetings? Do they spend time on items outside of their purview? Please make note of the “missing” items from this list. The city council has no impact on public schools. They do not have the authority to address state and federal issues. This reduced listing of core authority is the reason why city elections are usually non-partisan. Party politics/issues really do not have a place in city operations.
Using these points and questions as a guide to evaluate whether an incumbent should be re-elected is common sense.
What about new candidates? Use the same criteria – what is their prior skill set and accomplishments? Does their prior experience make them a good fit for the council?
The base focus of a city council is evaluating tax spending priorities, your tax dollars. A good candidate would have experience running a business as that is exactly what businesses do. If they don’t do it well, they go out of business. Candidates should exhibit the ability to handle their own personal finances at a minimum. Consider whether it makes sense to elect someone who has never worked with accounting data. That’s the heart of a city council position. Do you want to put someone in charge of millions of dollars in spending decisions who has never learned how to read financial statements?
You may ask why a resident of High Point would care about the Greensboro City Council race. As the larger city in Guilford County, Greensboro frequently sets the pace for all the other towns and cities in the county. Many of the other municipalities in the county are physically adjacent to Greensboro, including the area I live in. Those of us who live in other parts of Guilford County have been subject to the joys and tragedies of Greensboro, and frankly, they have been non-stop for the last several years. Therefore, while I cannot vote in the Greensboro City Council election, it does have an impact on my daily life.
So, this is your chance Greensboro. Do you want to continue with a council that produces the turmoil the city has experienced over the last several years or do you want to see better? Make wise choices, please!
Lynn Andrew
High Point
Not a single incumbent on or current Greensboro City Council is worthy of re-election! What a disgrace our Mayor, our City Manager, and our Police Chief have been to this community for well over 5 years. We have had one abrupt departure of City Leaders after another. Laws, Building Codes, Storm Water Drain guidelines, and City Ordinances have been ignored by this current debacle of leadership in Greensboro. Meanwhile, our citizens are victims of massacres on our roads with speeding drivers, racing drivers, drivers smoking weed, drivers running red lights, and unchecked insurance-drivers licenses-and current registrations for those drivers! Meanwhile, two of Greensboro’s finest Police officers have been recently murdered. Both of these murderers should have been in jail and not on our streets. You think California’s leadership is “Bonkers”? They got nothing as absurd as the current leadership in Greensboro and Guilford County!
Jim Donaldson, I couldn’t have expressed it better. I have been in Greensboro most of my life and it is unrecognizable. I think one thing I’d add to your brilliant list is the condition of the roads, N Elm comes to mind. Disgraceful. The voter turnout in our elections tells the story. Apathy is alive and well. Have the good citizens given up? I think we all know the answer. Sad.
Thank you for saying this. Bad things are coming to Greensboro without a radical course correction.
Regarding the “housing shortage” in Guilford County: Does it dawn on Skippy that the current increase in property valuation, also known as a TAX, & the reputable “revaluation” for 2026, also a TAX, affect the housing shortage. The $200 million increase in the County spending, which Skippy has given to his cronies might also affect housing shortage!!
Excellent letter Lynn, but you left out two of Greensboro and Guilford Counties favorite ways to spend our money; Non-Profit awards, and MWBE requirements on every city or county contract.
Voter apathy will be the death of us.
Letter to the Editor – Response from Nicky Smith, Candidate for Greensboro City Council District 4
Lynn Andrew raises the right questions because, at the end of the day, city government should be focused on the fundamentals: fire, police, trash, water, sewer, roads, zoning, and code enforcement. These are not partisan issues. They’re quality-of-life issues that affect every family in Greensboro.
On these core responsibilities, I believe our current council has fallen short. Taxpayer dollars have too often been spent on distractions while basic services like loose-leaf collection, road maintenance, and timely building inspections have been neglected. When these everyday services break down, citizens lose trust in the city government.
I am running to restore that trust. My qualifications directly align with the responsibilities of the City Council:
– Proven Business Leadership – For more than 45 years, I have built and led successful technology companies right here in Greensboro. I’ve created local jobs, managed multi-million-dollar budgets, and ensured that teams deliver reliable service. That experience translates directly to managing the city’s $ 800 million-plus budget with fiscal responsibility.
– Commitment to Public Safety – I will work closely with Police Chief Thompson and Fire leadership to ensure our first responders are fully staffed, well-trained, and supported because safety is the foundation of a thriving city.
– Focus on Core Services – Roads should be smooth, trash collected on time, and water and sewer systems reliable. These aren’t “extras”, they are the essentials, and they will be my priorities.
– Experience with Growth and Zoning – I have been actively involved in zoning and neighborhood conservation issues. I know we must balance growth with preserving neighborhood character, while also meeting our housing goals. I support common-sense development that adds affordable housing and protects our long-term infrastructure.
As a lifelong Greensboro resident, business owner, and community advocate, I know what works and what doesn’t. I’m not running to make national political statements; I’m running to fix potholes, support our first responders, responsibly grow housing, and ensure your tax dollars are spent wisely.
That is why I believe I am the best-qualified candidate in District 4. I bring both the business experience to manage taxpayer money and the local commitment to ensure Greensboro is a safe, affordable, and thriving city for all of us.
Respectfully,
Nicky Smith
Candidate, Greensboro City Council – District 4
* * * * *
When the Greensboro City Council votes unanimously ( 9 – 0 ) to re-impose Red Light Cameras, I want EVERY ONE OF THEM fired.
What a scam. What a rip-off. What a shake down of citizens as an Out of State company plays “Gotcha!” with us, and causes crashes.
Two words
TERM LIMITS
For what it might be worth
We already have term limits, but the voters are not willing to use them.
Very good point Wayne, unfortunately.
As Alan says all the time…You ask for it, you get it.
Voters need to get out and rid Greensboro of what’s been a downward spiral for around 20 years now. I left Greensboro in 2007 and moved back here in 2021 and what I saw was a city that had turned into a dump. The park downtown is taken over by homeless and trash is strewn along roadways almost everywhere. We went downtown to eat breakfast the morning after A&T had their homecoming and there was litter all over the place despite the fact that there were trashcans provided. The city “leaders” applauded all the money the visitors brought in. I had to wonder how much of our tax dollars were used to clean up the mess. Or was A&T billed for the cleanup?
On another note, almost every day we see people running stop signs and red lights. We saw two bikes running from police on 421 a few weeks ago. But our illustrious city council says that we just have to be careful and watch out for these lawbreakers.
Change needs to come to Greensboro and it can’t come soon enough. VOTE for CHANGE.
I want change. But I want leaders who are respectful, knowledgeable, and grounded in reality—not just names plastered on every patch of grass.
Right now, some of the signage from new candidates is so cluttered and chaotic—especially around Market Street near A&T and Battleground near Oakcrest—it’s more visual pollution than civic engagement. It’s not persuasive. It’s overwhelming. And frankly, it’s turning voters off.
Some candidates are throwing up sign after sign, as if quantity equals credibility. But as residents, we’re not impressed. We’re not even paying attention anymore. We want substance, not saturation.
If you want our vote, show us you respect our neighborhoods. Show us you understand the issues. Show us you’re more than a name on a sign.
Greensboro deserves better. And it starts with leaders who treat our city—and our attention—with care.
I want change. But I want leaders who are respectful, knowledgeable, and grounded in reality—not just names plastered on every patch of grass.
Right now, some of the signage from new candidates is so cluttered and chaotic—especially around Market Street near A&T and Battleground near Oakcrest—it’s more visual pollution than civic engagement. It’s not persuasive. It’s overwhelming. And frankly, it’s turning voters off.
Some candidates are throwing up sign after sign, as if quantity equals credibility. But as residents, we’re not impressed. We’re not even paying attention anymore. We want substance, not saturation.
If you want our vote, show us you respect our neighborhoods. Show us you understand the issues. Show us you’re more than a name on a sign.
Greensboro deserves better. And it starts with leaders who treat our city—and our attention—with care.
I want change. But I want leaders who are respectful, knowledgeable, and grounded in reality—not just names plastered on every patch of grass.
Right now, some of the signage from new candidates is so cluttered and chaotic—especially around Market Street near A&T and Battleground near Oakcrest—it’s more visual pollution than civic engagement. It’s not persuasive. It’s overwhelming. And frankly, it’s turning voters off.
Some candidates are stacking signs on top of others, wedging them between existing signs, and even knocking down their opponents’ signs in the process. That’s not campaigning—it’s disrespect. As residents, we’re not impressed. We’re not even paying attention anymore. We want substance, not saturation.
If you want our vote, show us you respect our neighborhoods. Show us you understand the issues. Show us you’re more than a name on a sign.
Greensboro deserves better. And it starts with leaders who treat our city—and our attention—with care.
Vote for change. Vote for accountability. Vote for a Greensboro that works—for all of us.