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
