The surprise and completely unexplained resignation from the City Council of Michelle Kennedy has created quite a stir in Greensboro.
Yesterday, the Rhino Times reported that sources said Kennedy was expected to resign to accept the position of Greensboro Neighborhood Development Department director. Today it can be confirmed that Kennedy has been offered that job.
However, there is still no official word on why Kennedy resigned by email at the beginning of the Tuesday, Aug. 17 City Council meeting.
At that meeting not a single city councilmember asked a question or even made a comment about Kennedy’s resignation. In the past, when city councilmembers have resigned, there has been an explanation and a lot of comments.
Former District 3 City Councilmember Zack Matheny resigned in June 2015 to accept the position as president of Downtown Greensboro Inc. (DGI). There was no secrecy about why Matheny was resigning. Councilmembers did not sit stone faced without comment when Matheny announced he was resigning.
District 3 City Councilmember Justin Outling was appointed to replace Matheny. Outling is still serving on the City Council and is currently running for mayor.
Former District 2 City Councilmember Jamal Fox resigned in 2017 because he was moving to Oregon and District 2 City Councilmember Goldie Wells was appointed to replace him. Wells continues to serve on the City Council and is running for reelection.
Which explains why, with Kennedy’s resignation less than a day old, the line of people who would like to be appointed to fill the at-large seat is long and growing.
Incumbents usually win elections, even when they are incumbents who were appointed, not elected.
For the open at-large City Council seat, one name that has been mentioned as a possible replacement is former City Councilmember Mike Barber. In 2017, Kennedy beat Barber by 102 votes, which means he had a lot of support citywide, just not quite enough support to win reelection.
And in this case, because the person appointed will only serve until after the 2022 City Council election, either in April or May, a good argument can be made that the appointee should be someone with experience. It takes a few months to learn the ins and outs of serving on City Council, and if someone with no experience is appointed, about the time they get the hang of it, their term could be over.
I hope the appointee is one who will bring the make up of the council in line with city demographics. I believe this is the requirement now for the council appointed boards.
Good riddance
Rumor mill is there is someone looking into the missing gator and police cars that were given to the IRC that are not not there anymore. If true looks like someone is trying to CYA
One can hope. Also, if true, hopefully it is someone with integrity.
Thrilled she’s gone! Too much “woke” in too few folk in OUR city and county government. Who’s next? Perhaps the “Queen”?
It is unusual (or not) because the other eight city council members all know that at the minimum if she takes the job it is an ethics violation. But its ok because that is how city employees are promoted (see police department). When the names come out before the process it is a waste of time. They are all complicit. Mike Barber tipped his hand at the Wyndham. The die is cast. If anyone else is interested, do not bother.
There is nothing “unusual” about business as usual. If it ain’t kosher, what are you gonna do about it?
Vote and as democrats say vote often