The endorsements of George C. Simkins Jr. Memorial PAC had at least one surprise.
It wasn’t who was endorsed as much as who wasn’t endorsed.
The Simkins PAC endorsement notice lists its chairman as Steve Bowden, and its members as Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston, Greensboro City Councilmember Yvonne Johnson, former District 1 Greensboro City Councilmember and former state Rep. Earl Jones, Greensboro City Councilmember Goldie Wells, 12th District Congresswoman Alma Adams, Guilford County Board of Education Chair Deena Hayes-Greene and Joe Williams as members.
It’s a given that the Simkins PAC is going to endorse Johnson and Wells in their City Council races.
But it was not a given that “Greensboro’s Black PAC” was going to endorse every incumbent running for reelection except one. District 4 City Councilmember Nancy Hoffmann was the only incumbent running for reelection who did not receive the Simkins PAC endorsement.
Hoffmann has been representing District 4 on the City Council since 2011 and in the past has received the Simkins PAC endorsement.
However, at the March City Council retreat when the City Council voted to allocate $2 million to the International Civil Rights Center and Museum for the proposed expansion, Hoffmann cast the lone vote against the allocation.
Hoffmann and District 3 City Councilmember and mayoral candidate Justin Outling had similar issues with the allocation. They both said that they needed more information on the financial status of the Civil Rights Museum. Outling said that he viewed the allocation as similar to an economic development incentive and asked how many jobs would be created with the expansion.
However, as he has done in the past, Outing spoke against making the allocation without the requested information and then voted in favor of the $2 million allocation.
Hoffmann at the March retreat said, “I need to look at their financials and look at those losses. As much as anyone on this council, I want the museum to be successful.”
When Hoffmann wasn’t given time to look at the financial reports from the Civil Rights Museum, she voted against the $2 million allocation.
Alston and Jones are founders of the Civil Rights Museum and Hayes-Greene has served as chairman of the board of trustees.
Hoffmann and Outling, the only two councilmembers to speak against the allocation, were also the only two councilmembers who were not endorsed by the Simkins PAC.
Dear John,
How do we as tax payers receive this information to view?
Thank you,
Chip Styers
To see the Simkins PAC endorsements you can go to http://www.simkinspac.com
Who gives a rats a$$ what this Racist group does
Why do you call them Racist? You angry white guys need to read the definition of racism versus just shouting your bigotry every time you see a minority group working together for a common cause.
Why don’t you find out how many WHITE people are involved in the black pac. Then talk about the racist side of them. But oh my I forgot black people cant be racist. Just ask them
Minority groups have always HAD to work collectively and independently given the continued repression and their history of being under represented in places of power. Such as politics.
To call a minority group racists for simply working working together for the collective good of their historical repressed community requires you to acknowledge the racism they have and continue to suffer.
This strategy has been very effective in minority groups gaining seats of power in politics. Especially in local elections. Why would they stop? Because your poor white ego is soft and squishy?
Don’t buy into the racist alt right movement talking points. They are based on ignorance and hate. You can be better than that.
I personally know 10 of the black pac and they do not like WHITE people never have nor wil they ever. It’s not about equality anymore it’s about blacks being in power. If you can’t see this then you really are a moron
So chris minority groups do pacs for the greater good of their group that’s what you’re saying. If the KKK founded a pac for their greater good would you call them racist. Please enlighten us to your logic.
First off Chris how do you know we all White guys. Is that your assumption or a fact and second why not as the black pac as they call themselves how many WHITE people are in their organization and then talk to us about racism
Am I wrong Aussie? I will say it again and again and again…..Minority groups have HAD to work together independently in order to OVERCOME the history of racism in this country. It has been a very effective strategy. Good for them.
Could you be specific about what common cause you are referring?
Yes, Common cause: 1619, CRT, 401 K for Yvonne Johnson. and others Not angry. Tired of the tax money hustle.
Keck, these are not common causes. The 1619 Project and CRT are lies perpetrated by Blacks and liberal Whites, especially Karens, who want to elevate perceived victims with lies because the victims cannot stand on their own merits with the truth. Too bad people are falling for this trash. Too bad educators are allowing this garbage in schools.
The federal Department of Education should be eliminated. The department is a menace to education. Education is a function of the states. Long live the 10th Amendment.
Black racism alive and well in Guilford county.
Awww don’t get your panties in a bunch you can go right over the county line for some good ole white racism. And Less economic activity.
Little town. There’s plenty of activity for us ole White racists is this county.
Don’t worry about that little town i don’t wear any I’ll bet that image in your pea brain makes you smile
How have the Simkins PAC marginalized you in any way? How have they marginalized any group of people just for the color of their skin? I will say it again…..You angry white guys need to read the definition of racist versus just shouting your bigotry every time you see a minority group working together for a common cause.
I’m marganlizsd every time I see a debit card with an American Eagle on it at a grocery store. That’s my tax dollars being spent that I work for. Get a damn job and quit being a leech on society
What does that have to do with minorities? There are more white people on food assistance than people of color. Majority of them HAVE jobs. Especially in NC, where many hourly wage jobs pay under $10 per hour, you can’t afford to pay rent, eat, and own a car.
Racism is a distraction used by the alt right. The real issue hurting America is the growing separation of wealth. For example, Trump gave you a temporary tax break but gave his rich friends permanent tax breaks. But all this lower middle class and low income white southerners think his is some kind of savior. Ignorance is a power tool. Don’t let it be used against yourself.
Chris you have TRUMP so far up your A$$ you can’t see straight. He’s not the problem. The liberal democrats are
Chris you need to check your population numbers and then the percentage of black and whites using social services you are wrong as usual
I really do not care who is a racist. No one can look into another’s heart and know true feelings. This I do know, the Simpkins PAC board members are all Black. I know they receive donations that are tax exempt to the giver. I know that their focus is helping elect candidates favorable to their goals which are promoting Blacks and their causes. There is no other local PAC that is composed of board members of one race and whose goal is to promote that one race. I can understand why people may view the Simpkins PAC as racist.
Ignorance is a powerful drug. Read my other comments in this section.
I will just add here, that PACs strictly controlled by only wealthy members of our society is what is the biggest danger to our country. The truth is that minorities run this country. The minority group of 1% top wealthiest who drive politics for their personal self interest and NOT the 99% of the rest of us. Trump and Biden don’t care about you at all. Bernie was our last hope. Oh well.
Bernie really chris I guess I gave you too much credit. What hope did that old liberal socialist fool offer us. In his mind nobody worked for anything and everything was free. You really are the biggest dumb a$$ on here I really hope your wife, if she’s a school teacher, does not share you views. If she does what a sad life for your family.
Because the Simkins PAC is about siphoning taxpayer money and keeping career politician types and race hacks in power. Do you really think they are about the betterment of their constituents?
The Simpkins PAC has not marginalized anyone that I know of. However, what they do is endorse candidates for City Council who are incompetent, they promote projects that benefit members of the PAC, and their members practice shakedowns for money for their causes, e.g. Woolworth Museum. A $1M haul from NC taxpayers is an example.
Any attempt to purchase property next to the museum should be rejected as an act against the public interest since the museum would not be paying taxes on the additional property. This should be a condition of the $1M taxpayer money. The money cannot be used to purchase property that is owned by a private entity and which property taxes are currently being paid. If the $1M is used to purchase property, the taxpayer is hoodwinked twice, once by the NC taxpayer and once by Greensboro residents’ loss of property tax income.
NO surprise here; politics as usual.
Are you suggesting politics should work differently? They have done nothing different that what Hammer has done with his endorsements.
As a newsman, it is Hammer’s job to make endorsements. Endorsements are expected. A PAC’s endorsements are self-serving to enrich their cause.
Plan and simple, the tax payers of GSO, Guilford County and the state of NC have wasted enough of the taxpayers money on this Money Pit. It has NEVER and will NEVER make money and that is evident after many years of tax money wasted. There is an exhibit in the Smithsonian honoring the sit in and that should be sufficient. So transfer the remaining displays to the GSO Museum, give the site to the city of greensboro to either tear down and make a park or sell the site to a private developer. Our elected officials should not be deciding what charities the tax payers donate too!.
It’ was a good ride Hoff
Time to move to Randolph County. Along with Tesla.
Bye
The Simkins PAC only conducts its business behind closed doors. If one takes the time to look at the PAC’s financial affairs a pattern of endorsements accompanied by endorsee donations to the PAC will stand out. Historically, candidates endorsed by the PAC returned the favor with payments to the PAC. Check it out over the years.
Outling is clearly a two-faced hypocrite.
I’ve never been a fan of Hoffman, but at least she has some integrity.
As Gomer says “surprise, surprise, surprise”
It was a good ride Hoff
Seems to me that’s just being responsible to the taxpayers. Nothing wrong with that. I myself don’t trust Skippy and company as far as I can pick them up and throw them. Why does the museum constantly need to be propped up by tax dollars? Let’s see the books….
Complete joke. Any reasonable person with an ounce of integrity and common sense would see it as a conflict of interest to endorse sitting members and/or their family members? Their list of endorsements is just a guide for who to skip on the ballot.
You going to skip Hammer’s endorsements?
I moved from Guilford to Randolph Co. 35 years ago and have not looked back. The handwriting was on the wall for Guilford Co. Even at that time.