The Simkins PAC, which bills itself as “Guilford County’s Black PAC,” has endorsed Mayor Nancy Vaughan for reelection.

Officially it is the George C. Simkins Jr. Memorial Political Action Committee, but is often referred to simply as “The PAC” and is considered by many to be the most powerful PAC in Greensboro.

An endorsement from the Simkins PAC usually results in extremely large favorable margins for candidates in precincts in East Greensboro.

It is noteworthy that Guilford County’s Black PAC has endorsed Vaughan, a white woman, over District 3 City Councilmember Justin Outling, a black man.

In the At-large City Council race, The PAC has endorsed the three incumbents: City Councilmembers Yvonne Johnson, Marikay Abuzuaiter and Hugh Holston.

Holston was appointed in September 2021 to fill the seat left vacant by Michelle Kennedy when she resigned to accept a job with the City of Greensboro.

So this is Holston’s first run for office and first endorsement by The PAC.  Johnson and Abuzuaiter have been endorsed by The PAC in previous campaigns.

A surprise in the endorsements is that in District 4, The PAC has endorsed challenger Thurston Reeder over District 4 City Councilmember Nancy Hoffmann.  City Council elections are nonpartisan, but Reeder recently joined the Republican Party and has also been endorsed by the Guilford County Republican Party.  Reeder is the only Republican endorsed by The PAC.

In District 1, The PAC endorsed District 1 City Councilmember Sharon Hightower.

In District 2, The PAC endorsed District 2 City Councilmember Goldie Wells.

And in District 5, The PAC endorsed District 5 City Councilmember Tammi Thurm.

The PAC did not endorse in District 3, where former District 3 City Councilmember and President of Downtown Greensboro Inc. Zack Matheny is running unopposed.

The endorsements don’t go into any detail of why candidates were endorsed but the endorsement announcement states, “The Simkins Pac has researched and interviewed the below-listed endorsed candidates for our community.  A number of these candidates we have supported in prior elections.  Some of these candidates are incumbents; therefore, they are currently performing their duties.  All endorsed incumbents deserve an additional term based on their performance.  We always have focused on the community, which will never change. These endorsements continue that tradition.  Our VOTE is precious, and we must utilize it effectively.  Please support the following:”