Whether or not the City of Greensboro’s election represents the status quo depends on your defintion of the status quo. That’s definitely the case with Yvonne Johnson’s victory over Milton Kern in the mayor’s race. Johnson will be Greensboro’s first black mayor, but her 14 years of experience on the city council definitely qualifies her as an insider. So does her support for Project Homestead and City Manager Mitchell Johnson, unfortunately.
Whether or not two additional (along with Mike Barber) former county commissioners to the city council represents the status quo is also questionnable. The hope is Trudy Wade and Mary Rakestraw will spark a trend toward greater fiscal restraint. (Adding Bill Knight to that mix would have provided even greater hope, but we can’t have everything, can we?) That said, Cone warns that “the thing we need the most — more cops — costs money.” Then the city will have to start cutting, because public safety and utiltities are government’s true responsibilities. Everything else is secondary.
Wade’s victory over Sandy Carmany would mean that PART’s influence on the city council is somewhat diminished, except for the fact that Heart of the Triad advocate Robbie Perkins won an at-large seat. Considering the fact that PART is currently in charge of HOT, we’re breaking even there.
All in all, I’m encouraged by the change on Greensboro’s city council. Now it’s time to keep a close eye on the situation, because advocates for change often change themselves once they take a seat, and citizens find themsleves stuck with the same old-same-old.
Update: District 3 loser Joe Wilson says the status quo has been preserved in Greensboro.
I’ll admit I was shocked by Zack Matheny’s margin of victory over Wilson, considering the fact that Wilson made a true effort to discuss the issues via his activity in the blogosphere. Either voters weren’t listening or they didn’t necessarily like what Wilson was saying. Count me along the latter group.
