I guess the biggest surprise in yesterday’s Greensboro City Council primary was that Jim Kee drew more votes than longtime community activist Nettie Coad in the District 2 race. That’s not necessarily saying a lot —- Kee drew a total of 576 votes, while Coad netted 332 votes —– evidence of the low minority turnout in Districts 1 and 2. In District 1, incumbent Dianne Bellamy-Small tallied only 597 votes, compared to challenger Luther Falls’ 232.
Kee is a businessman who emphasizes getting past race by not interjecting into just about every issue. That said, it is indeed strange that he would be current council member Goldie Wells’ handpicked successor.
As for the at-large race, the usual suspects — namely Robbie Perkins, Sandra Anderson Groat and Nancy Vaughan —- make the at-large cut along with Danny Thompson, Gary Nixon and Marikay Abuzuaiter.
Should be an interesting race, now that the weeding out process has taken place. The battle for the mayor’s office between Yvonne Johnson and Bill Knight will no doubt be the headliner.
