In what should come as a surprise to absolutely no one here in Gboro, count Mayor Robbie Perkins among those who are not sorry to hear about the demise of the weekly Rhinoceros Times:
“I think it’s good news for the city,” Perkins said. “It’s sad to see any business fail, but I’ll be glad to see the negativism they inject into the city every week go away.”
Indeed, John Hammer’s last print column was more about why Perkins should not be reelected as opposed to why his strongest opposition — council member Nancy Vaughan —should be elected. But in the end, Hammer concludes:
If the people of Greensboro look at Perkins and decide they want a bankrupt mayor who refuses to pay court ordered child support and alimony, then so be it. Perkins is smart, personable and experienced. A lot of voters will decide that trumps his financial problems.
As I’ve said the personal problems politicians survive never don’t surprise me anymore. For what it’s worth now, Vaughan tells the N&R the Rhino “wrote something about me once that took me six weeks to recover from. Twelve years later, I’m still smarting.” Vaughan doesn’t elaborate, and my memory doesn’t go back that far.
Right now the media spin is —personal problems aside — how Vaughan will distinguish herself from Perkins. Obviously the proposed the downtown performing arts center will be the divisive issue, but it’s been on the back burner lately.
