In a strange way, I’m glad to see that Dr. Guarino evidently is having trouble supporting a third at-large candidate for today’s City Council primary. I’m having difficulty myself, simply because there’s not a candidate who —in my mind —– stands out. Gary Nixon looks like a good choice due to his engineering work with municipal water and sewer projects. Otherwise, forget Sandra Anderson Groat, forget Ryan Shell, it’s been a long time since Nancy Vaughan’s been on the council, and I just don’t know enough about Danny Thompson.
Which brings me to Robbie Perkins, who’s running for another term as an at-large. I have friends who won’t vote Perkins because of his development interests, and I have others who won’t vote for him because of his stubborn support of former City Manager Mitchell Johnson. Indeed, Perkins has lost the Rhino’s endorsement:
It appears that Perkins has become a pawn of the Simkins PAC. It is no secret that Perkins wants to be mayor, and one road to that office is the endorsement of the Simkins PAC. The problem for Perkins is that means turning his back on the views of the voters of northwest Greensboro – the ones he represented as a District 3 city councilmember – and deciding to represent the views of east Greensboro.
It explains why Perkins voted in favor of the statement of regret about the Klan-Communist shootout in 1979. And why he is so adamant about keeping the White Street Landfill closed.
But —I’ve said this before — Perkins and fellow council member Mike Barber are the two guys who appear to know what’s really going on. I’ve watched a lot of City Council meetings, and it simply amazes me how the council flails about wildly when discussing complex issues. Mayor Yvonne Johnson is generally among the confused, so it’s usually Barber and Perkins who step in define the issue in clear, concise terms that everyone can understand.
Barber won’t be on the next council, and if Perkins isn’t there, I can’t imagine who will put complicated issues in a context that the rest of the council will understand.
Dare we imagine Perkins on a council without his lady friends Johnson, Wells and Bellamy-Small? Would he keep up his PC pandering without their support? I’m just thinking out loud.
