Greensboro Primary '07: Zack Matheny

The following is City Council District 3 candidate Zack Matheny's complete response to our survey. Click here for the list of questions.

• Date of birth: December 24, 1972
• Profession, or former profession if retired: Financial Consultant
• Name of employer, if applicable: A.G. Edwards
• Previous political experience, if any: Zoning Commission Member, an appointed position
• Level of education, and name of school from which highest degree was received: Bachelor of Science, N.C. State University
• Please list any campaign websites or blogs: www.mathenyforcouncil.com


Currently, Greensboro is in line with the EPA’s target. Greensboro has made moves to contain the pollution problem such as: expanding sidewalks, new bike lanes, traffic signal timing, landfill methane recovery, lighting, meeting with Energy Star and making purchases that are ES certified, better fuel efficiencies, tree preservation and stream restoration, to name a few. We need to continue these efforts. (61)
2. Bicycle facilities (lanes), bus service, new roads, light rail. Many of our roads in Greensboro are wide enough to accommodate bicycle lanes. Providing these lanes will be a minimal cost to the taxpayers with potentially large benefits. As more and more of our citizens move towards alternate means of transportation, it seems that this is one of the most economical ways to provide a new option. Adding bicycle lanes will also serve to slow down traffic on these roads and will, and of course, be better for the environment. (89)
3. It seems that we have been addressing economic development projects on an ad hoc basis. We need to establish a team of local business leaders and give them the tools to respond quickly to economic development opportunities. The best sales people for Greensboro are the successful business operators we already have. (52)
4. In today’s economic climate, incentives are a necessary evil in order to obtain the best results for our city. However, they should not be awarded loosely, rather, they should be awarded when, on balance, they ultimately benefit the city and the citizens. Areas that must be considered in no particular order are: economic impact to the city, potential job creation for our city, the amount the company is requesting. (69)
5. I have heard many stories from local business owners having problems with the City’s bureaucracy being difficult to work with. Our City needs to focus on common sense approaches to business needs. Also, we need to remember that “economic development” includes fostering growth of existing local businesses. It seems that in searching for new businesses to locate in Greensboro we sometimes forget that retaining and growing existing businesses is easier and more economical than competing for new businesses. (78)
6. I do not believe this is the type of issue that should be governed by the local municipal government, but rather at the federal or state level. (27)
7. All development needs to be closely analyzed no matter the area in which they are located. The City Council needs to work well with the developer, surrounding area, neighboring property owners, and city staff, along with the comprehensive plan in making sure it is the correct decision for the city moving into the future. From a tax base standpoint, our City needs to get comfortable with in-fill development projects. Extensive low-density growth at the fringe of our City is an expensive proposition. The tax base generated may not be able to offset the cost of providing services to remote locales. (102)
8. Yes. If you consider what the Triangle region was able to accomplish it sheds light that if our major cities and regions work together, then we can spur jobs and economic development for our region. (36)
9. At this time, the citizens of Greensboro, myself included do not know the truth of what happened in the entire situation. My hope is that the SBI report will be released to the public and then I can make an educated decision on this situation. If the information is not released, my goal as a City Councilman would be to get it released. (63)
10. I would really have to be further involved with the police force, including Chief Bellamy and the City Manager to determine what actions they are taking now and understand any plans for the future with respect to the review of our officers. (42)