Coffey joins District 1 race in Greensboro

Charles Coffey, the plant machinist for Industries of the Blind and a businessman who has been active in efforts to revitalize West Lee Street and High Point Road, has filed to run for the District 1 seat on Greensboro City Council.

The crowded race already includes incumbent Dianne Bellamy-Small, Ben Holder, Daron R. Sellars and Jeramy Reid.

Coffey said at a press conference on Monday that his first priority will be economic development. He said he wants to help small business people by keeping taxes, water rates and licensing fees down. Noting that he has “friends” among the complainants and that he has found police officers interactions with Lee Street business owners to be professional, the candidate said he favors sitting down and talking with the plaintiffs in a discrimination lawsuit against the city and its police department, and seeking a resolution.

He said the city has overextended itself through annexation. Coffey reluctantly opposes reopening the White Street Landfill to household waste. And he opposes granting subpoena power to the city’s complaint review committee, which investigates citizen complaints against police officers.

“One thing I have been criticized about is I attend meetings, and I’m not overbearing,” Coffey said. “I don’t come in talking about myself. I stay for the whole meeting, and listen to everybody. That’s important. You can’t tell people what to do. You’ve got to listen. And then come up with a plan.”