Latin Kings leader wants Trudy Wade's seat

Jorge Cornell, who leads the North Carolina Latin Kings, says he will run for Greensboro City Council in District 5 instead of at large, as previously announced. Cornell ran at large two years ago, but did not clear the primary.

The district is currently represented by Trudy Wade, who is part of a conservative faction on the nine-member council that is intent on reopening the White Street Landfill. Cornell opposes reopening the landfill.

District 5 is the most racially diverse in the city, but leans conservative by virtue of including the affluent, predominantly white neighborhoods of the Cardinal and the Grandover at either end. Cornell lives on Pinecroft Road in Precinct G58, whose polling place is Smith High School. His neighborhood is part of the High Point Road corridor, which boasts a significant concentration of Hispanic, Asian and African immigrants, along with working-class white residents.

Cornell said he supports three candidates running at large, and wanted to avoid splitting their vote.

“I feel that I have a better chance at winning District 5 then at large,” Cornell said. “It gives us more of an opportunity to get five reasonable people on council. With Robbie Perkins as mayor; Yvonne Johnson, Marikay Abuzuaiter and Wayne Abraham, they got the at-large seats; if we could get District 5, we could have a beautiful city.”

Running in District 5, Cornell said he believes he can benefit from a groundswell of turnout to support Johnson as part of a sentiment of vindication in response to her mayoral reelection loss two years ago.

“I only got 84 votes out of District 5 two years ago, but I did not do any work in District 5,” he said. “I did all my work in District 1 and District 2. If I comb it — go door to door — I think I can take District 5.”