PHOTOS: New Greensboro City Council sworn in

Outgoing mayor Robbie Perkins listing the council's accomplishments since 2011

Council and the audience gave him a standing ovation

Outgoing councilwoman Dianne Bellamy-Small and Perkins hugging

Mayor Pro Tem Yvonne Johnson talking with new Councilman Jamal Fox

Left: New Councilman Mike Barber. Background: Fox.

District 2 Councilman Jamal Fox poses for a picture

NC Rep. Marcus Brandon photo-bombs new Councilwoman Sharon Hightower before she is sworn in

Tony Wilkins takes a picture of Nancy Vaughan in the mayor's seat. Marikay Abuzuaiter did next.

Greensboro's new Mayor Nancy Vaughan being sworn in, surrounded by her family
(Read more about her and her family in this week's cover story, SLAP SHOT).

Campaign billboard ads okay if handled right

Marty Kotis III, via http://www.kotis.org/

A few people are raising questions about Marty Kotis’ donations to Greensboro City Council candidates, but according to Guilford County Elections Director Charlie Collicutt, the in-kind contributions don’t run afoul of the law. Kotis, who owns several billboards in town, donated ad space to four candidates.

Elections law dictates that companies aren’t allowed to donate directly to political campaigns, but Collicutt said that as long as Kotis paid for the ads himself (essentially reimbursing his company for the actual rate of the advertisements). 

District 5 Councilman Tony Wilkins reported an in-kind contribution of $400 for the ads, and Mayor Pro Tem Yvonne Johnson amended her report to include the contribution because her campaign didn’t know the amount until after the filing period. Collicutt said Councilwoman Nancy Vaughan and another candidate (whose name escaped him) would also be working to amend their finance reports to reflect the in-kind billboard donation from Kotis.

“As far as the billboard that you’re referencing, the process that we’re working with the candidates that have been advertised on the billboard, we have to make sure it was an in kind contribution to the campaign for the actual cost of the billboard,” Collicutt said.

Elections law states that media outlets can’t provide free or in-kind advertising to political candidates, but as long as the donation is from Kotis and not his company, the contributions are fine, Collicutt said.

Vaughan already filed an amended report that does not list the contribution. Johnson’s amended report listed “Outdoor Signage/Mr. Kotis” while Wilkins’ first report listed Kotis and not the company. Collicutt couldn't immediately recall the name of the fourth candidate who received advertising.

Johnson's amended report lists "Outdoor Signage" along with Kotis

Collicutt said candidates are cooperating and shouldn’t necessarily be faulted because the specifics can be confusing, adding that if the county board or an individual feels election law has been broken, the violation can be reported to the state board of elections. The county board does not have any enforcement capabilities.

UPDATE: Nancy Vaughan called to say she didn't realize that she needed to change anything until after reading this post. She called the county elections board twice, and staff checked with the state board, about how she should file the information about the billboard donations that she wouldn't have until after the initial report, she said. Vaughan was repeatedly told to simply include it on her next campaign finance report, she said, and that she filed an amended report because she forgot to list the candidate filing fee. 

"I tried to cover my bases," Vaughan said, adding that if she needs to amend her report again, she'll try to do so quickly. 

Greensboro council to revisit Black Network Television vote

The Greensboro City Council will hold a special meeting next week to revisit its approval of a $300,000 loan to Black Network Television, the city just announced. The meeting will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2.

Council approved the loan in a 7-2 vote on June 18, with Councilwoman Nancy Hoffmann and Councilman Tony Wilkins voting against the item. Councilwoman Dianne Bellamy-Small abstained from voting, saying that she felt uncomfortable about the decision. Her absention counted as an affirmative vote because sh wasn't formally excused. (YES! Weekly mistakenly reported that Councilman Zack Matheny, rather than Hoffmann, voted against the item. We regret the error.)

The city said this afternoon that the council will hold the special meeting "for the purpose of considering and amending" the resolution for the 120-month $300,000 loan to Black Network Television. The company plans to produce a family sitcom in Greensboro.

UPDATE: The city sent out a press release on the afternoon of July 1 saying the meeting tomorrow is canceled. No information about rescheduling the meeting was provided. 

Kellerman not running for Guilford commissioner

Linda Kellerman, one of the two Democrats running for Guilford County Commissioner District 6, said she decided to stop running after a death in the family. Kellerman endorsed the other Democrat, Dan Miller for the seat.

Miller will face the winner of the Republican primary for the seat in November. Jeremy Williams, Hank Henning and Tony Wilkins will square off in the May 8 primary.

Miller was one of a handful of candidates, including Gladys Robinson and Marcus Brandon, who attended a march to the polls yesterday, which brought hundreds of students out for the first day of early voting.

Tony Wilkins files to run for District 6 County Commissioner

As the clock ran out on filing for a few remaining County Commissioner seats yesterday — a deadline which was extended due to a court proceedings which temporarily suspended the filing process as the NAACP challenged the legality of the commissioner redistricting — veteran conservative Tony Wilkins filed for District 6.

Wilkins will run against fellow Republicans Hank Henning and Jeremy Williams, but he wasn't the only candidate to file before the final deadline at 5 p.m. March 9. Democrats Dan Miller of Greensboro and Linda Kellerman of High Point both filed yesterday for District 6 as well, bringing the number of candidates from two on Thursday up to five.

In a press release, Wilkins emphasized his service as Executive Director of the Guilford County Republican Party for two years and the facts that he spent his entire life in the county and experience running a furniture business. "He pledges to work tirelessly for jobs, economic growth, and public safety," the release said.

There is no incumbent running for the new seat.

Also yesterday, Republican Noah Messick of Gibsonville filed for District 4 Commissioner, running against Republicans Jerry Branson of Julian and Douglas Williams of Greensboro, who filed two days prior. Incumbent Kirk Perkins is the only Democrat running for the seat.

As filing closed for the County Commissioner races, Democrat Ray Trapp was ensured victory in District 8, as no other candidates filed for the seat.

For more filing information, visit the Board of Election's filing list.

Fecund Stench: Wilkins for council

Fecund Stench endorses Guilford County GOP Executive Director Tony Wilkins for Greensboro City Council.

Will it hurt or help?

Tony Wilkins, War Memorial Commission member, AKA Mr. Sunshine

The following e-mail was sent by Tony Wilkins today to fellow members of the Greensboro War Memorial Commission and staff at the Greensboro Coliseum:

Subject: Comments on War Memorial Commission Meeting-July 3 [SIC: The actual date of the meeting was June 3]

WMC Members,

I feel compelled to comment on a specific process that took place yesterday at the monthly WMC meeting. I am disappointed that Vice Chair Florence Gatten denied documents to me that all other commission members were provided so she "would not see them show up on the blogs."

Mrs. Gatten appears to lump all "bloggers" into one negative category when it pertains to the Greensboro Coliseum.

Here are a few recent comments that I have personally made concerning Matt Brown and his excellent staff:

March 2 - "What might be noted is that if Matt Brown acquires responsibility for the Canada Dry Building, or the Aquatic Center, or the Amphitheater, or the ACC Hall of Champions, or whatever he lobbies for…it doesn't raise his salary one penny. His aggressive style is not self motivated. That aggression is community oriented."

Jan. 15 - "Chairman Mike Bumpass runs an exceptional meeting. Matt Brown has surrounded himself with an excellent staff including Scott Johnson, Jerome Fletcher, Andrew Brown, Robin Crews, and Mike Perdue, to name a few. This community is fortunate to have these people in place running Greensboro's largest asset."

I would hope Mrs. Gatten would include all members of the Commission when distributing documents pertaining to the WMC. She has verbally informed me that I would not be excluded in the future.

Enjoy the music, Mrs. Gatten, and I look forward to continuing to serve with you on the WMC.

Tony Wilkins
WMC Commission

YW! extras: Wade's successor; Cunningham even with Marshall; cycling in Greensboro

Greensboro councilwoman names possible successor

Trudy Wade, the Republican nominee in the race for the open District 28 seat in the NC Senate, indicated to several people attending a monthly Guilford County Republican Party Executive Committee meeting on May 10 that she considers Tony Wilkins a good candidate to replace her in the District 5 seat on Greensboro City Council should she be elected to the state Senate, according to two independent anonymous sources.

Asked to comment on Wade’s statement, Wilkins said, “Discussion on a replacement would be premature at this point. However, if Dr. Wade has that confidence in me, then I’m honored.

A fellow Republican, Wade appointed Wilkins to the city’s War Memorial Commission in 2008. Wilkins serves as executive director of the county Republican Party.

That Wade will be forced to vacate her city council seat is far from certain. District 28 is the most Democratic-leaning state senate district in Guilford County. Wade faces Democrat Gladys Robinson in the November general election. Two factors could give the Republican candidate a chance to flip the seat. One would be if Bruce Davis, a Democrat who currently serves on the Guilford County Commission, manages to collect 5,000 signatures to get on the ballot as an independent. Another is the expectation of high turnout among Republican voters this year.

The two sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that a District 5 vacancy on the city council would be heavily contested and it is unclear whether Wilkins could attract a sufficient number of votes to be confirmed. They added that the Greensboro Legal Department is currently researching whether Wade would be allowed to vote on confirmation. Wade did not return calls for this story. — Jordan Green

Poll: Marshall, Cunningham in dead heat for Democratic nomination

A May 12 Public Policy Polling survey reveals that NC Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and former NC Sen. Cal Cunningham are now dead even at 36-36 in the first poll conducted since the May 4 primary. Marshall defeated Cunningham by nearly 10 percentage points during the Democratic primary for the US Senate seat currently held by Republican Richard Burr, but failed to win 40 percent of the vote, thereby forcing a runoff election on June 22. The survey attributed Cunningham’s surge to the fact his supporters appeared more committed to him than did Marshall’s supporters to their candidate. If that trend holds, it would work to Cunningham’s advantage if voter turnout remains low for the runoff election, according the survey. Voter turnout in the May 4 primary stood at 14.5 percent statewide. The survey also noted clear demographic lines in the runoff election. Cunningham, an Iraq war veteran and a recipient of the Bronze Star, has a distinct advantage among white voters, with a 43-32 margin, while Marshall enjoys a 44-22 advantage among African-American voters. Cunningham polls well among male voters with a 47-37 advantage over Marshall. Marshall, who is the first woman ever elected to state office in North Carolina, enjoys a 35-29 advantage over Cunningham among women respondents. Marshall also holds a 40-35 advantage among liberal voters, while Cunningham has a 38-25 advantage among conservative voters. The candidates tied in support from moderate voters at 37-37. — Keith T. Barber


Greensboro government and businesses collaborate to encourage cycling

Mayor Bill Knight has declared Monday through Friday Bike-to-Work Week in Greensboro. The city announced that refueling stations, where cyclists can stop for free coffee, juice and other refreshments, will be set up at various locations during the morning commute. On Thursday, refueling stations will be active at the UNCG traffic circle near Elliott University Center and REI at the Shops at Friendly Center from 7 to 9 a.m. On Friday, refueling stations will operate at Governmental Plaza and Spring Garden Bakery from 7 to 9 a.m. On Wednesday at 6 p.m., cyclists will gather at the Wrangler Building in downtown for a Ride of Silence “to honor bicyclists who’ve been killed or injured while cycling on public streets during the past year.” On Friday, Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation will allow anyone who rides their bicycle to a PART station to ride the bus for free. PART buses have a rack that will hold two bicycles. The week culminates with a “Bike Home from Work Celebration” at Old Town Draught House on Spring Garden St. on Friday, from 5 to 9 p.m. No confirmation on complimentary drinks as a reward for showing up on two wheels. — Jordan Green

Rumors of recall

Guilford County Republican Party Executive Director Tony Wilkins is retailing a rumor that a county commissioner suggested to a Greensboro City Council person that a successful vote to rescind the Dec. 15 vote to approve the use of recovery zone facility bonds for a downtown luxury hotel project could result in a recall effort being launched against three specific council members and that two high-profile figures in town for the opening of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum might take the majority-white council to task.

The grounds for recalling an elected official are pretty specific in the city's code of ordinances: "The grounds for recall must be for cause, misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, or a violation of the oath of office."

Considering that the council was specifically told that they would have the opportunity to vote again for final approval at the time the Dec. 15 vote was taken, it seems like a stretch that a recall initiative could pass legal muster, but I could be wrong.

Tony Wilkins and the Greensboro Aquatic Center

Guilford County Republican Party Executive Director Tony Wilkins (left) says that new Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Vaughan mediated an exchange with at-large Councilman Robbie Perkins, who Wilkins calls a "RINO" (Republican In Name Only) during the break between the final special meeting of the last council and the organizing meeting of the current one on Dec. 1.

Wilkins goes on to say, "I see many 5-4 decisions in the future with Vaughan being the deciding vote."

Wilkins, who was appointed to the War Memorial Commission by District 5 Councilwoman — and fellow Republican — Trudy Wade has been closely tracking the questionable process the city has undertaken to finance the planned Aquatic Center from his vantage point on the commission and through his blog, Busy Being Born. Updates here, here and here.