news-record.com

Business underpins much of the experience that William "Mike" Martin says makes him a good candidate.

A former manager at Guilford Mills, Martin retired and is now a consultant for polyurethane foam suppliers. Work making national and international business forecasts and deals would help him to review the city’s finances, he said.

He also sees the area’s colleges as a resource for the city.

“I would think that there’s student government within the colleges, and you could invite those members to the city council,” he said. “And even invite the corporate leaders to come in and have a corporate seminar and the talk about opportunities for entrepreneurship and the opportunities for working in Greensboro.”

Martin hopes to avoid feuds that can erupt on the council if he’s elected.

“It’s like kids arguing in a marbles contest,” the 64-year-old said. “The city council body language talks a lot.”

Martin wants to open the White Street Landfill and find a way to make money from the methane gas that the landfill produces.

“I question the exorbitant $9.4 million cost of sending our household waste to Montgomery County and the burning off of 55 percent of the methane gas generated at our city landfill,” Martin said.