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GOP takes control of GSO council

In 2008, Guilford County backed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama with 58.78 percent of the vote. Sen. Kay Hagan, also a Democrat, won close to 62 percent of the vote. Greensboro contains the bulk of Guilford County's Democratic voters.

A year later, voters have given a majority on the nine-member Greensboro City Council to Republicans.

Republican Bill Knight upset incumbent Democrat Yvonne Johnson in the mayoral contest. Incumbent Robbie Perkins and newcomer Danny Thompson are both Republicans and won in the at large race. Republican incumbents and former county commissioners Trudy Wade and Mary Rakestraw also kept their seats. Zach Matheny is a registered Republican as well.

If that tally is correct, two-thirds of the city council are at least nominally Republicans. The current council had four Republicans and five Democrats if I count right.

Going from backing mostly all Democrats in 2008's statewide elections to electing a Republican city council majority is a fairly stunning turnabout in just a year.

My colleague, city council reporter Amanda Lehmert, will be writing more about that will mean policy-wise for the city. When I covered the city earlier this decade, council members would often say party politics didn't matter. I'm not so sure that's the case any more.

It's worth noting that candidates are not listed on the ballot as either Republicans or Democrats. But there's been a fair amount made in the last few days of party interference in the election, so it seems reasonable to expect some voters knew who had what affiliation going into the voting booth.

I'm curious what this says about the larger political landscape. Is this all about turn-out? Were Republican/conservative voters were more motivated so they showed up? Is this part of a larger trend? Virginia will have a Republican governor after Obama won that state last year. The New Jersey gubernatorial race is too close to call as I write this. Update: The Republican was just declared the winner in New Jersey.

Of course, closer to home, Democrat Anthony Fox won the open mayoral seat being vacated in Charlotte by long-time Republican Pat McCrory.

I am sure the GOP will paint this as a backlash against Obama. I'm equally sure that Democrats will try to brush it off as an anomaly due to turnout and the like. I'm not sure either party has enough data points to make a meaningful argument.

Still, in Greensboro, a city where the majority of residents are Democrats, this seems to me to be a fairly profound result.

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Tags: Greensboro, mayor, Bill Knight, Yvonne Johnson, Republican, Democrat

Posted by Mark Binker on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 10:30 pm

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DonMoore

November 4, 2009 - 6:40 am EST

As a lifelong registered Democrat, I take issue with this. Nowhere on the ballot did I see D or R. I saw people who campaigned on issues as well as people who had established records.

Why is it when folks say they are voting for the person, there are no issues about who wins when their person wins. But if someone else wins they start looking around to blame someone or thing?

Enough people wanted change. We got change. Let's see what we want in two years.

Kyle...

November 4, 2009 - 7:02 am EST

@DonMoore - I agree with this sentiment. The voters of Greensboro made a shocking statement: "Do right by us, or you will be gone". For the past 6 years (that I can recall) the council has been hampered by ineffectiveness, bickering, and controversy. I believe that this, in part, is the reason for the sudden and historic upheaval. I am not sure what this so-called GOP majority means for the city; as you said, only time will tell. However, I do suspect that this vote will serve notice to everyone that the voters of this great city truly want change. Now, as citizens, it is our job to hold our leaders accountable to it.

retiree

November 5, 2009 - 6:36 am EST

I agree with Don and Kyle. Most of those I speak with saw Johnson as ineffective in her role. She often times gave the appearance of wanting to be liked, versus respected. She is warm and engaging person, always seemed to be looking for consensus, etc., but the Council needed leadership and she got an F in that category. Some of her supporters offer excuses and point to other Council members for their antics (i.e., it's their problem), but the bottom line is the Mayor was in charge and didn't do a good job. As they say in sports, you can't fire the team, but you can get rid of the coach.

Lakeshia

November 4, 2009 - 7:28 am EST

I predict more of the same -

Mark Binker

November 4, 2009 - 8:17 am EST

Don:

Perhaps I overstated the partisan case. But it was clear to me that both parties were attempting to assert some influence over the election either by way of e-mail, direct mail or advertisements.

gsostudent

November 4, 2009 - 10:53 am EST

"The current council had four Republicans and five Democrats if I count right."

R: Matheny, Wade, Rakestraw, Barber, Perkins. You declare all of them Republican above except Barber, who is the most conservative of them all.
D: TDBS, Johnson, Wells, and arguable Anderson-Groat.

So really, City Council was already majority Republican, though Perkins is an ally of Johnson.

NOW:
R: Wade, Perkins, Rakestraw, Vaughan, Matheny, Thompson, Knight, and arguably Kee.
D: T. Diane Bellamy-Small, arguable Kee.

You're right that this is still a major shift, but by my calculation there was already a Republican majority because Perkins is about as Democrat as SAG is Republican, balancing each other out.