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"The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It's got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion." -- Theodore Hesburgh, former president, University of Notre Dame

Yvonne Johnson envisions a city that "will be one of the best places in the country to live, to work and to conduct business ..." Milton Kern sees Greensboro as a good city that can be great.

Johnson and Kern are contending for election as mayor of Greensboro, a job that isn't overly endowed with power. The limited authority of the office -- really no more than the same vote held by other City Council members plus the task of presiding over meetings -- makes individual attributes all the more important.

The mayor must have the powers of inspiration and persuasion. Greensboro needs a leader who can motivate people to work toward an image of an appealing future.

Asked to briefly describe their visions for Greensboro, Johnson and Kern outlined similar themes and touched on many of the same issues: improving quality of life, or livability; bringing people together; ensuring public safety; attracting new jobs to the city; and promoting strong neighborhoods with affordable housing.

Kern promises to meet with anyone to "find common-sense solutions to our most pressing problems and move Greensboro forward in a positive direction."

Johnson wants Greensboro to become a city "that takes advantage of its social capital, enabling us to come together to fulfill our destiny as one community."

The mayoral candidates, and the 31 men and women running for other City Council seats, will be asked to provide specifics about how to make Greensboro a better place to live and work. But statements by Johnson and Kern show that both are running with the view that Greensboro has a bright future. As the campaign progresses, they may express different opinions about policies and priorities. One may prove more skillful than the other in connecting with the public in a way that builds enthusiasm and confidence. Differences in personal, professional and political experience, background -- even race and gender -- might influence some voters.

But the indispensable trait of the person who ascends to Greensboro's highest elective office is the ability to first see, then to lead.