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News & Record election questionnaire - Greensboro City Council District 3

Office you seek
City Council District 3

Occupation
President - Junior Achievement

Age
57

Education
GTCC - Real Estate
GTCC - Computer Programming
RCC - Accounting
RCC - Computer Upgrades

Address
1905 N. Elm Street

Web Site/blog/email address
http://chforcouncil.blogspot.com
chfit@aol.com

Previous elective experience
None

Other relevant experience
* Greensboro Zoning Commission -Approximately 80% of what the City Council does relates to land use policy and implementation. My service on the Zoning Commission has provided valuable education into City zoning ordinance and practice, practical experience with the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, and greater understanding of the impact - neighborhood by neighborhood - of zoning decisions.
* Junior Achievement Board of Directors
* Chairman of the Board - JA
* Governors Award of Excellence -
* This award was given for unparalleled accomplishment in fitness and health.
* JA Volunteer of the Year -
* This award was for over 500 hours of volunteer service in the Guilford County Schools.
* Phoenix Award - This prestigious national award was created to recognize an exceptional level of leadership in service that spans a decade of involvement in projects that placed me in classroom teaching in all grade levels K-12. I was also recognized for taking the Greensboro organization from the state of "closing the doors" to a position of "in the black" in less than 3 years. Thus the Phoenix Award (rising from the ashes).

Family
Rick Hayworth - Husband
Rich Hayworth - Son (lives in Australia)

Why have you chosen to run for this office?
There are several reasons I made this decision. I would like to see transparency and clarity in the issues brought before the City Council. I would like to see accountability to the taxpayers for the use of their tax dollars. I would like to see term limits of 2 terms for each office - meaning 2 in district, 2 at large, 2 for mayor. With turnover you allow new leadership and perspective. Seniority should not be a factor in local citizen governance because we need citizen leaders not professional politicians. I would like to restore the confidence of the Greensboro citizens in their elected officials. In a nutshell, I feel that I can make a difference in by staying true to my core values and making sound decision for all of the citizens of Greensboro.

Key qualifications you bring to the job.
I bring maturity and a sense of understanding the community. I have lived in Guilford County almost all of my life and have had the opportunity to work with some of the most civic-minded people in Greensboro. All of my business experience has been in Greensboro, not only in District 3, but in the community as a whole as I have networked with business leaders through Junior Achievement and the nonprofit world. I have no agenda and I am not tied to any special interest groups.

What distinguishes you from your opponent(s)?
By working and living in Greensboro, I have experienced firsthand the changes that have taken place in our communities. I am excited about the future and I have ideas about how I would like to see Greensboro develop. I do not talk just to hear myself speak and I make decisions based on facts and common sense not on personal relationships or favors. I am not the mouthpiece for any special interest group and I do not feel the need to comment on EVERY issue. You will notice in the minutes of the Zoning Commission that I do speak out - and quite clearly - when there are relevant things that need to be said. I have a community agenda NOT a personal one.

Please list the top three issues in your district and your stances on those issues (briefly, please).
Crime/Public safety; taxes; implementation of the Comprehensive Plan that is causing problems protecting existing neighborhoods, i.e. Lawndale/Lake Jeanette parcel is an example of infill that the citizens do not want. More after school programs that will help make students feel included - especially in the hours after school when students have to go home to an empty house. The inclusiveness will help fill the need in a student to belong somewhere and to be with someone. This is the premise that gangs work through - a feeling of being included. Citizens are concerned about higher property taxes and less services from police and fire departments that are stretched to the limit.

If different from above, please list the top three issues citywide and your position on them (briefly, please):
Certainly the issues above could pertain to most of the districts. Citywide we need new job creation, and a retention effort to keep the graduates from our 7 colleges and universities in Greensboro. We have a tremendous, educated resource pool with these graduates and we must have an educated workforce to attract new businesses to the City to create needed economic growth.

What lessons do you think should be drawn from recent problems in the Greensboro Police Department?
I do not think we have all of the facts yet. I know the City Council is privy to more information than the general public; therefore to make a blanket statement without knowing all the facts, would not be a good decision on my part. I will say that to keep good lines of communication open is essential.

Have those problems been resolved? Why or why not?
Same as above…until we have all of the information, including the SBI report we will not know or understand the full extent of this situation. Unfortunately, because of the extended amount of time it has taken for the investigation, the confidence in the police department has eroded.

Have the mayor and City Council done an effective job in addressing Greensboro's economic needs? What more should they do?
The Council has addressed this issue in two ways: they have maintained a sound infrastructure so that Greensboro is a viable place to do business and they have provided incentives for new and existing businesses (i.e., RF Micro and P&G)

If you were to give the city a letter grade on its effectiveness in managing growth, what would it be?
Because growth is market driven, both the Zoning Commission and the Council can only respond to the market. Both have attempted to use the Comp Plan as a tool to make sound growth decisions.

How would you evaluate the City Council's handling of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report?
I do not feel that this was a local governance issue. Because Council is made up of citizens elected to represent the people, the Council's actions may reflect prevailing sentiment on this issue.

What vote or decision of the current council would you overturn? Why do you disagree with the decision?
Without having all of the information or facts on decisions, I would be hard pressed to find particular fault on a decision made.

Does Greensboro have a gang problem, and if so, how best to address it?
To read the news, you would have to say "yes" there is evidently a gang problem. One way to address this issue would be the resurgence of Neighborhood Watch programs and more inclusive after school programs.

A recent social capital study cites not only continuing distrust among citizens in Greensboro but higher-than-average distrust of the police department and city government in general. How would you address those problems?
One of the reasons I made the decision to run for City Council was to make an effort to bring transparency and clarity to the issues brought before the Council. This means better communication through all available means with forthright and clear information made public to the citizens.

What current council member do you admire most? Why?
There is no way that I can answer this with truthfulness without mentioning two current members. One would be Tom Phillips for his willingness to speak out on issues even when he is in the minority and his response to the needs of the citizens not only in District 3 but citywide. Second would be Florence Gatten for her courageous stand to bring the truth to the forefront and place the power of the vote back into the hands of the citizens.

What should be the vision for Guilford County?
A great place to live, work and raise a family. A well educated workforce that is prepared for the skilled and unskilled jobs of the 21st century. A clean and green environment. Sensible and reasonable economic growth and affordable housing.