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News & Record election questionnaire - Greensboro City Council District 1

Office you seek
City Council District 1

Occupation
Custom Clothier

Age
27

Education
GTCC-EMT, RCC-BLET

Address
1507 Brown Blvd. Greensboro,NC 27401

Web site/blog/email address
N/A

Previous elective experience
None

Other relevant experience (boards and commissions, etc.)
N/A

Family
Single, No Children

Why have you chosen to run for this office?
I have always liked politics, and in our district there is a real need for unity and togetherness. Our district is comprised of mostly people ages 15-34, and it is time for those voices to be heard. So that those who are growing older in our community can be assured that the future will be bright for our district.

Key qualifications you would bring to the job
Integrity, Loyalty, Honesty, Police Knowledge and community involement.

What distinguishes you most from your opponent(s)?
My age, My first hand knowledge of law enforcement, and the ability to reach a vast number of ages and people.

Please list the top three issues in your district and your stances on those issues (briefly, please).
Gangs- We need to be more proactive then reactive.
Economic development- Need more of it in our district.
Homeless citizens- Need to find programs that work and that can help.

If different from above, please list the top three issues citywide and your position on them (briefly, please).
Same

What lessons do you think should be drawn from recent problems in the Greensboro Police Department?
That know person or any organnization is exempt from doing what is "Completly" right, moraly and ethicly. That there needs to be better checks and balances in all forms of city goverment.

Have those problems been resolved? Why or why not?
I think that now we are on a course of getting the key issues resolved.

Should this district have had a recall election on Aug. 21? Why or why not?
No, Simply put it cost taxpayer money to do this, and our district is plagued by so many more immediate needs that this money could have went towards. Realisticly this issue could have been decided in less than a month with the Oct. primary, without spending extra money.

Should the rules for recall elections in the city be changed? Why or why not?
No

Have the mayor and City Council done an effective job in addressing Greensboro's economic needs? What more should they do?
I think that council have done a great job addressing economic needs, but they have put all there focus on "downtown". It is great that we want to build up our downtown but there are other places in this great city that need that kind of attention also.

Does Greensboro have a gang problem and if so, how should the city address it?
Yes, We need a gang suppression unit and education.

How can the city spur more economic development in District 1?
By helping business owners who want to place a business in our city see the great and strong points of our district. By helping business owners who have become staples of the community expand or if there business is seeing a downward trend help boost it through grant money or incentives.

How would you evaluate the City Council's handling of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report?
I have not seen the report but I beleive that it was handled to the best of the commission's ability.

If you are not an incumbent, what vote or decision of the council would you overturn? Why do you disagree with the decision?
The "Friendly Ave." road project- Friendly Ave. was already a narrow lane traveling area, and with this new effort it has become smaller seemingly. If anyhthing they should have made the road wider than try to make it loook good. When I am driving I am trying to get where I am going not sight see.

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?
The way to address those problems simply put is " Doing what you say and saying what you do".

What current council member do you admire most? Why?
* Goldie Wells- A great woman of God and very good at getting her point across in a humble way.
* Yvonne Johnson- A great woman,with great insight for our city.
* Sandra Anderson-Groat- Has been a great staple in our economic community for years with great attiude and spirt.

What should be the vision for Guilford County be?
To continue to grow and make our county one of the greatest and mor economic stable counties in our state. To continue to see projects through that would benefit our county, as long as we prepare for future growth and impact of those projected plans. To make our county a model for success in race relations,economic growth, transportation, schooling and many other things that other counties and states would want to pattern themselves after.