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A News & Record editorial

Thirteen candidates, three votes. It's a buyer's market in the Greensboro City Council at-large primary election.

We suggest voters get the most bang at the ballot box by diversifying their portfolio with a combination of experience and fresh ideas: Sandra Anderson-Groat, Robbie Perkins and Joel Landau.

Several other candidates offer good value as well. The top six in Oct. 9 voting will advance to the general election, but Anderson-Groat, Perkins and Landau possess the right ingredients for contributing to a strong, balanced council.

Three Diverse Leaders

Anderson-Groat, completing her first term, still brings a fresh voice to the council. She came with an outsider's view and admits to having felt "sick at heart" at the politics and personal agendas she said she discovered initially. "The community doesn't hear enough about what's going on in city government," she told the News & Record editorial board, vowing to push for more openness.

Also mayor pro tem, she's learned quickly and made a difference. In June, she brokered a budget compromise that both added police officer positions and reduced a property tax increase. More support is still needed for public safety, she said, suggesting parks and recreation as one area to trim spending.

Anderson-Groat, 62, by trade a builder of affordable housing, has been an outstanding addition to the council and is more than deserving of a second term.

Perkins, 51, seeks to return. He didn't run in 2005 after representing District 3 on the council for a dozen years, then used his time off to become more involved in regional leadership and Heart of the Triad planning.

Perkins possesses qualities needed on the City Council, including vision, an ability to set clear priorities and directions that may have been lacking lately, and an understanding of the city's ability to drive economic development and regional progress.

Some residents worry that the City Council has been too easily swayed by developers and might oppose Perkins because he makes his living in commercial real estate. While Perkins vows to work hard to bring better jobs to Greensboro, he supports quality-of-life initiatives, too, like scenic corridor designation along the Urban Loop and the downtown greenway project. Nevertheless, voters concerned about growth and environmental issues can happily add Landau to the council mix. Perhaps the "greenest" candidate, he claims success in leading efforts to add Greensboro to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.

The general manager of a natural foods cooperative and former small business owner, Landau, 56, also serves on the city planning board. His priorities include building safer neighborhoods, and adding patrol officers; making government more open and accountable; supporting locally owned businesses; and improving the environment. It's time to end divisiveness in the city, he said at a forum last week, citing the co-op mantra: "When everyone prospers, everyone prospers."

Anderson-Groat, Perkins and Landau aren't the only candidates worthy of consideration in this wide-open race where incumbents Florence Gatten and mayoral contender Yvonne Johnson aren't running to keep their seats.

A Deep, Talented Field

Donna Riechmann, 63, management consultant: She supports economic development, community building and responsive listening to residents.

Marikay Abuzuaiter, 53, restaurant owner: Knowledgeable about all areas of the city, she backs a large increase in the police force and cuts in every other department.

Kevin Green, 51, real estate broker: Very involved in the community, especially in sports and recreation development, he stresses the need to capitalize on growth opportunities.

Greg Woodard, 46, retired military: A real grass-roots community activist, he's hard-working and energetic.

Mary Rakestraw, 59, real estate broker: A former county commissioner, she's a consistent opponent of economic incentives.

Janet Wallace, 38, paralegal: She stresses her independence, youthfulness and new ideas.

Sidney Gray, 61, investor: Pledging to accept no campaign contributions, he would work to reduce sprawl and promote infill development.

Bill Knight, 67, retired accountant: He contends small businesses need more assistance and the city budget needs closer scrutiny.

Joe Venable, 68, minister: He champions help for the poor.

Joseph Rahenkamp Sr., 72, retired firefighter: He would refuse to raise taxes or fees.

Voters can fill out their ballots in hundreds of possible combinations. Ours is Anderson-Groat, Perkins and Landau.