news-record.com

The next chairman of the Guilford County commissioners will be Kirk Perkins.

Or Paul Gibson will win the post again.

Or somebody else will get the job.

That's the state of the race for the next commissioners chairman, a position akin to being mayor of Guilford County. Commissioners choose a chairman in early December, and no one seems to have lined up enough support to win the job.

"I've sort of let my feelings be known," said Perkins, a Democrat, "and I really haven't seen anybody jump up and be interested."

Perkins, who represents northeastern Guilford's District 4, appears to be the front-runner. Six of the 11 commissioners must support his candidacy, and he said this week he's got "probably five solid, and maybe a couple more."

"If the vote was today, I think I'd have a shot," he said.

Like any other board member, the chairman has just one vote on the annual budget, zoning cases and other issues, but the position holds considerable power and influence. The chairman runs meetings, gathers votes on controversial issues and represents the county at public events.

Some commissioners don't want the job, saying it saps too much time and energy, but others pursue it vigorously. Gibson, a Democrat, won the post last year and says he won't seek it again as long as Perkins wants it.

"I'll support Kirk enthusiastically for chair and Kay (Cashion) for vice chair," Gibson said.

Cashion, a Democrat, did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment.

Perkins, 56, is a real estate broker, appraiser and general contractor. He was elected in 2004 after longtime commissioner Bob Landreth decided against running again. Perkins will face re-election in 2008.

"I think he's dedicated. He's punctual. He has knowledge of the issues — accessible to the public," said Democrat John Parks, who said he'd vote for Perkins. "And I think he could run a meeting and knows parliamentary procedure."

As chairman, Perkins said he'd explore consolidating functions performed by multiple jurisdictions in the county, such as inspections. And he wants commissioners to do something about the crowded jails. Voters might be asked to approve a $105 million jail bond in May, though some county officials fear it won't pass.

"Maybe we don't need a $100 million jail," he said. "Maybe we can't afford that."

One commissioner who says he won't support Perkins is Democrat Melvin "Skip" Alston, now the board's vice chairman. Perkins was among the six commissioners who cut funding for non profits — projects that Alston supports — in the annual budget.

"I won't be supporting Kirk at this point, because I don't think Kirk is going to be fair," Alston said.

And Republican Billy Yow said he wouldn't support Perkins either, in part because he "doesn't understand the concept of communicating well with others."

Yow said he'd support re-electing Gibson, raising the possibility that Gibson could land the job again if Perkins doesn't have the votes.
With a month and a half left before the meeting, anything could happen.
"Nothing," Gibson said, "would surprise me."

Contact Nate DeGraff at 373-7024 or ndegraff@news-record.com