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GREENSBORO — Former City Council member Nancy Vaughan bested two incumbents by more than 1,000 votes in the City Council at-large primary Tuesday.

Two political newcomers — Danny Thompson and Gary Nixon — also polled strongly.

Marikay Abuzuaiter and incumbents Robbie Perkins and Sandra Anderson Groat will round out the ballot for the general election on Nov. 3 .

Six percent of registered voters cast ballots Tuesday. In 2007, turnout was 6.5 percent.

Voters will chose three to join the next City Council.

Vaughan, who served two terms on the City Council in a district seat, took home 5,020 votes.

She said she appreciated the vote of confidence from city residents.

“They know I am approachable and I keep my word,” she said.

Vaughan took the incumbents not only in votes but also in fundraising. She has raised $17,721 , exceeding any other at-large candidate by more than $10,000.

Perkins and Groat, the mayor pro tem, said they would start raising more money right away.

“I’m going to work between now and Nov. 3 like I am

losing bad,” Groat said.

Thompson, a first-time candidate, came within 29 votes of Groat. He said it wasn’t a bad showing for a guy who has lived in the city for only a year. Thompson lives in a neighborhood annexed by Greensboro in 2008. Thompson is the president of Comfort Keepers, a senior care business. He’s the father of four children.

Nixon is a former owner of the engineering company Finkbeiner, Pettis & Strout, where he worked with municipal governments on infrastructure projects.

“I’m bringing more expertise and experience than some of the incumbents,” Nixon said.

Abuzuaiter is a small-business owner and a member of several Greensboro committees. In 2007, she came in fourth place in the at-large City Council race, missing a seat by about 600 votes.

“What sets me apart is I want to fight for small businesses because, in my mind, small businesses have been put on the back burner,” she said.

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com