news-record.com

When a ruckus arose recently over reports of criminal activity near benches on the city's new greenway, District 1 City Councilwoman T. Dianne Bellamy-Small showed up and conducted her own investigation.

That's indicative of her solid commitment to staying on top of what's happening in the district's southeast Greensboro neighborhoods.

Bellamy-Small, 57, is seeking a fourth two-year term.

This time, her opponent is Luther T. Falls Jr., 54, a local insurance agent who also has been involved in east Greensboro community activities, particularly in programs to bolster a lagging economy.

While Bellamy-Small stays popular on the home front, she at times has been perceived elsewhere in the city as withdrawn, abrasive and sometimes prone to lengthy self-promotion.

She pulls no punches in citing poor dynamics on what she says is a dysfunctional council beset by cliques and in-fighting.

Of course, she has been a more-than-willing participant in at least some of the discord.

But more recently she seems to have mellowed. For example, although she strongly backed ousted City Manager Mitchell Johnson, she moved forward with the search for his replacement.

If nothing else, she speaks her mind. However, toning down the volume would help get across the message more clearly and build more bridges citywide. As for when it comes to District 1, she's right on target as an advocate for fairness and change.

In the past, those less-affluent neighborhoods sometimes were overlooked in comparison with their counterparts to the west. Bellamy-Small has worked consistently to point to and address such inequities.

Falls also voices similar concerns but lacks her experience in bringing about change. Both cite economic development and job creation as the district's most pressing needs, including incentives for small businesses and updated infrastructure.

Neither wants to reopen the White Street Landfill, agreeing that by doing so the council would be going back on its word. Both call for more openness by city officials in letting residents know early on if road projects would affect their homes and hurt property values.

While either candidate is quite capable of effective representation on the council, the edge goes to Bellamy-Small based on her six years of experience, knowledge of the issues and record of service.

That confidence vote, however, is predicated on her continued efforts to become more of a team player.

That would be in her best interests and in her district's as well.