news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Voters in the city’s southeast district will be asked to choose between a council veteran and a business promoter.

Early voting is under way, and Election Day is Nov. 3.

What the two District 1 City Council candidates say they would like to accomplish:

T. Dianne Bellamy-Small (i)

Age: 58

Occupation: Parent educator, Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center

Education: Attended Brevard College and Randolph Macon Women’s College; bachelor of arts, UNC-Chapel Hill; graduate work, UNCG and University at Maryland-Eastern Shore

What skills or qualities set you apart from your opponent? “I have a common-sense approach to things, 35 years of experience in a variety of human services, determination to get the job done, integrity tested and a servant leader.”

Goals for the term: Bellamy-Small said she would continue to develop a parity plan for east Greensboro to make it a place to live, work and play.

“That is No. 1. People are seeing that is where we need to be,” Bellamy-Small said.

She said she would push for infrastructure for the area.

She would like to help the council have a more constructive council-manager form of government.

“I want us to get back to our appropriate roles,” Bellamy-Small said.

Bellamy-Small also would encourage social capital development and support the disadvantaged by working with job programs, including developing a job fair that helps put former prisoners back to work.

She said she would continue to support the day center for homeless residents.

Luther T. Falls Jr.

Residence: 1603 Lansdown Ave.

Age: 55

Occupation: Life and health agent, Western and Southern Life Insurance Co.

Education: Bachelor of arts, political science and economics, UNC-Chapel Hill; studied business administration and computer science, University of District Columbia; master’s in marketing and international business at University of Pittsburgh, Katz Graduate School of Business

What skills or qualities set you apart from your opponent? “I have a formal education in government.

“I have an advanced degree in business administration and marketing. I have worked with founding and managing several organizations for several years.”

Goals for the term: Falls said he would help the small businesses be more aware of the city resources available to them.

“That’s where the jobs are going to be generated,” Falls said.

He said he wanted to talk to the whole council to increase the small-business loan pool funds that the city offers.

Falls said he would like to be an advocate for community members in getting their problems with the city resolved.

He hopes to work with the police department to encourage community awareness about crime issues.

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