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Incumbent Johnson 'consensus-builder’

Sunday, November 1, 2009

(Updated 7:40 am)

By Amanda Lehmert
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — She’s got experience on her side. With that and some plans for the future, incumbent Yvonne Johnson hopes to beat challenger Bill Knight to retain her seat as mayor of Greensboro.

Johnson was elected to her first term as mayor in 2007 after seven previous terms on the City Council.

This term, Johnson cut back her hours and her pay as executive director of the nonprofit One Step Further to be able to devote her full attention to the mayor’s job.

Johnson said she would go to almost any event to bring greetings and a positive image on behalf of the city.

“People say, 'You are really there for the people,’ and I appreciate that,” Johnson said. “That was one of the things I really wanted to do. I wanted people all over the city to have someone who is inclusive.”

That willingness to hear anyone out and go anywhere has made her an accessible, welcoming leader who understands the city well, her boosters said.

“Here’s a woman who has had a tremendous amount of experience in city government,” said Henry Isaacson, an attorney and Johnson supporter. “She knows this city north, south, east and west. That is my yardstick for a mayoral candidate.”

These last two years have been tumultuous for the city.

Council members fought fiercely over former City Manager Mitchell Johnson, who was fired in March. At times, council meetings have become chaotic.

Yvonne Johnson’s critics have pinned the blame on her for the council’s behavior, saying that as the person who presides over meetings she should have more control.

Johnson responded to the criticism recently by limiting debate and discussion at the City Council meetings, but she has said even rules won’t make everyone behave.

“Yvonne is a mediator and she is a consensus-builder,” said Shirley Frye, who has known Johnson since she was a Girl Scout in Frye’s troop. “She has handled it well.

There are periods of time when no one can control everything that goes on.”

Despite the trials of the last two years, Johnson said, she has kept her election promises by creating a sustainability council, appointing the city’s first international commission and holding town hall meetings.

If she earns a second term, Johnson said she would like the new council to have a retreat to set long-term plans and decide on some goals for the new city manager.

She wants council members to be better prepared for decision-making by having more briefing sessions with staff. Members of the media should be invited, she said.

Johnson said economic development would be a key issue.

“We have to be vigilant about recruiting businesses and jobs,” Johnson said.

Some supporters say she has already been a good advocate for the city on business issues, such as being a cheerleader for Greensboro when company executives come to town and advocating for downtown.

“The mayor has been the biggest supporter and helper we have downtown on the City Council,” said Milton Kern, who ran against Johnson in 2007. “When it seems to be most of them want to run off and not realize the downtown is the real bright spot in the economy, she’s just been a big supporter of it. I owe her my vote for it.”

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

Accompanying Photos

News & Record

YVONNE JOHNSON

Age: 66 Residence: 4311 King Arthur Place Online: www.yvonnejohnsonformayor.com Occupation: Executive director, One Step Further How do you plan on reaching constituents if elected? “I will continue to reach constituents the way I have always reached them — by going to their churches, their neighborhoods associations and their civic groups. I have visited more than 30 schools while mayor and spoken to more than 400 civic, church, neighborhood and visitors groups in the past two years.” What should be Greensboro’s long-term plan for household waste disposal? Is reopening the White Street Landfill part of that equation? Why or why not? “We need to create a long-term plan for disposing of Greensboro’s household waste. Reopening White Street Landfill may be part of the answer, but only if we can find a way to incorporate new technologies or other mitigation that will minimize its negative impact on nearby neighborhoods.”

What do you think?

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Lakeshia

November 1, 2009 - 4:03 am EST

Consensus is the process of abandoning beliefs, principles, values, and policies; so it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects.

mtaylor27410

November 1, 2009 - 10:34 am EST

Obviously you don't know the word or understand the concept. Run out and get a real dictionary (not Wicktionary), or get some life experience and you'll learn the true value of consensus building over insisting on a Win-Lose on every confilct.

buzzman

November 1, 2009 - 5:35 am EST

"Johnson said she would go to almost any event to bring greetings and a positive image on behalf of the city." It's very apparent that this individual enjoys 'photo-ops.' Showing up at a grammar school and talking to the kiddies is a 'feel good' event, but what does this contribute to running the city of Greensboro?
This mayor cannot even properly run a council meeting, so how could anyone believe that she actually contributes to the best interest of ALL the citizens of Greensboro? It's obvious that her primary concern is for the black community (not all the other races) and the developers (not established small-business owners).
Unfortunately, she's the choice of Greensboro's political machine, and unless more people get out and vote for Bill Knight, we'll continue with the status-quo, which is taking this city down a path of destruction.
As usual, the N&R doesn't report the negative aspects of liberal candidates, but it's very quick to point out any perceived shortcomings of their opponents.

swerdna

November 1, 2009 - 9:22 am EST

She's the photo-op queen! I was personally volunteering at an event where she made an appearance. If I had blinked, I would have missed her, but the flash of a camera as she posed with a group of only black people caught my eye. One photo and she was gone, but she has that photo to support her claim that she was there, albeit for 5 minutes! I would have preferred to see photos of her wearing jeans with her sleeves rolled up actually HELPING serve the food to blacks and whites alike!

jeaniegnc

November 1, 2009 - 8:56 am EST

When singing the praises of our current mayor everyone uses the same worn-out phrases, she is a consensus buillder, she wants to give everyone a chance to have their say and she wants everyone to get along. Friends, is that all that Greensboro requires of our mayor? Yvonne Johnson has been on the city council or the mayor for many years and this is all of her accomplishments or at least this is all anyone can think of when you ask what has she done for our city. Do you want to continue down the same path or do you want to give someone else a chance to change the direction of Greensboro? Consider these facts when you vote.

capricorn7nc

November 1, 2009 - 11:10 am EST

I watch the city council meetings, and I think it is good to have debate on the council. It lets us know who is for what instead of no debate, and bad decisions being made as a result. They do come to conclusions and her right hand man Robbie Perkins usually comes up with compromises that everyone agrees to. I am sorry that some do not like her, and I honestly don't know why. The economy sucks for everyone, but I can say that crime prevention is better now in areas that were previously neglected before, her policy of openness is good because we need transparency, not decisions made at the expense of other people, and I think keeping her is going to bring more economic development to the area. I like that they are looking into a better solution to the White Street landfill issue, because there is current development in that area, such as, a library and upgrades to the old Bessemer Center shopping center off of Philips Avenue and the loop will be near that area. When the loop is finished, we need to fill in those areas with new shops, new schools, and build on Greensboro becoming a better city. I think her vision is further down the road than this year, because no one is doing well this year. I can not wait until Mayor Yvonne Johnson fills in the blanks in Greensboro, and people choke on it.

Beachwalk

November 1, 2009 - 11:40 am EST

"decisions made at the expense of other people"

The BILLION $$$$ mistake of closing the White Street landfill only benefits those who live in that area, at the expense of everyone else.

Johnson is a legend in her own eyes. She is in NO WAY a consensus-builder. The city council is as divided as it ever has been before. Johnson is the JOKE of North Carolina's mayors. She has no skills at conducting a meeting and always allows her pals and voting partners (Bellamy-Small (evolution's missing link) and Wells (the village idiot)) to disrupt meetings and interupt other council members. VOTE FOR REAL LEADERSHIP, VOTE FOR BILL KNIGHT.

liberatedthinker

November 1, 2009 - 12:45 pm EST

Why don't you just get "RACIST" tattooed on your forehead? Thanks for steering some voters toward Yvonne Johnson!

buzzman

November 1, 2009 - 11:50 am EST

capricorn7nc - What have YOU been smoking? What a crock!!!

liberatedthinker

November 1, 2009 - 12:55 pm EST

I'm sure it's difficult for you to comprehend capricorn's sincere and thoughtful comments on this candidate, what with your small mind filled with conspiracy theories. Just stay home, close the blinds, order in some Chinese (oops, sorry - another minority!), and avoid the "path of destruction". We'll move the City forward without you. Better yet, move to Idaho!

Spag

November 1, 2009 - 1:23 pm EST

Will Bill Knight also be featured prominently in a N&R story or did I miss that? This is the second prominent profile of Johnson in the past two weeks and seems like free political advertising to me.

Spag

November 1, 2009 - 1:25 pm EST

Okay, I see it now. Comment withdrawn.

tarheel19906

November 1, 2009 - 1:46 pm EST

Personally, I think its time for GSO/Guilford county to vote out the old and get new people, faces and ideas in office that are actually for the people who put them there. If Ms Johnson cant control the council members, how in the heck do you think she can run a city.....SHE CANT!!! Her time is up!

REDDHOTT

November 3, 2009 - 4:20 pm EST

The Mayors job is not to control other adults. They are also elected officials. They can be voted intor out depending on who goes to the elections. Instead of waisting so much time on what Mayor Johnson isnt doing, what are you doing to find a candidate that out shines her. Stop pointing fingers and get off ur lazy behinds and vote some people into office that fit your requirements. All this whinning about what she does or doesnt do will be an issue as it has been in the past. You cannot please everyone. However I am sick of this landfill issue. If the landfill was in ur backyard u wouldnt be so quick to jump at the fact that the money is being spent to relocate our citys trash, etc. Stop adding to the problem and help make things change instead of constantly complaining. I dont see that Knight is gonna rescue Guilford County, better luck during the next election! Maybe by then u will have a more favorable candidate. The votes w b counted and then u will have the majority vote as to who the city of greensboro wants as mayor. When that happen aint a darn thing u can do..............Unless u continue to waiste time whinning. Stick a bottle in it!

laserguidedloogie

November 1, 2009 - 11:44 pm EST

What the hell is a 'consensus-builder?' If something is already the consensus it doesn't need to be built. Sounds to me like more of the sort of biz-fad neo-speak, that you pick up in one of those silly TQM or "7 Habits.." type seminars, than any sort of meaningful phrase.

Ken
http://www.LaserGuidedLoogie.com

REDDHOTT

November 3, 2009 - 5:12 pm EST

I WAS ALWAYS TOLD IF U DONT KNOW WHAT A WORD MEANS, U NEED TO LOOK IT UP.........OR GOOGLE IT.

xeno10

November 2, 2009 - 6:31 am EST

It is Yvonne Johnson's attributes of significant city government experience, of spirit, of vision, of purpose and "to unify rather than disrupt" that, in my judgment, she stands in striking contrast to Bill Knight. So, my vote for Mayor goes again to Mrs. Johnson. Seriously.