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This story originally appeared in the News & Record on Oct. 29, 2011:

GREENSBORO — This year’s Greensboro City Council races have been hard fought and, in some cases, intensely personal — even in those races not seen as competitive.

Incumbent council members in Districts 1, 2, 3 and 5 face challengers who question their motivations, integrity and commitment to constituents. Though each has a strong base of support in their district, the incumbents say they take nothing for granted in a year when a number of seats on the council will likely change.

District 1

District 1 Councilwoman T. Dianne Bellamy-Small has faced her share of challenges since she was elected to the council in 2003. A polarizing political figure, Bellamy-Small considers herself a voice for minorities and the poor in her district and across the city. Critics accuse her of using race and class as political weapons.

Bellamy-Small has criticized her fellow council members for being disrespectful to city staff — particularly minorities such as outgoing City Manager Rashad Young and former City Attorney J. Rita Danish, whom Bellamy-Small said resigned as a result of her frustration with the council.

In a recent discussion of public transportation funding she pointedly asked the other council members how many had even been on a public bus.

Most prominently, she has opposed the re-opening of the White Street Landfill to household waste, which she said wouldn’t be on the table if the surrounding neighborhood wasn’t largely black.

This year, Bellamy-Small filed to run for mayor but pulled out days later to concentrate on re-election in District 1.

Challenger Donnell “DJ” Hardy has focused on Bellamy-Small’s responsiveness, saying she doesn’t speak to most of her fellow council members and doesn’t return constituent phone calls.

Hardy said if he’s elected he can be the kind of moderate who can both represent the district and work with his fellow council members to further constituent interests.

He has emphasized the need for cooperation toward economic development, especially for economically depressed District 1.

District 2

Councilman Jim Kee won the District 2 primary handily, taking 73 percent of the vote in a three-way race.

But challenger C. Bradley Hunt II is looking to dramatically increase his 20 percent primary showing come Election Day. To that end he’s gone on the offensive in a manner that has made race and class key issues in a contest between two black candidates.

At last week’s Neighborhood Congress candidate forum, Hunt said voters should “be mindful of those we elect ... they may look like us but don’t represent our interests.”

He also said of Kee, “It’s hard to be a shepherd when you don’t smell of sheep.”

Hunt called Kee blind to corruption in the Greensboro Police Department, saying it shows he’s out of touch with his district.

Kee said the comments by the 24-year-old N.C. A&T student amount to saying Kee isn’t black enough — something he thinks district residents will find divisive and narrow-minded.

“District 2 is one of the most diverse districts we have,” Kee said. “There’s A&T and Ole Asheboro, Pisgah Church Road and Reedy Fork. I want to be the representative for all of those people.”

Kee said he hopes people will pay more attention to a universal issue — economic development. Kee said bringing more jobs to Greensboro is the only way to continue to improve the city without raising taxes.

“He’s the only candidate who is arguing we have to have higher taxes,” Kee said of Hunt. “I don’t think people can afford that right now.”

District 3

Councilman Zack Matheny was without an opponent in District 3 until the last day of candidate filing.

Jay Ovittore, a former member of the Human Relations Commission, jumped into the race at the last minute, saying he couldn’t let Matheny run unopposed.

He’s since been providing plenty of opposition, criticizing Matheny’s ties to local real estate interests, his push for a downtown curfew and his ethics.

But Matheny said Ovittore’s campaign is built on exaggerations and outright lies.

At a recent candidate forum, Ovittore claimed the downtown curfew has hurt businesses, keeping teens from working downtown after 11 p.m.

There is an exception to the curfew to allow teens to work after 11 p.m.

Ovittore also accused Matheny of going to Raleigh to lobby against the Rental Unit Certification of Occupancy program, also known as RUCO.

Matheny said that’s patently false and there’s no evidence for the claim.

When asked at a candidate forum this week to explain their differences, both men were succinct and cutting.

“I’m not owned and operated by real estate interests,” Ovittore said.

“I’m honest,” said Matheny.

District 5

Councilwoman Trudy Wade has strong support in District 5 but hasn’t been shy about answering tough questions at forums across the city. She has defended her record to voters, including her support for re-opening the White Street Landfill.

Her opponent, Jorge Cornell, is the leader of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation of North Carolina. He has stressed his opposition to corruption in the police department and harassment of minorities.

Cornell didn’t appear at last week’s district candidate forum. When asked about their differences, Wade had one of the more entertaining answers of the evening.

“Well, I haven’t been arrested 18 times and am not a member of any gangs,” Wade said.

Contact Joe Killian at 373-7023 or joe.killian@news-record.com