Why I'm Running for City Council

When I retired from teaching accounting in college last year, I enjoyed being idle for a time. But then I started thinking about ways I could spend my time helping my community. After reading that the time for registering as a candidate for the Greensboro City Council was fast approaching, I did some research on my district and the necessary qualifications for office. I also asked my neighbors if they thought I’d make a viable candidate and if they’d support me. With their positive responses, and with the encouragement of my family, I’ve decided to seek election to the Greensboro City Council as the representative from District Five.

This is my first foray into our city’s political arena, and I realize that serving on City Council is an ambitious goal. I have heard the public dissatisfaction with recent council decisions and the way public business is being conducted, as evidenced by news articles and letters to the editor, and I tell myself “we can aspire to more than that.” I know that responsibility for change rests with good citizens like my district neighbors and me. I think we share a vision that Greensboro can be an example of municipal efficiency, effectiveness, balanced economic growth, as well as civility, racial harmony, and beauty. I believe that Greensboro can cultivate a reputation as a desirable place to live that makes the rest of the state, and nation, take note of how we do things.

I have the advantage of seeing Greensboro with the eye of a recent transplant – I’ve lived here four years. In that time, I’ve seen the wonderful features that prompted many of us to move here from other places and make this our home. Because of the city’s, and its citizen’s, hard work in the past, features such as beautiful public parks, street improvements, residential neighborhoods, revitalized downtown, multiple institutions of higher education, and cultural arts programs available to all have attracted new talent and ideas that can strengthen our economic base. We owe a lot to long-time residents, and to their families going back generations. We thank them for making Greensboro the very desirable place it is to live.

But Greensboro also has some things that need to change so that what’s great about our city doesn’t get overshadowed by what may be seen as a backward slide into neglect and poor policy. There is a pervasive lack of trust between racial and ethnic groups that make up our citizenry. There has been an erosion of our economic base that cannot be blamed in its entirety on the state of the U.S. economy. Both short and long-range planning efforts for orderly growth and expansion have been weak. The lack of civility among elected and appointed officials threatens our government’s credibility. Finally, the lack of openness and accountability between government and citizens serves only to escalate mistrust.

As a member of the City Council, I will work tirelessly to maintain those features that already make Greensboro the great place it is. But I will work even harder to improve the way we do business, respond to our citizens, and plan for and made sound decisions to create a great future. I will begin my work for the city as a candidate with these commitments:

1. I believe the citizens need a Council member who is independent:

• I will not take campaign contributions from any special interest group or PAC - only from individuals, and only in small amounts.
• I am not, and will not become, affiliated with any group that wants to influence city business.
• I will represent all constituents who want a government that cares for the needs of its citizens. This means I will welcome opinions, advice, and reason from anyone. I will make decisions based on facts and feedback, and will exercise reasoned judgment when it comes time to vote on what is in the best interest of the city and its residents.

2. I believe that the basis of government is civility:

• I will campaign in a civil manner; that is, I will not engage in negative campaigning.
• I will treat my fellow City Council members, city employees, citizens, and others dealing with the City with the respect to which all are entitled.

3. I believe in open and accountable government:

• I will share information that becomes known to me as a member of City Council with my constituents, either directly or through the news media. I will keep lines of communication open at all times.
• Using my accounting background, I will make sure that all City departments report all of their activities and expenditures in a timely manner and in a way that allows the citizens to determine whether the City is meeting its goals and objectives and is operating effectively and efficiently.

4. I believe that Greensboro must have a strong and effective Police Department:

• I will work to get the problems that many citizens perceive to exist in the Police Department corrected.
• I will support the adoption of a plan of action to have the best and most well-respected police force in the state.

5. I believe that Greensboro must have a strong economic base:

• I will work to improve the economic condition of the city by doing what it takes to attract new industry.
• At the same time, I will encourage and support the growth of existing businesses and creation of new small businesses.

6. As an accountant, I believe in strong long-range and short-range planning for City activities:

• I will oppose haphazard rezoning, but I will support well-thought-out changes that provide for responsible development that includes consideration of all environment impact and changes to city infrastructure.
• I will support annexation and expansion of the boundaries of the city only in those cases where it is well planned and can be accomplished without putting excessive strain on city infrastructure and services, and where those citizens to be annexed are in agreement with the plan.
• I am in favor of performing a “zero-base review” of all city programs and services within the next two years to identify those areas that may not be performing as well as they should be, and to prioritize those things that the city spends the tax-payers’ money on.

In the next few days and weeks I will attempt to meet with as many of the people in District Five as I can. I will also attend any candidates’ forum or community meeting to which I am invited. I believe that it is important that I get my message across to as many voters as I can.

I ask you, if you see or hear something that you like in my campaign, please join my campaign, and vote for me, Art Boyett, for City Council from District Five. If you see things that you dislike, feel free to discuss them with me and give me the reasons why you think I should take a different tack.