News-Record.com

Voters should be able to get plenty of information Thursday night about candidates in the Greensboro City Council election.
That is because two groups are having forums on the same night. The details:
The Concerned Citizens of Northeast Greensboro, 6:45 p.m., Greensboro Historical Museum, 130 Summit Ave. The districts 1 and 2 and mayoral candidates are invited. Information: Ralph Johnson, 988-6001.
The Democratic Women of Guilford County, 7 p.m. Thursday, Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 501 S. Mendenhall St. Candidates for the district and at-large races are invited. Information: Mary Bell-Hemingway, 540-1245.
If you are trying to visit both, Mapquest.com says that they are 1.31 miles apart and that it will take four minutes.
Districts 1, 3 and 5 and the at-large seats will be on the primary ballot Oct. 9.

Early voting for the Greensboro City Council and Pleasant Garden Town Council primaries will draw to a close this weekend.
Voting will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday at the Old County Courthouse, 301 W. Market St., Greensboro and at the Elections Office, 505 E. Green Dr., High Point. On Saturday, hours are 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Greensboro site.
The primary will be Tuesday. Candidates for at-large and districts 1, 3 and 5 will be on the ballot in Greensboro. Pleasant Garden voters will trim one from a list of seven candidates for three council seats.
The general election will be Nov. 6.

Staff writer Margaret Moffett Banks is finishing off the compilation of a list of contributors to Greensboro City Council campaigns, and that's scheduled to run in Saturday's newspaper. The list will include donations ranging from $250 to the maximum of $4,000 that have been made to this point in the races. You can see the reports online at www.guilfordelections.org

On Monday, we'll serve up a guide to the primary on page B1. You can see the names of the candidates as they're scheduled to appear on the ballot (in reverse alphabetical order) and other info about how Tuesday will work and what lies ahead.

Stay tuned to news-record.com on Tuesday for updates and on Tuesday evening for results, then watch for the wrapup in Wednesday's paper.

If you got here without going through our online elections coverage, you might have missed something if you're still determining who will get your vote.

UPDATE: We have raised the baseline amount for publication to $250 as of mid-afternoon, up from $100. The list otherwise would be unwieldy.

Happy Municipal Primary Day! We'll be firing up this here blog for live coverage later today. Stay tuned.

In the mean time, drop us a line here in comments section with your questions, news tips or just to say "hi."

... not at Soldier Field in Chicago, but it is election day in Guilford County and in Reidsville.

Amy Dominello checks in: Polls opened up on time and the day has started off well, Charlie Collicutt, deputy director of the Guilford County Board of Elections, says.

"I think some places are pleasantly surprised with the turnout this morning," he says.

Collicutt couldn't give specifics just yet on turnout. But he says phones at the Board of Elections haven't been ringing too much, an indication that there haven't been any major glitches with machines.

The weather could also help bring voters to the polls today.

"It's going to be a nice day, so who knows how the day will go?" he says.

I don't know, but some of them certainly cast their ballots.

According to the Guilford County Board of Elections, 716 Voters in Greensboro and Pleasant Garden turned out during the early voting period, plus one person who voted a provisional ballot.

"Our biggest day was this past Friday, we had a little over 100," said Tim Tsujii, early voting coordinator for Guilford County.

A law recently passed by the General Assembly allowed voters to register to vote and vote on the same day during the early voting period. It was controversial because some feared that it would lead to a flood of unqualified voters.

I can't tell whether they're qualified or not, but the nine voters who took advantage of same day registration during the early voting period hardly counts as a flood.

Update:By the way, 716 voters doesn't sound like a lot, but only about 300 people cast early voting ballots in 2005, the last comparable primary.

Update:Still, that's four-tenths of one percent (0.42 % to be exact) of the voters eligible to cast ballots in the two elections.

There are 166,503 voters eligible for the Greensboro election and 3,470 eligible in Pleasant Garden.

David Hoggard already mentioned this on his blog, but it's also worth noting here: Turnout at our polling place, Aycock Middle School, has been on the light side of light. At 1:45 p.m., I was voter No. 15.

We've received a few other reports of light turnout in the city. But that could change.

I've been snooping around the various polling places this afternoon. Frankly, I've felt like the Maytag Repairman a lot of the time. There haven't been a whole lot of poll workers out and about.

So I was delighted to run into Glenda Clark and Constance Williams down at Vandalia Presbyterian Church in District 1. The two women were handing out literature for T. Diane Bellamy-Small.

Williams said it wasn't Bellamy-Small's positions that won her over. Rather, it was the failed recall attempt earlier this year.

"What I didn't like was someone outside this district coming in and calling a recall," Williams said after finding a shady patch of parking lot outside the church. She continued later, "That's like somebody coming in my house and trying to get me out."

Click here to listen to her full comments, and Clark chime in. (About 90 seconds.)

I ran into Mary Rakestraw at the Christ United Methodist Church polling place on Holden Road.

When I first turned on my recorder she was busy waving to folks and asking for their votes. The second guy she flagged down while I was there asked her to get rid of Mitch Johnson, the city manager.

"You do know I'm the only at-large person talking about that," she answered back.

She then chatted for a while about why she thought the city manager was an issue.

Click here to listen to that conversation.

Rakestraw also talked a little strategy and why she was staying put at one polling place.

"If there's a vote out there I'm going for it," Rakestraw said.

Click here to listen to Rakestraw talk about electioneering.

This story isn't from around here, but when the sign says "Be ware of dog," be ware of the dog, okay?

YORK, Pa. (AP) - When pundits complain about "pit bull politics," this isn't what they mean.

Mary Caldwell, who is running for Lower Windsor Township supervisor, said she had knocked on the back screen door of a home Saturday evening when a pit bull escaped and attacked her.

More after the jump

Here's more from Glenda Clark, who I spoke to earlier about T. Diane Bellamy-Small.

She says that if you want to avoid standing in lines, get to the polls before 5 p.m. In fact, she says the peak time might be hitting right about . . . now!

Click here to listen to her talking about working elections and working for Bellamy-Small.

Candidate Greg Woodard confirms our impression that turn out is fairly light. (Earlier.)

From Gerald Witt, our man in Rockingham County:

Edwin Stanton walked about three miles to get to vote for Reidsville City Council on Tuesday.

While he wore long sleeves and pants in 90-degree heat.

Approaching Reidsville Middle School to vote, Stanton, an elderly man, tottered around the side of the building on stiff limbs.

Reidsville Mayor James Festerman, was hanging out and greeting voters in the shade at the school, ran up to the help Stanton, who appeared as if he was about to teeter over.

"I thought maybe he had been drinking," said Festerman, a retired police chief, "but I didn't smell any alcohol on his breath."

Festerman took Stanton's arm, and helped him into the school.

"I tried to offer him a ride home, but he wouldn't take it," Festerman said.

Leaving the school, Stanton said that he walks every day because doctors told him to.
It helps with varicose veins, Stanton said, for which he wears special "industrial strength," stockings that were made in Switzerland. In the last week, he's walked about 25 miles, he said.

So the walk to go vote, though it appeared uncomfortable to bystanders who saw him walking in the heat, was just another stroll.

"I vote every time I can," Stanton said. "It's your duty."

I ran into campaign workers for Joel Landau at a couple different polling places today. All of them said that they were on the stump because of Landau's environmental positions.

Click here to listen to Jeff Whisnant and Happy Rieth explain why they back Landau as they took up their stations outside Faith Presbyterian Church up on Friendly earlier this afternoon.

"I really like the fact that Joel is very pro-environment," Reith said. "He was key in getting 'Cool Cities' passed here, and I just appreciate his stance on that."

You can learn more about Cool Cities here.

Phyllis Gibbs, a former county commissioner, was stumping for Mary Rakestraw. Maureen Hartigan was making the pitch for Donna Riechmann.

Both seemed kind of lonely as they stood under a tree at First Lutheran Church up on Friendly. Yes, former county manager Roger Cotten had just walked in to vote, but it had been a slow afternoon.

"At this point we're grateful to see anybody who is here to vote," said Hartigan.

Click here to listen to Maureen and Phyllis make their pitches for their candidates.

...another tale of low turn out.

If you're looking for something to chew on in tonight's election results, ponder the resurgence of former county commissioners.

Mike Barber, an incumbent in District 4, is a former county commissioner. He faces opposition in the general election.

Trudy Wade out-polled Sandy Carmany in tonight's District 5 primary. Wade is a former county commissioner who lost a protracted legal battle with John Parks over an at-large seat in 2004.

And Rakestraw was at the top of the heap in the at-large primary tonight. And yes, she's another former county commissioner.

All three hail from a time on the county commissioners when the term "raucous" was used frequently to describe the board. (Yes, I was one of the people describing it at the time.) If all three were to win, they would make up a third of the council.

So what does it say that three former county commissioners know for being, um, let's say outspoken, might find their way on council - a body that until recently was known as the more gentile of the two?

I put that questions to the candidates and will be putting their audio up here in a few minutes.

Update:Mary Rakestraw says that council members have been "too polite," particularly in regard to the police situation. She said that voters were looking for people who would be more out front. "They know that we will speak our minds," Rakestraw said.

Click here to listen to Rakestraw speak her mind following her strong finish Tuesday.

update: Sandy Carmany, the long-time incumbent in District 5, said that voters better be careful what they wish for. Citizens frequently complained about the commissioner's antics during the era from which Wade, Rakestraw and Barber hail, she said.

"I think the citizens better take a close look and don't forget so quickly," Carmany said.

She chalked up her second place finish to Wade at least partially to her supporters assuming she had this election in the bag.

"Now I think this is going to spur them on," she said. Expect the debate between Carmany and Wade to be robust during the next month.

Click here to listen to Carmany give her thoughts.

Update: So what exactly is wrong with a little outspokenness?

"Even though everyone says it's a little run on the county commission, I think it's a very health atmosphere," Wade said.

Click here to listen to her make her case.

From a piece of our story detailing the District 1 race tomorrow:

The election marked another point in the trying two-year term for Bellamy-Small.

She was accused of leaking a confidential police report to the media and intimidating a police officer who pulled her for speeding.

She has denied both charges, and said Tuesday that she hoped some of the distractions "that have beset me in my second term do not follow me into a third term."

"All we have is allegations," she said, "and none of them have ever been proven."

I heard two interpretations of the results in District 1 tonight.

First: Bellamy-Small was obviously helped by backlash in her district against the recall. I heard that backlash first-hand when I went out to the polls this afternoon.

But: Bellamy-Small pulled 701 votes according to unofficial returns. If you add second-place finisher Tonya Clinkscale's vote to that of third-place finisher Luther Falls', you get 947. The thought is that Falls' supporters won't be going over to Bellamy-Small and will largely choose to back Clinkscale.

But here's a "but" of my own: The general election will be a different animal. You will have more voters coming out, for the mayoral election if nothing else. You'll be dealing with a new electorate. Tonight's results can’t be taken for an absolute auger of things to come.

Sandra Anderson Groat said that she was gunning to place first among the at-large contenders.

Close, but no cigar. Former County Commissioner Mary Rakestraw bested her Tuesday night. Still, Groat said she was happy to be among the six candidates going on to the general election.

When asked what the difference between this year's campaign and the one two years ago, her first, Groat said that voters were more skeptical this time around - soured by the bad press surrounding the firing of the city's former police chief among other things.

"I really think that is a major, core issue that we're dealing with," Groat said.

Click here to listen to two minutes or so with Groat following the results coming in tonight.

In case you haven't looked at the returns, from tomorrow's at large council election story:

GREENSBORO - Her campaign has but a fraction of the cash her two closest opponents have raised. But this morning, Mary Rakestraw leads where it matters: In votes.

On Tuesday, the former Guilford County commissioner placed a surprising, solid first in the race for one of three at-large seats on the Greensboro City Council.

To the surprise of nobody, a pair of well-known and well-monied at-large candidates - Councilwoman Sandra Anderson Groat and former Councilman Robbie Perkins - also finished in the top three.

That's based on the complete but unofficial results of Tuesday's primary election.

Three other candidates who survived the primary? Bill Knight, Kevin Green and Marikay Abuzuaiter will have to work hard - and raise money feverishly - if they are to usurp one of the big three on Nov. 6.

Were you to ask me to gaze into my navel and tell you what I think the election results mean, I'd say that each of the winners or near-winners had a core-constituency they brought to the table.

Joel Landau, who placed seventh and therefore just out the money, brought the environmental vote to his side. Rakestraw, I would be dollars-to-donuts, did will off the endorsement of the Rhinoceros Times and her focus on the police situation. Robbie Perkins rocked the vote in District 3 as well, I would think, among business-friendly constituencies.

Etc...

In such a crowded race, you needed a strong core of active voters to build upon. Then things like name recognition, actually policies, etc... could come into play.

My other guess is you are going to see Perkins and Groat pour on the gas (or campaign spending) over the next month. Their strong showing is going to give them the ability to raise more cash more easily. Clear out some space in your mail box, because the direct mail is almost certainly a'coming.

Meanwhile the other candidates are going to have to convince donors that they can make up the ground during the next month.

This low: 7.2 percent of registered voters.

I expected a much bigger turnout. Maybe that's coming on Nov. 6.

Janet Wallace didn't win, place or show, but she seems to harbor no ill will toward the voters.

As for the other candidates:

However, I must say. When leaving the courthouse this evening, Greg Woodard attacked me. With no respect or tact, Mr. Woodard's first words to me were not, "Good run", "Good try", "Sorry, maybe next time". They were, "YOUR PEOPLE WERE TAKING UP MY SIGNS AND PUTTING YOUR SIGNS IN THEIR PLACE." I told him they were not, but he continued to say it over and over again. Finally, I told him that "MY PEOPLE" were my husband and step-father and under no circumstances would they ever think of doing such a thing.

Click here for the whole post.

From tomorrow's District 3 story:

GREENSBORO - One figures he needs to keep doing what he's doing. The other says hard work has paid off for him, but he could use an infusion of campaign cash.

That, and a difference of several hundred votes, separate Zack Matheny and Joe Wilson as the two primary winners begin to focus on November's general election.

Matheny, who easily raised more and spent more than his competition leading up to the primary, nearly doubled Wilson's vote total in the District 3 primary.

He isn't quite ready to declare victory in November, but he feels good about what's happened so far.

"You just keep doing what you've been doing," he said.

Want to ponder the raw data? You can find full election results on the county BOE page.

Hear it straight from the candidates. You'll have plenty of chances over the next few days to hear from Greensboro City Council candidates at forums around town. Here's what we know about (updated Oct. 15 with an Oct. 18 morning forum):
Wednesday, Oct. 17: Democratic Lunch Forum featuring mayoral candidates Yvonne Johnson and Milton Kern, 12:30 p.m., sponsored by Greensboro Woman’s Club, 223. N. Edgeworth St. Reservations recommended; RSVP by Monday. Information: 315-5532.
Wednesday, Oct. 17: Municipal candidates forum, 5:30 p.m. dinner ($5; forum will begin at 6 p.m.), Congregational Church of Christ, 400 W. Radiance Dr. Information: Libby Bowles, 275-1919.
Thursday, Oct. 18: Candidates' forum, 7:30-9:30 a.m., sponsored by the Greensboro Partnership, Downtown Marriott, 304 N. Greene St. Candidates will answer questions about economic development. Information: Kathleen Patterson, kpatterson@greensboro.org or 387-8331.
Thursday, Oct. 18: Mayoral, 6:45 p.m., sponsored by the Neighborhood Congress, Nussbaum Room of the Greensboro Central Library, 219 N. Church St. Information: 851-2748.
Monday, Oct. 22: At-large, 6:45 p.m., sponsored by the Neighborhood Congress, Nussbaum Room of the Greensboro Central Library, 219 N. Church St. Information: 851-2748.
Monday, Oct. 22: Mayoral, 7:30 p.m., co-sponsored by the Temple Emanuel Brotherhood and Social Action Committee, 1129 Jefferson Road. The Temple Brotherhood will collect questions from the audience for a questions-and-answers period. Information: 292-8799.
Wednesday, Oct. 24: District, 7 p.m., sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Royce Reynolds Family Student Life Center at Greensboro College, Tate and Market streets. Information: 297-9948.
Thursday, Nov. 1: Council and mayoral candidates, “Invite to Unite” 2007 Election Campaign Forum/Debate, 7 p.m., Harrison Auditorium, N.C. A&T campus, 1601 E. Market St. Information: Tyesha Washington, (202) 438-7445.

Doug Clark notes a change in Milton Kern's tone.

Maybe the love fest between Kern and Yvonne Johnson is cooling?

Today’s lead letter to the editor comes from a city resident confessing to ignorance about the municipal elections. That’s frustrating, because this campaign season has afforded many opportunities for voters to meet and hear the candidates.

A good one occurs at 6:45 this evening at the Central Library. The Greensboro Neighborhood Congress is holding a forum for the six candidates competing for three at-large seats.

Thanks to all the civic-minded organizations that have put on forums, no one should be ill-informed about this year’s candidates or issues.

Additional sites for early voting will be open starting Saturday for the municipal elections in Guilford County.
These sites are open 10 a.m.3-p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday through Nov. 2 and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 3.
The locations:
Guilford County Agricultural Center: 3309 Burlington Road.
Leonard Recreation Center: 6324 Ballinger Road.
Craft Recreation Center: 3911 Yanceyville St.
Brown Recreation Center: 302 E. Vandalia Road.
Jamestown Town Hall: 301 E. Main St., Jamestown.
Bur-Mil Club: 5834 Bur-Mil Club Road.
Roy Culler Senior Center: 600 N. Hamilton St., High Point.
Early voting continues from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at 301 W. Market St., Greensboro, and 505 E. Green Dr., High Point.
If you didn’t register, no problem. You can do that at an early-voting site.

The students at A&T want to know. Given that 93 percent of us who live here on a full-time basis didn't care enough to vote in the primary, we're quite impressed that college students are showing civic engagement by putting on a forum for Greensboro City Council candidates on Nov. 1.

But they want some help: What questions would you ask of the candidates? Respond in the Comments section, and we'll pass them along to forum organizers.

Reminder: This forum is at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 at Harrison Auditorium, N.C. A&T campus, 1601 E. Market St. Information: Tyesha Washington, (202) 438-7445.

Yvonne Johnson vs. Milton Kern.
OK, so they didn’t lace up the gloves. But the two candidates for mayor of Greensboro did stop by the News & Record to answer a few questions.
Election Day on Tuesday is approaching, so here’s another chance for you to learn about the candidates. Click here to see Johnson and Kern offer answers to questions about:
City government’s performance during the drought
The role of the city manager
Turnout in the primary
How they would lead City Council
The International Civil Rights Museum
How they’d trim the city budget, and where they’d like to see more money spent
The candidates also field individual questions: Johnson about Project Homestead and Kern about potential conflicts with developers. And the candidates pose questions for each other.