Brief observations of the city primary
The biggest surprise from today's Greensboro City Council primary? For me, it's the 4 percent voter turnout.
This wasn't like going to the dentist, folks. Where were the other 96 percent of you?
Next biggest surprise would be the strong third-place showing of Sandra Anderson in the at-large field. She finished within 3 percentage points of veterans Yvonne Johnson and Don Vaughan. If she repeats that result in the general election, this political newcomer will win a seat on the council.
Women candidates did very well, finishing first in the at-large race (Johnson), District 1 (Dianne Bellamy-Small), District 2 (Goldie Wells), and District 5 (Sandy Carmany). Mike Barber led in the only other contested race, District 4.
Altogether, nine of the 14 candidates who advanced through today's primary are women.
By the way, if Johnson repeats her first-place finish in the at-large race Nov. 8, will that encourage her to run for mayor in 2007? Absolutely. That's very much on her mind, she said tonight.
Mayor Keith Holliday, unopposed for re-election this year, is not likely to run again in 2007.