News-Record.com

Whew!
When I saw the headline "Johnson Enters Mayoral Race" I thought it was you!!
Man, you gave me a scare...
Of course it could be worse...could be Mitch Johson. :)

Hadn't you heard? I'm running for governor instead.

Allen:

I think you're right about Yvonne Johnson; she'll be tough for anyone to beat. I really don't think Florence Gatten will run against Johnson.

As you know, Gatten has a great deal of experience in the political consulting business and I don't think that she will be willing to take such a risky venture. I'm sure that she vividly remembers the close call that she had in 2003 when a political novice named Skenes almost beat her for a district seat. Gatten won by a grand total of 8 votes in that race.

Don't be surprised, though, if a candidate emerges for mayor who tries to tap into the David Wray controversy. One such possible candidate is John Hammer. As you remember, he ran as a write-in candidate for mayor against Carolyn Allen and came in a surprisingly strong second-place finish.

If Hammer doesn't run, I think that someone that has similar views to his on the Wray controversy will run for mayor. There seems to be some political discontent about the city manager's actions regarding Wray, Willow Oaks and other incidents. Is the discontent broad enough and deep enough to place such a candidate in the mayor's seat? I don't know. But, I'll bet that there is someone out there willing to take that chance.

Hmmmmm. John Hammer does still have cash in his campaigh acount.

Hadn't you heard? I'm running for governor instead.
*Allen Johnson

Yes and you are running last, However help is on the way. Curtis is coming on as your personal bodyguard. Can you deal with that or do you want to reconsider your amazing race to the temple of doom? Frankly, I cannot understand why you would need a bodyguard in a girl scout race.

Well, even if I didn't win, I'd feel safe.

Mike Barber, by the way, dismissed rumors that he might run. Maybe "in a couple of years," he said Thursday.

While it's true that in 2003, Bob Skenes came within 8 votes of unseating Florence Gatten, when she ran at-large, two years later, Gatten had strong support in areas outside her home district. She was the top vote-getter in several of the largest District 3 precincts, she had strong support throughout the city and, despite conventional wisdom, did very well in some predominately African-American precincts, even getting more votes that Yvonne Johnson at NC&T.

If Gatten runs, it will be competitive.

True, Roch. But the political landscape was different then -- and so was Florence.
I'm not sure she'd do as well today, certainly not in black precincts.

I think that Allen is correct in his assessment. Regardless of what folks may think of Bellamy-Small's conduct regarding her office location or the traffic stop, I don't think that Gatten helped her political aspirations by making critical comments to the news media about her fellow council member.

On the other hand, I think that Johnson is viewed, for the most part, as a consensus candidate. She has served many years as an at-large member of the council and, during those years, she has performed her duties in a professional manner. She is polite and courteous.

I may not always agree with her on the issues. But, she is a nice, thoughtful person who avoids political posturing.

Wendell:
We certainly are agreeing a lot lately. Is that really you?

Allen:

Yes, it really is me. I know that, in the past, the only time that you heard from me was when I disagreed with your position on a particular issue. But, I do read your columns in the newspaper and you'd probably be surprised at the number of times that I agree with your assessments.

Now, that we have blogs, I guess that it's easier to communicate those expressions of agreement. And, as I've become older, I have come to realize that there is no great divide between people who have different political persuasions. It's all a matter of perception. Putting that aside, I have found that there are some common areas of agreement and I think that it's important to express those opinions when they exist.

Unfortunately, I've noticed that some bloggers have adopted a "me versus them" mentality and post comments that quickly escalate into personal attacks and finally degenerate into nothing more than a name-calling contest. I just think that there are too many folks out there who feel that they have to make their point with such scalding, hot rhetoric. I will not participate in such interchanges.

I know that we have political differences. And, I will state my disagreements with you when I feel compelled to do so. But, I will keep it civil. And, when I do agree with you, I'll jump down off my high horse and let you know.

Fair enough, Wendell. That sounds more than reasonable to me.
I may be pressing my luck, but would you reconsider your policy of not doing candidate interviews with the News & Record next time (if there is a next time) you decide to run?

Allen:

Yes, my boycott is over. However, the key phrase is "if there is a next time." I'm not sure that I have the time that it takes to run for public office.

In the last couple of elections when I was on the ballot, John Hammer needled me about not campaigning hard enough. I guess that he doesn't realize that there are some candidates who actually do have lives outside the political sphere.

I love politics but tending to my family and to my law practice take priority over my ventures for public office. That's why I probably shouldn't run for office again.

But, who knows, I may get that old feeling back when the filing period rolls around next year. To paraphrase Gen. Douglas MacArthur, "Old politicians never quit, they just fade away."