News-Record.com

While there was hardly a mandate to "throw the bums out," as some had predicted, the new Greensboro City Council will be truly new, with the first new mayor since 1999, and four new council members.

Only one incumbent (Sandy Carmany) actually lost in District 5. That leaves a healthy mix of experience and fresh voices.

Change and stability.

Thirty-four-year-old Zack Matheny adds a youthful perspective. (By council standards, he is a baby.)

Former county commissioners Mary Rakestraw and Trudy Wade bring previous elective experience and the promise of tougher questions for city staff (which should be a good thing)

Robbie Perkins briings a familiar new face, since he has served previous terms on the council as District 3 representative.

Always a strong advocate for northeast Greensboro, Goldie Wells has a rookie term under her belt and a firmer handle on the workings of the council and city goverment.

Mike Barber will keep asking why not? (Good for him.)

Sandra Anderson Groat, who surged to mayor pro tem, again, will keep working hard and be (we hope) a little bit more self-assured.

And maybe under the new regime, T. Dianne Bellamy-Small will shed the emotional baggage of the old council and build more positive relationships on the new one.

Mayor-elect Yvonne Johnson has the mother wit, the charisma and the experience to help bring together the parts as a coherent whole, that doesn't always agree, but we hope, will work toward a common vision. She is the first African American mayor in a Triad city and she attracted votes from throughout the city to accomplish it. That speaks well of Greensboro.

Greensboro needs that now, more than ever.

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