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Absolutely, this is an especially brilliant idea; rather than reducing local taxes or spending money which otherwise might go to public safety or our local public schools some goodly portion of tax revenues should go to local politicians so that they can purchase local TV time and/or place ads in the N&R and the Rhino Times. I would hope that the bulk of this money would go to yard signs; we can never have too may political yard signs. This giving of local tax dollars should also go to politicians other than just GSO city council candidates; let us not exclude those humble folks running for the school board or the office of county commissioner.

No.

If Greensboro City council member Zack "I should have recused myself" Matheny's 2007 campaign contributions are any indication of where the process is heading than no one has a fighting chance against the TREBIC CARTEL. Below is a partial listing of Zacks campaign contributions with a few saying they are self employed but actually are developers, and commercial real estate:

Contributions range from $50-$500, most in the $250-500 range.

Spence Broadhurst-Banker
Stephen Klee- Attorney
Bejamin Sydnor- Financial Planner
Ricky Hopkins-Property Management
Robert Mcintosh-Lumber Importer
Preston Young- Attorney
Craig Ragsdale-Banker
Thomas White-Property Management
Thomas White Jr.- Prop.Management
Harold KernIII-Real Estate Broker
Kurt Kronfeld- Senn Dunn Insurors
Wiliam B Hayes-CF0, Lab Corp.
Charles Melvin- Jr, Attorney
Alexander Audilet- Attorney
Gregory Holland- Attorney
Dennis Quaintance- Hotel Magnate
Dwight Stone- Builder
Richard Montana,RealEstate Broker
Charles K. Blackmon- Attorney
Derek Allen - Attorney
Scott Bayer - He's a Developer
Rani Hussami - He's a Developer
James Melvin - Construction
Chester Brown III- Brown Investment Properties
Ralph Jones III - Broker
Allen Sharpe - Real Estate/Develpment
Evan Bell- Property Management
Justin Conrad, Pres. Libby Hill
Ronald Nelson- Prop. Management
James Black- Commercial Property
Bradley Field- Timber Broker
James Lomax- Construction
Johnathan Bell- Prop. Management
Robin Tyler- Prop. Management
William Black,Jr. Mortgage Broker
Michael Winstead- Mega Builders $1,000
Steven D. Bell- Prop. Management
Scott Wyatt- Attorney
Jeffery Oleynick- Attorney
James Phillips- Attorney
Michael Shannon- Attorney
Joseph McKinney- Mega Builders $1,000
Frank Auman- "Self Employed" Ha!
Hardin Blackwell - Terminex
Carole Bruce- Attorney
Charles Hagan III - Attorney
Cooper Brantly Jr. - Real Estate
Bradford Deaton- Prop.Development
Three Lorillard Attorneys
George Aycock- Attorney
E.S. Melvin, Pres. Bryan Foundation
Derek Albright - Attorney

You can also add a Political Action Committee to the mix with one being North Carolinians for Leadership in Government which gave $1,000 to Zack and many other Greensboro City Council members. This PAC is a front for developer Roy Carroll of Old South Home Company and his wife.

The influence of the TREBIC CARTEL into every policy, board or commission is getting out of hand in Guilford County especially Greensboro.Things need to change.

I think that there should be a look into the process of having public financing involved at the local level. It might be a good thing for Greensboro, it could maybe give a person who has the drive , ambition, and ethics to be a part of a city council but not the big pockets to get his name out there.

Keith Brown makes many valid points. I withdraw my "no" and agree that the matter deserves attention. A new City Council candidate with differing ideas about how Greensboro should be run will definitely be up against the alliance centered around the Melvin group and the powerful Simkins PAC. Together these groups rule the roost and call the shots. The current City Council voting majority and city manager is testament to their influence.