ELECT
RICK WALLACE
Guilford County Commissioner
District 5
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ELECT Guilford County Commissioner District 5 |
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Home • Contribute • Contact • Positions • Bio • Photos • Voter Info • Endorsements • |
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The News and Record says “…Wallace is the better choice in District 5”
Click HERE for full article
An open letter from Jerry Stafford Dear Fellow Southeast Greensboro Residents, My name is Jerry Stafford. Lori, my wife, and I have lived in Forest Oaks for nearly 20 years. We have enjoyed getting to know many residents of not just Forest Oaks, also Pleasant Garden and the surrounding Southeast Guilford County area. While the people are wonderful I believe that our infrastructure and services have been largely ignored by our county leadership. I believe the only way we can get our leaders’ attention is to demand a change. To do that, we need to be sure that Rick Wallace wins the May 6 primary. Rick is an active, energetic supporter of our community. Having three children a primary concern of mine is schools. The teachers we have here are outstanding. I cannot say enough about the wonderful job they have done with my children in overcrowded, substandard conditions. However, our schools are crumbling faster than the asphalt in the Winn-Dixie parking lot. Area schools are overflowing with trailers as they become more and more overcrowded each year. The neglect of the infrastructure of the Southeast area has become not only an embarrassment, but a real quality of life issue. Many County Commissioners have tried to weaken the school bond proposition. Rick has taken a public stance in support of the school bonds. Our jobs and our children’s education are at stake and we need a serious leader to tackle these issues. Rick has already shown he has what it takes to lead boldly. I am as guilty as anyone of not taking the time to get involved. But, my attitude is changing. I’m seeing that community involvement is the key to the cure. My first step to support my community was a trip to the old courthouse on February 13th. That was the night that the planning board agreed to allow the area for Food Lion to be rezoned. I saw many folks that I know and respect standing up for Southeast Guilford. The Southeast Guilford Community Association (http://www.southeastguilford.org) is largely responsible for the great turnout at that hearing and should be commended for the excellent work they are doing to improve our area. Rick Wallace was also at that hearing and spoke in favor of the re-zoning. Rick has been a leader as long as I have known him. I have observed him as baseball coach, Pleasant Garden Community Center Director, member of Pleasant Garden Baptist Church, and as mayor of Pleasant Garden. He knows how to motivate and simply will not give up once he sets his mind to something. His arguments were well delivered and well received by both the planning board and the community members present at the meeting. On the other hand, what support are we receiving from our elected officials? Is it not also their responsibility to promote improvements in our area? In conclusion, I encourage each of you to get involved in any way you can. Let’s get the vote out for the school bonds and vote in such a way as to encourage the positive change that is happening in Southeast Guilford County. And, please vote for Rick Wallace on May 6th. Jerry Stafford Why I cannot support Billy Yow by Rene Staley First I want to remind you to vote in the Primary on May 6th. Not only are there a number of important bond issues on the ballot, this primary will decide who will represent us in District 5. There is no Democratic candidate, so the winner on May 6th will run unopposed in the general election. To be honest with you, I've never had a great deal of involvement in politics or county government, other than voting. All that changed with the asphalt plant issue. I got a quick education in how things work and an up-close experience with our County Commissioners which changed my perception on a lot of things. Since then I've talked with many of you who told me you've supported Billy Yow for a number of reasons: he's outspoken and isn't afraid to express his opinions, he's colorful, entertaining, and keeps the other commissioners on their toes (to repeat a few of the comments I've heard). In the past I agreed with some of those comments, but not now. The Billy Yow we thought we knew was the one we saw in quick clips on the news and an occasional snappy quote in the newspaper. The Billy Yow our group encountered on August 23rd was neither colorful nor entertaining, but instead scornful and disrespectful towards the very constituents that voted him into office. I was shocked. I knew he had a reputation for being confrontational with the other commissioners. I had no idea he held such contempt for the people he represents. He openly ridiculed our presentation. He belittled one of our experts, essentially telling her that she was not credible, and dismissing the facts she brought before the commissioners. In my opinion, he had already made his decision long before we ever arrived, and was simply annoyed that we were there taking up his time. I've heard from other communities since then that they too, have received similar treatment from Mr. Yow. I believe we deserve better representation. We deserve someone that will listen to our concerns and address those concerns in a dignified and respectful manner. We deserve a representative that will take a stand without degrading and alienating others in the process. We deserve a representative that will work on behalf of Southeast Guilford County to improve our schools and bring the kind of positive growth and development we desire. That candidate is Rick Wallace. Thanks so much for your time, and again, I am forever grateful to all of you for the hard work you put forth against the asphalt plant. Rene Staley
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