SUNDAY
HUNGRY VISITORS: Barbecue lures many to festival. 1B
October 24, 2010 127th year No. 297
TUNING UP: Local high school marching bands to perform. 1B
www.hpe.com High Point, N.C.
FANCY FOOTWORK: HPU soccer kicks it up a notch. 1D
50 Cents Daily $1.25 Sundays
NONPARTISAN?
WHO’S NEWS
–
Political parties still play roles in these elections
BY PAUL B. JOHNSON ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – In theory, the High Point municipal elections shouldn’t be swayed by the influence of the two major political parties because the contests are listed nonpartisan on the ballot. But in politics, what’s considered in theory doesn’t necessarily transThough the Nov. 2 High Point municipal elections late into what happens in reality. Though the races for mayor and are nonpartisan - meaning the party affiliation of eight City Council seats are nonparthe candidate doesn’t appear on the ballot - the tisan – meaning the party affiliation local Democratic and Republican parties do have of the candidates does not appear candidates their membership supports. Here’s the on the ballot – party allegiances and support could play a role in the outvoter registration status of the candidates running come on Nov. 2, political analysts for High Point mayor and City Council: say. “So many times, voters in general will base their attitudes off of the idea of a candidate being part of the same Becky Smothers, mayoral incumbent group that I usually associated myself Mary Lou Blakeney, incumbent at-large councilwoman with. Voters are looking for that connection where they can clearly say, Edward Squires, at-large council challenger ‘That person is part of my group,’” Jeffrey Golden, Ward 1 council challenger said Matthew DeSantis, professor of Bernita Sims, Ward 1 council incumbent political science at Guilford TechniFoster Douglas, Ward 2 council incumbent cal Community College. This year marks the second time that High Point will hold its municipal elections in even-numbered years. Until 2005, High Point held its Jay Wagner, mayoral challenger local elections with other municiLatimer Alexander, incumbent at-large councilman palities in odd-numbered years. The Will Armfield, at-large council challenger change was made through N.C. GenJill Harwood, Ward 2 council challenger eral Assembly legislation four years ago, inspired by some city leaders Mike Pugh, Ward 3 council incumbent who believed that the shift would Robert Fowler, Ward 4 council challenger increase voter turnout in city elecA. B. Henley, Ward 4 council challenger tions. Chris Whitley, Ward 5 council incumbent Two years ago, signs and literature for High Point municipal canJames Corey, Ward 6 council challenger didates were visible at campaign Jason Ewing, Ward 6 council challenger events of the local Democratic and Gerald Grubb, Ward 6 council challenger Republican parties. Candidates for High Point offices of both parties were active at political functions or in get-out-the-vote drives during the Dwayne Hemingway-El, mayoral challenger 2008 election season. Though the High Point city elecRegina Chahal, at-large council challenger tions are nonpartisan, none of the Britt Moore, at-large council challenger current councilmembers or the Christopher Williams, Ward 2 council challenger mayor is registered as an unafRodney Joslin, Ward 5 council challenger filiated voter, according to Guilford County Board of Elections records. Geoffrey Shull, Ward 5 council challenger The nine High Point municipal Source: Guilford County Board of Elections MARY LESLIE ENGLISH | HPE elected officials are either registered Democrats or Republicans, meaning the six candidates who are registered unaffili- Bill Bencini – will move onto new elected posts. ated and seeking municipal office this year are Faircloth is unopposed as the 61st State House all challengers. District Republican nominee, while Bencini is The current makeup of the mayor and eight unopposed in his bid for the District 2 seat on council members is five Republicans and four the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. Democrats. Two Republicans – At-large Councilman John Faircloth and Ward 4 Councilman pjohnson@hpe.com | 888-3528
Democratic
Republican
Unaffiliated
HIGH POINT – Votes by the mayor and City Council on city business don’t usually break down along party lines, and municipal elected officials from one party have crossed over to support a fellow candidate of another party. Still, political party involvement in nonpartisan elections can make a critical difference, especially for voters who form their views of candidates based on party affiliation, said Matthew DeSantis, professor of political science at Guilford Technical Community College. “It allows for there to be more structured mobilization of voters and structured outreach to the community,” DeSantis said. Nonpartisan candidates who associate their name with one of the two major parties can give themselves greater name recognition, though there’s also a potential downside if that party doesn’t do as well in a general election, he said. One key role that the two major parties can play in a nonpartisan election is providing resources to local candidates, such as helping with fundraising or get-outthe-vote efforts, said Martin Kifer, director of the High Point University Survey Research Center. “Parties serve as a cue to voters about how they might vote. In nonpartisan elections, parties can still make endorsements. Parties can help promote name identification through spending,” said Kifer, who’s also a political science department faculty member. A leader of the Guilford County Democratic Party said he can envision party involvement in this fall’s municipal election. If High Point municipal candidates want to leave literature or signs at the High Point Democratic campaign headquarters, the party would welcome it, said Chairman Tom Coley. The Guilford County Democratic Party wants to let its supporters know who are the “active Democrats” seeking High Point municipal office, Coley said. He said he can envision a Democratic sample ballot handed out at the polls that would include endorsements in High Point municipal races. Political parties can serve an informational role during municipal elections, such as the debates that the High Point Republican Party organized this fall for the mayoral and City Council races, said city Republican Chairman Don Webb. Republican Party leaders and members are free to support candidates in the High Point municipal races, Webb said. pjohnson@hpe.com | 888-3528
City continues mold cleanup at fire stations BY PAT KIMBROUGH ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – The city has so far spent about $40,000 in the ongoing mold inspection and cleanup work at High Point fire stations. Fire Chief David Taylor said on Friday that crews have finished fixing problems at the two stations that were confirmed to have mold in August. They have not finished inspections at the other stations. The bill for mold remediation at Station 12 came to $29,000, and the city has so far spent about $11,000 on Station 13, although part of the work there has involved fixing a plumbing problem that was unrelated to the mold issue. The money is coming out of the fire department’s budget. Taylor said it was not yet clear how the unforeseen ex-
Chuck Smith, former Jamestown assistant town manager, recently was named town manager to succeed retiring Kathryn “Cookie” Billings. The Town Council recently selected Smith, who has 17 years experience, on a unanimous vote.
BY PAUL B. JOHNSON ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
penditures would impact the department’s $17.8 million budget. “We don’t know yet. Certainly, it will have an impact. We’re sure Taylor it will not have an impact on service delivery. We will probably have to defer some (expenditures),” said Taylor, adding that he did not yet know what those items would be. Two forms of mold were found on the dormitory side of Station 12 on Barrow Road after condensation formed in the building due to a low thermostat setting. Traces of airborne toxic mold were discovered, and the station’s firefighters were temporarily relocated during cleanup work. Crews replaced ceiling tiles and flexible duct work in
the building, and firefighters’ mattresses and pillows also were replaced. Workers cleaned the walls and treated the air to
Fire Chief David Taylor said it was not yet clear how the unforeseen expenditures would impact the department’s $17.8 million budget. make sure any traces of mold were gone. Firefighters have since moved back into the station, as well as Station 13, where surface mold
YOUR COMMUNITY. YOUR NEWSPAPER.
that was not airborne was found in an attic space. The source of the problem there was an exhaust fan, and the facility underwent a similar remediation process. As of Friday, the department had an outstanding invoice for the work at Station 13, which includes the plumbing issue, and officials therefore did not know the final tally for that phase of the work. The mold remediation process has required the services of multiple firms, including an environmental services company and a building contractor. “We’ve repaired or fixed everything we knew was a problem,” Taylor said. There have been no reported problems at other stations. Crews will check the headquarters station next week and then move on to other facilities. pkimbrough@hpe.com | 888-3531
INSIDE
–
RELAPSE: Teen upbeat despite return of cancer. 1E OBITUARIES
–
Jane Andrews, 68 Marion Bean, 69 Mary Dixon, 61 Sara Embler, 89 Dorothy Forward, 96 Janice Hunter, 65 Linwood Ivery Ron Linville, 63 Carl Manning, 52 Marion Robertson, 83 Dallas Townsend, 62 Katherine Worrell, 82 Zack Zachary, 85 Obituaries, 2A, 2-3B
WEATHER
–
Mostly sunny High 78, Low 57 8D
INDEX ADVICE 2-4E ARTS | ETC. 3-4F BUSINESS 1-2C CLASSIFIED 3-8C CROSSWORD 2F FOCUS 1-2F HOROSCOPE 2E LIFE&STYLE 1-6E LOCAL 1B LOTTERY 2A MILESTONES 5E MOVIES 4F NATION 7-8A, 8B NOTABLES 8B OBITUARIES 2A, 2-3B OPINION 6-7B RELIGION 5B SPORTS 1-7D STATE 2A, 4B TV 5F TRAVEL 4E WEATHER 8D WORLD 4A, 6A
INFO Circulation Classified Newsroom Newsroom fax
888-3511 888-3555 888-3527 888-3644