Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan, who was first elected to that job in 2013, announced at the very end of the Greensboro City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 7, that she would not be seeking another term as mayor next year.
Vaughan prefaced her announcement by speaking passionately about the accomplishments the city has made over the past decade, and she said she was immensely proud of the work done by city leaders and the community to make those advancements happen.
“It has taken hard work trust and dedication,” she said of the transformation of Greensboro and Guilford County which is now clearly a powerful magnet for new businesses looking for a home.
Vaughan quoted NC Governor Roy Cooper who stated recently that no region in the state had made more progress than the Piedmont Triad.
“That did not happen by accident, and our role in the business renaissance was pivotal,“ she told her fellow councilmembers and those watching in the meeting room and on the livestream Tuesday night.
Vaughan noted that the city took a controversial “leap of faith” when it backed the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite that will now be the Toyota battery facility and did the same by supporting the megasite at Piedmont Triad International Airport, which is already reaping terrific economic benefits.
“They were difficult and controversial decisions, but they will positively impact our regions for generations to come,” she said.
She also said that, as a result of the community’s efforts, $13 billion dollars in economic announcements had been made.
“We used to be talking about millions, now we are talking about billions,” the mayor said.
She joined the City Council in 2009 and one of the first votes she took, she said, helped to establish the state-of-the-art Greensboro Aquatic Center Vaughan also talked about the large number of children who had learned to swim there and called it the best aquatic facility in the country.
“It’s saving lives we don’t even know,” she said.
The mayor added that the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts has “outperformed all projections.”
She added that she has cherished her time as mayor and will stay focused in the time she has left.
“I enjoy being mayor, “ she said. “I always say this is the best job in the city of Greensboro.”
Vaughan said she considered calling a press conference or sending out a press release regarding her decision, but she noted that she wanted to make the announcement right there in the City Council’s meeting room, “where the work’s been done, the sausage has been made, and the work has happened.”
She announced this before but changed her mind. Her big accomplishment as Mayor is a maga site(not in our city or county) and airport expansions(also not in the city)?
How about the large number of police vacancies, the increasing homeless issues, the large debt hanging over the Performance Arts Palace, her repeated crackdowns on freedoms including speech at council meetings and her failed attempts at panhandling licences and banning rooftop tents and overly onerous sound ordinances.
An embarrassing career filled with questionable decisions like trying to ban gun shows(illegally) and suppressing bodycam footage repeatedly and don’t forget her pandemic orders closing churches but not liquor stores before the state overruled her unilateral orders. Mandate Mayor will only be missed by her cronies that profit from handouts.
Amen, brother !
I think she saw the writing on the wall from her last election, which she one only because there was a 3rd candidate.
Now is a good time for Greensboro citizens to wake up and elect a mayor who is committed to reducing crime, repairing the streets, and getting more business. . . not handing out money to the so-called non-profits whose accomplishments are so few they can’t be measured except for the money that went into the pockets of elected officials. . . aka One Step Further, etc. And please. . . . .no more spending on sidewalks to nowhere!!!!
We just landed two multi-million dollar firms in one day you either can’t read or don’t read either way you are not being honest and would like to just stick your head in the sand
So. . . you think the city was responsible for that? Or was it a combination of interests including the county and state. . . .”either way you are not being honest and would like to just stick your head in the sand”
I guess your last reply was recommended by the book “How to win friends and influence people”
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And I bet Yvonne Johnson will also announce that she will not run for re-election.
So that will be at least two open seats on the council.
Johnson will announce not running for re-election only to be able to announce her run for Prime Min….I mean Mayor.
Think so? I am more inclined to think Yvonne will attempt to win the seat back. We’ll see. If she does she will win hands down.
Time will tell.
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Yvonne Johnson will finish out her term and call it a day.
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I will be talking to a couple of the Frye sisters to see if this is something they would like to consider. Will also be prodding local activist to see if they want to their policies to be put into action, but believe they will it be from the old guard but some new blood who can bring innovation and continue the robust job growth that started under this administration. Center our diverse community and take the handcuffs off allowing us to push the city limits into the county in order to develop and expand our tax base and housing.
Big City I agree with you we need some new, younger blood. Be assured the power brokers in Greensboro have chosen her replacement. I also agree with going into the county. We need to develop neighborhoods with smaller houses, like the traditional ranch house, that normal people can afford.
Definitely! tiny home communities and, and affordable houses would do a lot to bring people to the area
Definitely! tiny home communities and, and affordable houses would do a lot to bring people to the area.
You’re right Comrade! These money grabbing selfish capitalists who work hard and want something like a one acre lot all to themselves to build the house they want are SO counterproductive to the People’s Collective. Long Live the People’s Revolution! Down with Capitalism!
Lack of leadership, personified.
$100 million budget increase in two years under the previous city manager. Possibility of Trump winning and our downtown being destroyed again. Seems a good time to jump ship. Make sure you vote another tax increase on the way out for your last budget.
Help Wanted – Great opportunity for Non – Aggrieved persons to run for Mayor or Council. Opportunity for growth.
With a record accomplishment of 74 murders under her watch I guess she wants to leave on a high note. Put a wig on a head of cabbage and you’ll have a better replacement.
She went far in her political life. Now she has arrived at her destination – prayerfully she will remain there to become but a dusty footnote fading into eternity.
buh, bye
So I (and I’m sure many others) will be robbed of the satisfaction of voting her out. What a disappointment.
She would have lost the last time had it not been for a 3rd party diluting the votes. Wonder if Justin Outling is still interested in the role?
No loss unless you are one to lose your payoffs for council member pet projects. I hope it is true, but this is Greensboro and we know how that works.
Good, weak, soft on crime
You know Nancy you cannot run from the threat of the looming lawsuits being brought by current and previous members of the police department for the sexual harrassment and assault you chose to ignore for years. not being mayor will not shield you
Do tell.
And the crowd goes wild.
INCREASE OF HOMELESS VISIBILITY AND COMMUNITY DESTRUCTION AND FAILURE TO ADDRESS
LOSS OF TRAFFIC CONTROL AND FAILURE TO ADDRESS/FLASHING SIGNS WILL NOT REPLACE LAW ENFORCEMENT
SLOW TO BEEF UP POLICE DEPARTMENT/FINALLY ADDRESSED PAY PROBLEM AFTER LOSS OF POLICEMEN
LOSS OF MAJOR CORPORATIONS
REMOVAL OF TAXPAYER SERVICES WITHOUT DUE PROCESS
GSO BADLY NEEDS STRONG LEADERSHIP
“We used to be talking about millions, now we are talking about billions,” the mayor said.
Yup! Billions in debt with no concise plan to spend it, failing schools with no accountability, funds and programs for the homeless with an increase in their numbers, not a decrease, , 30% tax increases, County growth, not City, and the lining of the pockets of fellow Council Representatives. What a Legacy.
Reminded me of the song, “Thank God and Greyhound she’s gone….”
“Terrific economic benefits “ does that mean skippy will lower property taxes? Can’t wait to see what the next mayor has in mind.
Readers appear to be socialists democrats who cry and whine about everything and rain on anyone’s celebration. I was born and raised in Greensboro and in my humble but accurate opinion, she has done more and stood taller than any other mayor.
No leader is perfect as your readers will not let anyone forget but the city has had a stunning turnaround under her leadership. Well done Mayor Vaughn!
The only way she has stood taller is to be on a ladder. High taxes, high crime, poor planning, poor hiring decisions, etc. At least she will not continue being mayor in GSO.
You are entitled to your opinion, but it’s certainty not accurate. Vaughn has been on a power trip since she won a council seat twenty-some years ago. I thought she would be an improvement over Perkins, but I misjudged badly. She has been terrible for Greensboro!
Finally.
We can get this avatar out of the way and get the real face of the city in view, the alton mafia.
First comment after reading this column for years
Thank God!
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By the way, if anyone’s interested :
Vaughan means the same thing as Klein/Kline and Petty (petit).
Vaughan is Welsh for little or small. Klein and Petty (a mutation of petit) are German and French for small.
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Enjoy reading all this stuff. I have nothing to do this time of day. But. Not many people read this forum.
The voters are uninformed, misinformed, and apathetic.
And there goes our Republic. I am happy to have grown up in the 40s & 50s; and was around when most everyone loved their country. Every day of my grade schooling, we recited the Pledge of Allegience every morning, with left hand over heart. I like Ike. Harry was the best.
LBJ and Vietnam were the beginning of our troubles.
Perscuse me. It’s Rt hand over heart. When I can figure out which hand is which.
Yvonne is Jonesing for that office as a way to expand her grift. Nancy won’t really be missed.