UNCG Professor: Proposed Law Changing Greensboro Council Raises Questions

A UNCG political science professor is concerned about a proposed bill that would restructure Greensboro's City Council.

State Sen. Trudy Wade of Greensboro filed legislation last week to reduce the City Council to seven members. The mayor's role and power would also change.

Dr. Ruth DeHoog, a political science professor at UNCG, says the bill is an effort to change district lines and potentially change who gets elected from where.

“I'm a little concerned about the role of the state government imposing change like this without voter input and that is an issue that should be raised because this is a substantial change” says DeHoog. “As the city attorney has suggested, there may even be some constitutional issues that are up for play that need to be resolved.”

Sen. Wade, a Republican who formerly served on the Greensboro City Council as well as the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, was approached by local business owners to make the changes. She says she received complaints that the size of council makes it hard for businesses in their work.

DeHoog says this isn't the first time state lawmakers have gotten involved in how Greensboro's government operates.

“There was a change to the local school board to make it a partisan elected body, and there have been efforts recently by the Guilford County Board of Commissioners,” says DeHoog. “I think the role of the General Assembly and state government in local affairs may be up for grabs today more than it had been for many, many decades.”

But DeHoog says there are some positives in the legislation. It would extend City Council seat terms to four years from two. City officials say if the bill passes, they plan to legally challenge the legislation.

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