Endorsement: Matheny gets the nod in competitive District 3

Friday, Sep. 28, 2007 3:00 am

A News & Record editorial

Re-election to his seat in District 3 on the Greensboro City Council was probably Tom Phillips' for the asking.

Only, he isn't asking.

The straight-shootin', sharp-tongued veteran incumbent who has served one term in District 3 after three at-large terms on the council (1999-2005), two previous terms in District 3 (1989-1993), plus an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 1995, has chosen not to run again. "There are not enough hours in the day," he said.

That paves a wide-open path for a solid field of would-be successors, five in all, to serve a district that covers much of northwest Greensboro.

Among them, an energetic up-and-comer, Zack Matheny, 34, appears best-prepared to succeed Phillips.

A delicate balance

One of District 3's biggest challenges is its prosperity. People like living there. Builders like building there. It's a relatively affluent, high-growth area that constantly struggles to tame its fast-paced development.

Quality-of-life and environmental concerns inevitably clash with business interests. It's a delicate balance that requires equal parts vision and courage in its council representative.

In anticipation of that challenge, Matheny, a financial consultant, certainly has done his homework. After reading in a 2003 article in the paper that the average age of the members of the four major elected boards in Guilford County was 55, he decided to address that situation personally.

He said he would gain the requisite knowledge and experience through his participation on a city board.

He said he would become involved in other community activities.

And he said he would make contacts and build a network.

He has done all three.

He currently serves on the Greensboro Zoning Commission. He is a member of the Greensboro Sports Council and SynerG, the young professionals group spun off by Action Greensboro. He is chairman of fundraising for the Greensboro Bicentennial. And he founded a series of dinner conversations between notable citizens and young professionals called "Making Connections Around the Table."

He stresses the need to open stronger lines of communication between the various constituencies of city government. And he cites his experience with finances as a valuable asset for a council member.

The case for Hayworth

Another strong candidate in District 3, Cyndy Hayworth, 57, also serves on the Zoning Commission.

Hayworth, the president of Junior Achievement in Greensboro, received national recognition for saving that program from closing its doors and restoring its financial stability. She also may be the first former competitive weightlifter to run for City Council, having won a bronze medal in the 1992 World Powerlifting Championships.

Hayworth favors a two-term limit for council members and touts her ties to the community but not to special-interest groups. And she has not been afraid to be honest about what she knows and does not know, a scarce trait among candidates.

Overly cautious?

Both Hayworth and Matheny offer solid choices for voters, though each also seems overly guarded at times in addressing the issues. While prudence makes some sense, especially among newcomers, both should loosen up a little.

And each could borrow a page from another candidate in this field worth mentioning, Joe Wilson, 45. A developer and real-estate broker by trade, Wilson still vigorously opposes poor planning and urban sprawl. And he does not mince his words.

Like Hayworth and Matheny, Wilson lists public safety and gang violence as major concerns.

All three are, in fact, viable choices. But Matheny is the better fit on a council that skews toward middle age -- and beyond -- and could benefit from more diverse perspectives.

He has worked hard. He has backed ambition with preparation. And he offers a rare younger voice in a city that is concerned about attracting and keeping people like him here.