Council Kingmakers

10:30p Update: The Great Divide

I was standing next to Bill Burckley at the Old Guilford Courthouse tonight as the precinct results were coming in. As we were speaking, the numbers for Greensboro’s mayor came around and showed Yvonne Johnson leading Burkley’s charge, challenger Bill Knight, by a little over 350 votes with only six precincts left to count.

“Looks like we’re going to have a new mayor”, said Burckley.  “How’s that?”, I asked, thinking it was all but over with only around 17% of eligible voter caring to come out today.  “Bluford’s not counted.”, he replied, speaking about the polling place at Bluford Elementary School on Tuscaloosa Street . (Update: Yes! Weekly explains Bluford and Burckley)

Sure enough, when the numbers cycled back through, Bill Knight pulled ahead and a roar went up in the courtroom.  Knight won his first ever election by 964 votes city-wide.

After this stunning win by an almost unknown mayoral candidate, preceded by Trudy Wade’s defeat of Sandy Carmany two years ago,  local political consultant Bill Burckley’s retainer must be paid by any Greensboro hopeful who is serious about gaining a spot on our City Council.

Second in the king-maker role this time around is undeniably the Hammer Brothers of Rhino fame.  Eight of their nine picks ended up a winner this term suggesting that their pulse-feeling fingers are more sensitive to the mood of the local electorate than that of the N&R’s who endorsed six of nine.