Got my picture taken this morning by Bert VanderVeen!  I had no idea I was soooo photogenic (Photoshop is my friend!)

I am posting the two shots that Jinni (my lovely and talented wife) and Becky (Bert's much better half) chose for the world to see from the 60 or so images taken.

I chose the casual shot, because that is what I am, most everyone else chose the suit and tie. 

Great experience Bert and thanks for the "in-kind" contribution to Hoggard4Council.

If anyone needs great photographry, the VanderVeens are it!

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What a night!

Jinni and I invited over some confidants tonight to get some organizational things done for the campaign.  My kitchen table has never been so overflowing with pure talent, insight and committment - and believe me, it has seen many many such brainstorming sessions over the years through various and sundry causes that have cropped up and needed attention.

Thanks to TK, Annie, Roch, Wayne, the Other David, (Laura and Mindy in spirit), Heather, Mebane and my lovely and talented Jinni for a wonderful skull session!  With all of that talent we could have laid out a plan for conquering the world, but all we focused on was getting me elected to City Council.

We outlined and solidified how I will present my positions on several issues pertinant to the upcoming election.  Annie has not sent the notes yet, but this is how I remember them (no particular order and cryptic on purpose):

• Fed Ex - ("It's better than nothing isn't it? - Anonymous)  This issue is nowhere near as cut and dried as it might seem on the surface.
• Baseball
• Neighborhoods (very important, lots to talk about here)
• Greensboro's Comprehensive Plan - a dust magnet or our salvation?
• Preservation and promotion of our heritage in all of it's forms. Unanimous!
• THE PROCESS IS FLAWED (is "ready, fire, AIM" the right way to do things?)
• Who's really in charge here?  Our non-elected government was discussed at great length.
• The McKinsey Report (a must read for the future of Greensboro)
• Why can't Greensboro just become a better Greensboro, is Charlotte really all that?
• Environmental Problems (we would all be more concerned about this if we could breathe properly... the lack of oxygen is may be effecting our decisions)
• Who does Greensboro EXCLUDE as equals?  For the shocking answer... stay tuned.
• Grassroots campaigns qre good, Populists campaigns are bad - even though they are the same thing.
• How can ANYONE afford to serve on City Council since it pays only $9,000 per year?
• Full time mayor?

Details and position papers to follow.  I envision having a link to each issue with in depth rationale for my position backed up by appropriate linked citations.  

Thanks to everyone again - you are the GREATEST!

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I just got an email from former Greensboro mayorial candidate Roch Smith, a guy that I admire and trust.  I had sent him an advance notice of my filing for office last week and in it I related that I am "for the Fed Ex hub" coming to Greensboro if the water quality permit is upheld on appeal.

When he didn't respond right away I sent a "feeler" email this morning asking if I had angered him for stating my qualified position.  Roch replied that, no, he wasn't angry, just dissappointed.  Being as verbose as I, he went on to lay out why he is dissapponted in me with some amazing statistics and facts surrounding the project.  I will share the email in its entirity if he gives permission.  But suffice it to say for now that his arguments are powerful!  One of which is:

"Unfortunately, the environmental permits are granted with essentially the same argument over and over again: "Yes, air pollution will get worse with the hub, and yes, water pollution will get worse with the hub, but they are going to get worse anyway, so why not?" (One reason not to, is that if we don't clean up our air, the Feds will cut highway funding to the area.)

I wrote back with this question, " Is there a way to bring in Fed Ex AND mitigate the environmental impact? Or is it one or the other?"  I'm looking forward to his considered reply.

In my mind, FedEx is a double edged sword.  Good for our economy, bad for our environment.  It boils down to this: If we don't have jobs, no one will want to live here.  If we don't have good air to breathe and clean water to drink, no one will be able to live here. 

This is going to take some more thought and study.

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