High Point Primary Endorsements

Before I get into the endorsements, some major changes need to be highlighted:

First, this is the first full election cycle in which my endorsements will be based on personal beliefs rather than who's best for the creative community because while Greensboro's is compromised, High Point's is too transient to be a reliable force.

Second, the fact that Jay Wagner is stepping down as mayor after only two terms (while his predecessor only served one term) shows that the politicos here are way more disciplined than the career climbers in Greensboro.

Third, while the races are officially nonpartisan, the drastic rightward shift of the Republican Party in Raleigh (as well as nationwide) has led me to automatically disqualify anyone running locally if they identify with that party.

Mayor

Candidates: Cyril Jefferson, Victor Jones, Gene Kininmonth, Richard Siddiqui

Based on what I said above, both Ward 5 representative Jones and Siddiqui already fail the test. Kininimonth's positions were once suitable when I used to think that centrism was the way to go, but Ward 1's Jefferson has the better plan.

At-Large

Incumbent: Britt Moore

Challengers: Sam Carr, Amanda Cook, Willie H. Davis, Kenneth Harper, Orel Henry, Shazia Iqbal

The second seat holder (Tyrone Johnson) is running for the vacant Ward 2 seat. The top vote-getter, Moore, has ditched his political independence for the GOP, which tells me that he may have higher political ambitions like a county or state seat next year or 2026.

Harper was going to run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Richard Burr on the Constitution Party ticket until that party fell short of enough signatures to get back on the 2022 ballot. As a result, Harper was forced to switch to the crowded GOP field where he languished. If running as a Republican is a nonstarter for me, then being a part of the CPNC, which is even further to the right, is an even worse look in my eyes.

Iqbal not only failed the party affiliation test, but she didn't respond to Triad City Beat's questionnaire. 

The same thing about Iqbal also applies to Carr but with more reasons. Carr is HPU's candidate the same way Don Scarborough was six years ago with one major difference: the former is a Millennial/Gen Z cusper who will use City Council as a steppingstone whereas the latter (and Baby Boomer) used it as a capstone. In other words, Nido Qubein will have a puppet in City Hall for more than one term.

Davis has the backing of the Guilford County Democratic Party, but he has gone 0-for-4 running in Ward 1. While there's a 50/50 chance of him advancing, he's more likely to be 0-5 after either next Tuesday or next month as he's a perennial candidate at this point.

Cook gets my first vote because she is all in with the One High Point Commission on reparations. The unaffiliated Henry gets my second vote by default.

Ward 1

Candidates: Glenn Chavis, Henry Harris, Vickie McKiver

Either Chavis or McKiver would be a fine choice.