The following is from a May 27, YES! Weekly article,
“A retirement announcement by Goldie Wells, a reliable liberal vote on council, has prompted the emergence of a host of declared and potential candidates ranging from center to left. After considering an at-large run, Ryan Shell announced he would seek the District 2 seat. A registered Republican, Shell nonetheless opposes reopening the White Street Landfill in northeast Greensboro to household waste, eschewing a fiscal conservative cause championed by outgoing Councilman Barber. Shell holds business, community and government bona fides as one of the Triad Business Journal’s “40 leaders under 40,” founder of Greensboro Community Watch and a member of the city’s board of adjustment.”
While this is a positive mention, this statement in an article about a nonpartisan race really made me do a double take, especially since I was the only candidate they specifically tied to a party,
“A registered Republican, Shell nonetheless opposes reopening the White Street Landfill in northeast Greensboro to household waste, eschewing a fiscal conservative cause championed by outgoing Councilman Barber.”
Was there a need to add “Republican” to that sentence? If you think my political affiliation will determine my decisions I urge you to think again. As a society, and a city, we have to move beyond labels – besides, labels are better for things like soup, not people.
Had the word Democrat been associated with my name I would be writing this same blog post. Maybe this bothers me because I’m of a generation that knows people as people, and pays less attention to things like party affiliation, race, and so on.
Greensboro constantly holds itself back and I hope to be the person that can help us move past that. I also hope to be the person that can bridge gaps, unite neighborhoods and bring new levels of collaboration to the table. No matter your party affiliation, race, age, gender, shoe size or any other category you fit – I welcome you to join my campaign and help me make a difference. I don’t fit the Greensboro political mold – I can assure you of that.
To my friends at YES!, and any other media outlet, you play a part in allowing Greensboro to grow… I hope you let that happen by critiquing (all) candidates by their actions and beliefs.
{ 11 comments }
submit a letter to the editor to rebut that statement. You can also add that Jordan states Ray Trapp was for the reinstatement of protest petitions but as you were at the meeting in january Ray Trapp was sitting right next to trebic cartel president Marlene Sanford who was opposing protest petitions, would love an explanation on that one.
Yes! would be a better paper if they didn’t impose a partisan slant on things unnecessarily. They tried to shoehorn the White Street issue into a partisan paradigm that doesn’t apply. Instead of helping their readers better understand the issue, they pooped a piece of reporting worthy of the Smith High School Eagle Eye.
What is the reason for comment moderation on this blog?
Thanks for both of your comments. Rock, in regards to moderation, it’s how I’ve always setup my sites and what I’ve become comfortable with. I’ve only not allowed one comment (on greensboropolitics.com) and that was because it was very disrespectful to someone and did not add to the conversation.
Ryan
it was probably me talking about mini melvin
Ryan why are you a republican? This is a matter that will undoubtingly come up during the campaign and folks will want to know your answer. Do you think there’s a problem being a registered republican running in an overwhelmingly democrat district? I know, I know, city council is nonpartisan, but everyone up there is a registered dem or repub.
Please don’t tell me who is or who is not a repub, because I already know. The one you would think would be a repub is a dem and vice-versa sometimes up there. I just want to know why you have a problem with Yes Weekly citing your party considering you want to be transparent.
I noticed the commenters on your blog tend to swing more right than center or left. As a progressive (lefty), thank you for posting my comments and putting me in the mix.
Black Woman Voter,
I answered your previous questions in detail and will continue to answer questions relevant to this nonpartisan council race. I don’t think there is a “problem” being a guy that has a huge passion for helping District 2 thrive and doing anything I can to improve the lives of its citizens.
I think I clearly defined my issue with the Republican reference by writing the blog entry above. I will be as transparent as I can be when it comes to this campaign, but again, its a nonpartisan race.
Maybe this will help you get to know me. I’ve been working since I was 12 and learned to appreciate the value of a dollar at a very early age. Being a person that didn’t grow up with a silver spoon I’ve found that I tend to be frugal with my money, but do spend money on things that I’ve thought through and can see a value in. I also have a wide variety for friends and am compassionate for helping others. I’m not going to play the party game, but that should give you a small amount of insight.
By the way, real names always come across better. I’m putting my stuff out there for you, I hope you can do the same in return.
Ryan
Ryan,
Thanks for not answering ALL my questions, lol. As for as using a real name and it coming across better, I’m NOT running for office, you are. Since I’m a voter, you should be concern how you come across to me and not vice versa.
You seem to be a nice guy who is committed to winning in District 2. Some helpful advice, when someone comes on here with direct questions please answer them and not cherry pick which ones you are going to answer (republican question). When that happens, it gives the appearance of playing politics and you said you are a different kind of politician.
At the end of the day, its not my job to make you feel comfortable. But it is your job to make me comfortable in giving you my vote.
Black Woman Voter
Ryan,
The fact that you are a republican in a mostly democrat district can be construed as the VERY reason why you are the best candidate for this position. President Obama ran on “Change” and won the support of a vast majority on the concept of that one word. My question to people like “Black Woman Voter” is this: why can’t this apply here? District 2 is in shambles. Obviously what is and has been in place for the last 20 odd years is NOT working!
As with “Black Woman Voter”, I also am black. Furthermore, I very familiar with the city and district 2. Over the past 20 years of living here, have seen the it’s seemingly perpetual demise. So I find it interesting that people would rather apathetically sit around for the simple sake of the “doing what was always done because that is what we are used to” mindset. Therefore I agree, we need to step back, assess the situation and choose leaders and solutions that can best facilitate the CHANGE that we need; as you said regardless of “party affiliation, race, and so on” should be paramount.
Kyle…
Thanks Kyle.
So I guess District 2 needs a republican saviour to right all past wrongs. Very interesting and point taken.
I had read about Ryan running in District 2 and found this site to get a personal perspective on what he will do and why he is running.
Things I’ve read so far:
1. Eliminate vacate houses that can lead to crime.
2.Stating the need to be transparent.
3. Need for change.
4.Touchy about it being known that he is a republican.
I will take my apathetic you know what on my merry way. Once again thank you responding to my questions, eventhough they were not completely answered. It is what it is I guess.
BWV,
You seem to be missing my point entirely. I’m not touch about party affiliation, as that one item does not define me as a person. I urge you to re-read the following from this post,
“Was there a need to add “Republican” to that sentence? If you think my political affiliation will determine my decisions I urge you to think again. As a society, and a city, we have to move beyond labels – besides, labels are better for things like soup, not people.
Had the word Democrat been associated with my name I would be writing this same blog post. Maybe this bothers me because I’m of a generation that knows people as people, and pays less attention to things like party affiliation, race, and so on.
Greensboro constantly holds itself back and I hope to be the person that can help us move past that. I also hope to be the person that can bridge gaps, unite neighborhoods and bring new levels of collaboration to the table. No matter your party affiliation, race, age, gender, shoe size or any other category you fit – I welcome you to join my campaign and help me make a difference. I don’t fit the Greensboro political mold – I can assure you of that.”
We / you, should be paying more attention to the relevant items that can help improve District 2. Maybe you could focus on something like the fact that I was out on Phillips Avenue this morning at 8:30 am picking up trash in an effort to help clean up the neighborhood.
By the way, I’m not picking the questions to answer, I’m just keeping things relevant to this political race that I am a part of. I do appreciate your comments and only ask that you look at the bigger picture here.
Thanks,
Ryan
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