Mary Rakestraw

Age: 63

Party: Republican

Lived in Greensboro: 42 years

Incumbent or challenger: Incumbent

What is your position on the White Street Landfill?

Rakestraw “Voted to extend the White St Landfill after (the City Council) debated about it for 3 years.” She decried the decision to close it based on the advice of a local environmental expert and the lack of planning for what to do with the garbage. She recommended that students take a tour of the actual landfill to “go and look at what they’re talking about as a ‘dump.'” She said, “What I think of as a ‘dump’ and this landfill are two different things.” She recalled firsthand experiences visiting the landfill “at different times, such as windy, hot or rainy days to see the issue firsthand.” Rakestraw notes possibilities of using the landfill for compost and even firewood. She highlighted the lengthy negotiations with a local company to keep the landfill safe, saying “We wanted it to be safe for everybody, everywhere … To make it sound like we didn’t do this in a professional way is inaccurate.”

What is your plan for economic progression in Greensboro?

“First of all, we have to have an educated workforce.” In her district “we have UNCG, Guilford College, share GTCC. We have to make sure that when people come here with jobs they want to use the people here, and that students have the skills necessary to perform.” She said, “The City Council cannot create jobs but can create an environment of good schools, good neighborhoods, infrastructure … That Greensboro is a place where people want to come and work and play and be educated.” Rakestraw said we need to “Look at rules and regulations and make sure we never compromise safety, but look for rules and regulations that may be obsolete and outdated.” As an example, she discussed our transportation system, recalling eating at Subway at Friendly Center and watching empty buses go by on their scheduled routes. She said we “Need to focus on transportation” but look for a “practical solution.” She recommends prioritizing bus service in districts that rely more heavily on buses, and reducing where ridership is low.

How do you plan to reach out to college students to get them more involved in civic life?

Rakestraw said that this is a “two way street.” She wants “people who are interested in being involved to call me and say ‘I want to do this, how do I do it?’ Then I would be able to connect them to the right areas where they would want to participate.” She said, “I’m always happy to do this, I’m probably one of the only public officials who you can find in the telephone book. When I say public official I mean public.” She recalled her time coming on WQFS with Eric Ginsburg, saying she wants to “Find common ground on things that would interest students – what are the interests of the students?” She said email is a fine way to reach her but she would rather talk on the phone because you can “take care of problems immediately and there is less back and forth. I don’t want to miss somebody, don’t want them to fall through the cracks. I am accessible and available.” For the record, Rakestraw’s phone number is 336-852-8639.

What changes do you want to see in the city during your time in office?

Rakestraw said, “First of all, I want to see more citizens employed. We need to bring jobs, jobs and a few more jobs into Greensboro. Of course that will not only help the economy but will help people in their confidence and their outlook on life.” As a councilwoman, she “Want[s] people not only working at a job but also involved in the community. We are a good community and we can be a great community when people don’t have to worry about ‘where is the money going to come from for my bills?'”