Richard Beard is from Greensboro, North Carolina. He has a business degree from Greensboro College. He is married to his wife, Susan, and they have 2 children.

Richard currently serves as President and CEO of the Greensboro Sports Foundation. He previously worked as a real estate consultant and economic development professional, including roles with the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, Simpson Schulman & Beard Commercial Real Estate, and site location consulting firms.

Richard Beard announces run for Greensboro City Council at-large ...

Richard's campaign for an at-large seat on the Greensboro City Council is his first entry into politics.

Supports job creation, economic growth, small businesses, and reducing bureaucratic "red tape".

Supports reducing bureaucratic "red tape".

Supports advancing workforce development initiatives to meet the increasing demand for job-ready workers.

Supports leveraging sports tourism to enhance facilities, attract major events, and increase visitor spending in Greensboro.

Supports strategic redevelopment projects to revitalize underutilized commercial areas and create new business opportunities.

- Supports reducing bureaucratic "red tape".
- Supports advancing workforce development initiatives to meet the increasing demand for job-ready workers.
- Supports leveraging sports tourism to enhance facilities, attract major events, and increase visitor spending in Greensboro.
- Supports strategic redevelopment projects to revitalize underutilized commercial areas and create new business opportunities.

Economy

Supports repairing and improving existing recreational assets, including the Greensboro SportsPlex, Hester Park, Spencer Love Tennis Center, neighborhood fields, basketball courts, and community swimming pools.

- Supports repairing and improving existing recreational assets, including the Greensboro SportsPlex, Hester Park, Spencer Love Tennis Center, neighborhood fields, basketball courts, and community swimming pools.

Public Services

Supports public-private partnerships to address affordable housing and housing availability.

- Supports public-private partnerships to address affordable housing and housing availability.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports prioritizing public safety by funding salaries, equipment, and training for police officers, firefighters, and first responders.

- Supports prioritizing public safety by funding salaries, equipment, and training for police officers, firefighters, and first responders.

Public Safety

Supports investing in updated water, sewer, roads, sidewalks, and high-speed internet.

- Supports investing in updated water, sewer, roads, sidewalks, and high-speed internet.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Plans to collaborate with school and parks & recreation leadership to develop after-school programs for at-risk students.

- Plans to collaborate with school and parks & recreation leadership to develop after-school programs for at-risk students.

Education

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Richard Beard

Buket Urgen

Carla Franklin is from Greensboro, North Carolina. She has a bachelor's degree from Duke University and a master's degree in finance and international business from Columbia Business School. Carla lives in Greensboro with her husband and their three sons.

Carla is the founder and president of Carlin Solutions, LLC, a certified minority- and woman-owned firm delivering project management, digital transformation, and strategic planning services to Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and government agencies. She has held executive roles at Amazon and IBM. In Greensboro, she serves as Executive Director of NC Innovation Labs, a local accelerator focused on tech innovation and entrepreneurship.

Carla Franklin - Ballotpedia

Carla's campaign for an at-large seat on the Greensboro City Council is her first entry into politics. 

Supports developing "smart tax incentives" to bring back middle-class jobs.

Supports developing "smart tax incentives" to create middle-class jobs.

Supports local entrepreneurship in underserved areas, especially East and Southwest Greensboro.

Supports "empowering local entrepreneurs with resources and fair policies."

- Supports developing "smart tax incentives" to create middle-class jobs.
- Supports local entrepreneurship in underserved areas, especially East and Southwest Greensboro.
- Supports "empowering local entrepreneurs with resources and fair policies."

Supports improving city services such as sanitation, stormwater management, and utility maintenance for greater efficiency and responsiveness.

Supports improving city services such as sanitation, stormwater management, and utility maintenance to be more efficient and responsive.

Supports protecting green spaces and enhancing city sustainability efforts.

Supports protecting green spaces and increasing city sustainability efforts.

Supports expanding parks, recreation, and youth engagement activities city-wide.

- Supports improving city services such as sanitation, stormwater management, and utility maintenance to be more efficient and responsive.
- Supports protecting green spaces and increasing city sustainability efforts.
- Supports expanding parks, recreation, and youth engagement activities city-wide.

Supports "promoting housing solutions that work for families of all income levels."

- Supports "promoting housing solutions that work for families of all income levels."

Supports fully staffing the Greensboro Police Department while implementing community-focused public safety policies.

Supports expanding mental health and drug crisis intervention partnerships.

Supports providing law enforcement with modern tools, training, and mental health resources.

- Supports fully staffing the Greensboro Police Department while implementing community-focused public safety policies.
- Supports expanding mental health and drug crisis intervention partnerships.
- Supports providing law enforcement with modern tools, training, and mental health resources.

Supports investing in road repair, public transit expansion, and traffic safety.

Supports broadband internet expansion to support remote work, virtual learning, and small business development.

Supports investing in pedestrian-friendly streets and sustainable transit.

Believes many residents experience inconsistent public services, aging roadways, and poor access to utilities and high-speed internet, despite a budget of $802 million for city operations.

- Supports investing in road repair, public transit expansion, and traffic safety.
- Supports broadband internet expansion to support remote work, virtual learning, and small business development.
- Supports investing in pedestrian-friendly streets and sustainable transit.
- Believes many residents experience inconsistent public services, aging roadways, and poor access to utilities and high-speed internet, despite a budget of $802 million for city operations.

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Supports school choice and education reform.

Supports using public funding for private schools.

Believes in investing in schools and after-school programs to ensure every child has a strong start.

Believes in investing in schools and after-school programs.

- Supports using public funding for private schools.
- Believes in investing in schools and after-school programs.

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Carla Franklin

Meet Chip - New Greensboro

Denise Roth lives with her husband, Chip, and their son in Greensboro. She is active as a Board of Trustees member of her church.

Denise has previously worked as Greensboro's city manager, an executive with a transportation consulting firm, and as an administrator with the U.S. General Services Administration. 

Denise Roth - Ballotpedia

Denise's campaign for an at-large seat on the Greensboro City Council is her first entry into politics. 

Believes opportunity is inclusive and should create quality jobs and lasting economic strength.

Support creating quality jobs and lasting economic strength.

Believes growth should be "smart and sustainable," with infrastructure and housing that serve everyone.

Believes growth should be "smart and sustainable," with infrastructure and housing that serves everyone.

- Support creating quality jobs and lasting economic strength.
- Believes growth should be "smart and sustainable," with infrastructure and housing that serves everyone.

As of July 31, 2025, Denise Roth’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports strategic infrastructure and affordable housing.

Supports building strategic infrastructure and affordable housing.

- Supports building strategic infrastructure and affordable housing.

Believes safety is "innovative and community-driven," ensuring every neighborhood can thrive.

Believes safety should be "innovative and community-driven."

- Believes safety should be "innovative and community-driven."

Denise Roth

Hugh Holston is from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Hugh is married to his wife, Olymphia LeGrand. They have an adult son, Jonathan. He has lived in Greensboro for over 30 years. 

Hugh is a senior project manager with Old North State Medical Society. He has previously worked for Wells Fargo, AT&T, and the Lincoln Financial Group. 

Hugh Holston - Ballotpedia

Hugh is currently an at-large member of the Greensboro City Council. He was appointed in 2021 and re-elected in 2022. Hugh is currently serving his first term. 

Supports small business development and retention, as well as attracting new businesses and corporations to Greensboro.

Supports small business development and attracting new businesses and corporations.

Wants to improve job and career opportunities and plans to attract and retain high school, community college, and university graduates.

Wants to improve job and career opportunities.

Plans to encourage vibrant entertainment centers.

Plans to "encourage vibrant entertainment centers."

As a council member, approved establishing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Fund to provide education, training, and entrepreneurial support to marginalized communities to promote economic independence.

As city council member, supported creating a fund to provide education, training, and entrepreneurial support for disadvantaged communities and to promote economic independence.

As a city council member, established the "Social District" to revitalize downtown and support small businesses.

Supported establishing the "Social District" to revitalize downtown and support small businesses.

- Supports small business development and attracting new businesses and corporations.
- Wants to improve job and career opportunities.
- Supports unions and "living wages."
- Plans to "encourage vibrant entertainment centers."
- As city council member, supported creating a fund to provide education, training, and entrepreneurial support for disadvantaged communities and to promote economic independence.
- Supported establishing the "Social District" to revitalize downtown and support small businesses.

Aims to "source opportunities for youth to live, work, and engage."

Wants to create "opportunities for youth to live, work, and engage."

Encourages citizens to engage with community-based organizations, non-profits, and to serve on the City of Greensboro's boards and commissions.

- Wants to create "opportunities for youth to live, work, and engage."
- Encourages citizens to engage with community-based organizations, non-profits, and to serve on the City of Greensboro's boards and commissions.

Supports affordable housing, energy efficiency, and sustainability.

Supports approving development of the Lidl grocery store in the downtown ‘food desert’

Supported the development of a Lidl grocery store in the downtown ‘food desert.’

Plans to invest $20 million in infrastructure and build 1,200-1,300 homes by annexing over 350 acres of land into Greensboro.

Supported annexing city land and investing $20 million in infrastructure and the development of 1,200-1,300 homes.

- Supports affordable housing, energy efficiency, and sustainability.
- Supported the development of a Lidl grocery store in the downtown ‘food desert.’
- Supported annexing city land and investing $20 million in infrastructure and the development of 1,200-1,300 homes.

Supports "proactive support, with accountability" for the Greensboro Police Department, Greensboro Fire Department, and Guilford Metro 9-1-1.

Supports "proactive support [and] accountability" for the Greensboro Police Department, Greensboro Fire Department, and Guilford Metro 9-1-1.

Supports adequate staffing and retention programs, comprehensive training, and ensuring access to proper tools for public safety personnel.

Supports adequate staffing, retention programs, and access to the necessary tools for public safety personnel.

As a city councilor, supported increasing mental health resources for police officers.

Supports increasing mental health resources for public safety officers.

Supports prioritizing de-escalation and nonviolent intervention in public safety efforts.

Plans to promote neighborhood watches in District Town Halls.

- Supports "proactive support [and] accountability" for the Greensboro Police Department, Greensboro Fire Department, and Guilford Metro 9-1-1.
- Supports adequate staffing, retention programs, and access to the necessary tools for public safety personnel.
- Supports increasing mental health resources for public safety officers.
- Supports prioritizing de-escalation and nonviolent intervention in public safety efforts.
- Plans to promote neighborhood watches in District Town Halls.

Plans to focus on infrastructure citywide to prepare for the future.

Plans to focus on infrastructure citywide to "prepare for the future."

- Plans to focus on infrastructure citywide to "prepare for the future."

As of July 31, 2025, Hugh Holston’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Hugh Holston

Forty-five people applied to fill the at-large seat on Greensboro City ...

Irving is a special projects and training coordinator at Advance NC. He previously worked at Ready for School Ready for Life, Color Of Change PAC, Ignite NC, and Beloved Community Center. He also founded the Books and Black Youth Reading Program.

Irving Allen - Ballotpedia

Irving Allen's campaign for an at-large seat on the Greensboro City Council is his first entry into politics. He previously ran for a Greensboro city council at-large seat in 2017 but did not win. Allen was also a candidate to fill the vacant House District 57 seat in 2024 but did not win.

Said, "With such a diverse population, Greensboro can stop being just a pit stop and become an opportunity for people to grow."

- Said, "With such a diverse population, Greensboro can stop being just a pit stop and become an opportunity for people to grow."

Supports investing in communities based on dialogue with community organizations and trusts communities to decide on local investments.

Said, "Greensboro must be intentional to invest in its people to be prepared for equitable economic growth. This intentional investment must also grow outward towards the people. To obtain this equitable and sustainable growth in all areas of the city, we must engage the community and city officials to build a greater Greensboro together."

Supports intentional investment in residents and civic education to build trust, encourage community engagement, and achieve equitable economic growth citywide.

- Supports investing in communities based on dialogue with community organizations and trusts communities to decide on local investments.
- Supports intentional investment in residents and civic education to build trust, encourage community engagement, and achieve equitable economic growth citywide.

Supports affordable housing and addressing homelessness.

- Supports affordable housing and addressing homelessness.

As of July 31, 2025, Irving D. Allen’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports expanding the Collegiate fellowship to provide students with more opportunities and a sense of ownership in Greensboro's future.

Supports investing in the large college population in Greensboro to become a destination for students and to expand the collegiate fellowship program to increase opportunities for students.

- Supports investing in the large college population in Greensboro to become a destination for students and to expand the collegiate fellowship program to increase opportunities for students.

Irving D. Allen

Agribusiness Graduate Jamilla Pinder '19 Appointed to Greensboro ...

Jamilla Pinders is from Greensboro, North Carolina. She has a degree in agribusiness and food industry management from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Jamilla has an adult son. 

Jamilla is the director of community engagement and impact at Cone Health Foundation, where she leads initiatives to improve medical services in East Greensboro. She previously worked at Moses Cone Hospital, where she started as a third-shift patient check-in clerk while attending college. 

Greensboro North Carolina new City Council member sworn in

Jamilla is currently a member of the Greensboro City Council. She was appointed in February 2025 to fill the unexpired term of Yvonne Johnson.

Believes empowering local small and mid-size businesses is crucial for job creation and fostering economic opportunity, saying it provides "pathways for upward mobility for our residents."

Believes local small and mid-size businesses are crucial for job creation and creating economic opportunity.

- Believes local small and mid-size businesses are crucial for job creation and creating economic opportunity.

Believes that "building strong social connections through community engagement and inclusive initiatives strengthens our city's fabric, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose among all our residents."

Supports "building strong social connections through community engagement and inclusive initiatives."

- Supports "building strong social connections through community engagement and inclusive initiatives."

Plans to create housing options for a range of residents, including the homeless, first-time homebuyers, and seniors, to ensure stable and affordable homes for all.

Supports creating affordable housing options for homeless residents, first-time homebuyers, and seniors.

- Supports creating affordable housing options for homeless residents, first-time homebuyers, and seniors.

Wants to invest in community safety initiatives and health resources to ensure residents feel secure and have the opportunity to thrive.

Wants to invest in community safety initiatives and health resources to ensure residents feel secure.

- Wants to invest in community safety initiatives and health resources to ensure residents feel secure.

Believes modernizing water and sewer systems is essential for sustainable housing, business attraction, and long-term city prosperity.

- Believes modernizing water and sewer systems is essential for sustainable housing, business attraction, and long-term city prosperity.

As of July 31, 2025, Jamilla Pinder’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Jamilla Pinder

LaToya Gathers - Ballotpedia

LaToya Gathers is from Georgetown, South Carolina. She has a bachelor's degree from Winthrop University, a graduate degree from Webster University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She has lived in Greensboro for over a decade.

LaToya is a psychotherapist and international humanitarian. She currently works at Research Triangle Institute International (RTI). Previously, she worked for global nonprofits, such as Doctors Without Borders, and local agencies, securing funding for critical community programs.

ELECTIONS: Two incumbents face a slew of ... - Triad City Beat

LaToya previously ran for the District 2 Greensboro City Council seat in 2022 but did not win.

Supports small businesses, job training, and fair wages.

Supports partnerships with higher education institutions and entrepreneurs to boost economic development.

Supports partnering with higher education institutions and entrepreneurs.

- Supports small businesses, job training, and fair wages.
- Supports a $15 per hour living wage.
- Supports partnering with higher education institutions and entrepreneurs.

Supports expanding access to youth programs, mentors, and resources to close opportunity gaps.

- Supports expanding access to youth programs, mentors, and resources to close opportunity gaps.

Supports expanding affordable housing and homelessness prevention programs, strengthening partnerships with the Greensboro Housing Authority, and investing in transitional housing and wraparound services.

Supports expanding affordable housing and homelessness prevention programs.

Supports strengthening partnerships with the Greensboro Housing Authority and investing in transitional housing and wraparound services.

- Supports expanding affordable housing and homelessness prevention programs.
- Supports strengthening partnerships with the Greensboro Housing Authority and investing in transitional housing and wraparound services.

Plans to reduce violent crime by 50% through community-centered policing, expanded patrols, and crisis response teams.

Plans to reduce violent crime through community-centered policing, expanded patrols, and crisis response teams.

Supports recruiting officers to fill vacancies, ensuring better community policing and faster response times.

Supports expanding police training in de-escalation, crisis intervention, and cultural competency.

Supports establishing wellness programs for officers that provide mental health resources, peer support, and counseling services.

Supports securing funding for modern technology, such as body cameras, advanced communication systems, and data-driven policing tools that improve transparency and efficiency.

Supports creating open forums and advisory boards that allow community members to voice concerns, suggest solutions, and work directly with law enforcement leaders.

Supports creating forums and advisory boards to allow community members to voice concerns, suggest solutions, and work directly with law enforcement leaders.

Supports the creation of a Community Safety Department.

- Plans to reduce violent crime through community-centered policing, expanded patrols, and crisis response teams.
- Supports recruiting officers to fill vacancies, ensuring better community policing and faster response times.
- Supports expanding police training in de-escalation, crisis intervention, and cultural competency.
- Supports establishing wellness programs for officers that provide mental health resources, peer support, and counseling services.
- Supports securing funding for modern technology, such as body cameras, advanced communication systems, and data-driven policing tools that improve transparency and efficiency.
- Supports creating forums and advisory boards to allow community members to voice concerns, suggest solutions, and work directly with law enforcement leaders.
- Supports the creation of a Community Safety Department.

Supports the City’s Road to 10,000 initiative, which aims to develop 10,000 new housing units by 2030.

- Supports the City’s Road to 10,000 initiative, which aims to develop 10,000 new housing units by 2030.

Latoya B. Gathers

Michael McKinney earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with a concentration in public administration from Winston-Salem State University, a graduate certificate in banking and finance from Boston University, and a master’s degree in nonprofit management with a concentration in leadership from High Point University. He with his wife and daughter in Greensboro. He is also Deacon and CFO at Providence Baptist Church.

Michael currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Piedmont Business Capital. He previously worked as Executive Director of the Piedmont Triad Apartment Association and as Executive Director of the NC Realtors Housing Opportunity Foundation.

Michael McKinney (North Carolina) - Ballotpedia

Michael's campaign for an at-large seat on the Greensboro City Council is his first entry into politics. 

Supports investing in infrastructure improvements to enhance sustainability, create job opportunities, and boost economic development.

Supports workforce development partnerships to connect training programs with local employers.

Favors prioritizing living-wage jobs in city contracts and incentives.

Supports revitalization of historically underserved commercial corridors.

- Supports investing in infrastructure improvements to enhance sustainability, create job opportunities, and boost economic development.
- Supports workforce development partnerships to connect training programs with local employers.
- Favors prioritizing living-wage jobs in city contracts and incentives.
- Supports revitalization of historically underserved commercial corridors.

Advocates partnerships with broadband providers to expand digital access.

- Advocates partnerships with broadband providers to expand digital access.

Supports increasing mixed-use housing options to create diverse neighborhoods and address the demand for affordable housing.

- Supports increasing mixed-use housing options to create diverse neighborhoods and address the demand for affordable housing.
- Supports programs for homebuyer education and equitable access to financing.

Michael McKinney

- City council members work together to set and implement city policy. 
- The city council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city.
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 