George Hartzman has a post about Adam Marshall, the new Greensboro City Council member representing District 4.
Hartzman reveals that Marshall’s law practice is a member of TREBIC. In addition, he reveals the following about that law practice:
According to Marshall’s professional resume, his practice areas include;
- Land Use and Zoning
- Real Estate
- Community/Planned Community Association Law
- Corporate Law
- Debt Collection
He lists past service on the Board of Adjustment and Zoning Commission, including a term as Chair.
The annexation and development approval process is directly intertwined with his professional work and the interests of TREBIC’s membership. This amplifies the appearance that voting on a TREBIC peer’s petition could create a conflict between his public duty and the expectations of the professional community from which he comes.
Ah, the whole thing now comes together. He defeated Nicky Smith in District 4 by a landslide margin. He fits Greensboro’s typical Melderec con Simkins model of public service– i.e., representatives who curry favor simultaneously with the development-related industries and the east Greensboro political establishment. Hartzman states his law practice creates a huge conflict of interest for many matters on which he would ordinarily be required to vote on the City Council.
Marshall presents himself as a progressive Democrat.
District 4 used to have a good conservative council member when Mary Rakestraw
represented it. I know some folks that live there remember and miss her.
Marshall will, no doubt, vote with the socialists.,
It’s truly awful, Fred. I know there are reasons it happened, but we really could have done better in this district– much better.