Latoya Gathers Wants to Represent All of Greensboro

LaToya B. Gathers is making her second run for Greensboro City Council—and this time she wants to represent the whole city.

In 2022, Gathers ran for the District 2 seat against incumbent Goldie Wells and candidates Cecile Crawford and Portia Shipman. Gathers didn’t make it out of the primary. Ultimately, Wells retained her seat, winning by a margin of 121 votes over Crawford, who is vying for the same seat again this year. 

This time around, Gathers has thrown her hat in the ring for one of the council’s three at-large seats, on which the entire city votes. Though council races in Greensboro are officially non-partisan, Gathers is the only registered Republican in the crowded at-large field in a left-leaning city. Her work on various city boards and commissions, along with her career in health care led her to run again, she said—this time citywide. 

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

You first ran for office in 2022. Why did you run then and what did you learn from that campaign?

It was just something I thought I would do. I was talking to Carolyn Coleman about my aspirations, and she encouraged me. I thought I’d get my feet wet. 

What I learned from that campaign is to have a better-organized team, which I have this time. I started early. I have my social media people, my campaign manager. I’m trying to encourage donations, and I’ve been putting stuff out there like pamphlets.

What made you want to run at-large rather than in District 2 this year?

I’m involved in a lot of aspects of the city. I’m a member of the Greensboro Junior League, and I’m in the local chapter of the American Association of University Women. I was actually on the state board, and now I’m on the national public policy committee of AAUW. That’s where I learned how to affect policy.

I’m on the Commission on Aging here and was on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. I’m a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Incorporated, and I’m a board member with Triad Pride Performing Arts. Being that I’m so involved in the community, I think it’s important for everyone to be able to vote for me.

Tell me about your background in Greensboro.

I’ve lived here for 15 years. I’ve only ever lived in District 2. I moved here because it’s such a beautiful place. I was told to retire here, so I came to see what it’s about. Then I got put on the Planning and Zoning Commission, and I loved it.

Although Greensboro City Council elections are nonpartisan, it is notable that you are the only registered Republican in the at-large race. It’s even more notable given that many of your views and platforms are traditionally more left-leaning. Tell me about that.

I’ve been a registered Republican since I was 18 years old. To me, it just means fiscal responsibility and transparency. No matter your party, I want to make sure people have the things they need. I see myself as an agent of change. Yes, I have conservative values, but I can see what you need and effect change.

Some of the things you’re passionate about include homelessness, health care, and the youth. Tell me more.

I have ideas to create mobile units around the city that would house doctors, nurses, mental health clinicians, and employment agents. These would be set up in places like the IRC [Interactive Resource Center] and the Urban Ministry so that we can meet people where they are. I would also want them in different spots throughout the city.

Homeless people need more than just health care; they need mental health, they need housing, but they also need employment as well. 

This plan would also include working with the youth. I would set up a service learning loan forgiveness program for students who are working to become social workers or nurses to work in some of these mobile units. The low-interest loans would help the students get an education with the understanding that they would work in Greensboro for five years after graduating. That would keep them here in Greensboro.

I also want to develop a youth council. Especially kids ages 14-17, they have a lot of violence against them, and a lot of them are LGBTQ+. A lot of them have said that people are not listening to them. 

I want to get more into gun sense as well. I was involved with that during my time in the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. We would give away free gun locking units.

I honed a lot of my skills working with Doctors Without Borders. I worked there from 2000-15, and I had to create policies and collaborate with local leaders.

Why should people vote for you?

I have experience in public policy writing, and I have lots of contacts. I don’t just have a platform, but I have policies rooted in lived experience, not political convenience. I think it’s important for people to vote for someone like me who knows what they’re doing. I want to work for all of Greensboro. It’s not about party lines. It’s about working for everyone. 

I’m not divisive; I’m going to be working to create programs so other people can see a change in Greensboro. I’m unapologetically inclusive, I’m a bold leader.