Marion Blackburn announces reelection bid

On July 5, Greenville City Council Member Marion Blackburn announced she will be seeking reelection to represent Greenville’s third district.

In an interview with The East Carolinian, Blackburn said she returned to the Council in 2022 after serving from 2009 to 2015 because there are problems Greenville faces that she cares greatly about.

“I’m here for the students,” Blackburn said. “I’m here to make sure they have a fantastic experience at ECU. I’m here to make sure they’re safe. I’m here to make sure they have a good time. I’m here to make sure they have fun things to do. I represent so many students that it’s my job to make sure these things happen.”

Blackburn said some decisions around Greenville city planning and zoning have been irresponsible and unfriendly to pedestrians and bikers. Along East 10th Street there has been dramatic growth in new businesses and apartment buildings without sidewalks or bike lanes, Blackburn said, and she said these decisions make being a biker or pedestrian less desirable if not impossible.

Greenville renters should have access to safe and secure apartments with buildings and amenities that are kept up to code, Blackburn said.

“I’ve always been an advocate for renters and their rights in the university community as well as permanent residents,” Blackburn said. “I want to make sure that everybody has good, safe housing and a good quality of life, but also the freedom to live and enjoy their neighborhood and their life.”

The City of Greenville should not impose burdensome legislation on businesses in the downtown area that make it more difficult for them to succeed and compete with larger companies, Blackburn said, and she opposes the newly implemented paid parking plan because larger places such as the Greenville Mall have parking for free.

Public safety is another priority of Blackburn’s public service, she said. Greenville has had safety problems in the past, Blackburn said. Safety is important to ensure a comfortable life in the city, she said.

“When it comes to quality of life, the first thing we have to assure is safety, and that means making sure that we have lighting where we need it and support where we need it,” Blackburn said. “This (support) doesn’t necessarily mean just police officers. This can also mean other kinds of support. There’s a movement now to diversify presence in neighborhoods and communities to include social workers, to include parks staff.”

Blackburn said she is working with Deputy City Manager Michael Cowin to expand the city’s program for stray cats. Cats, when not taken care of, can live hard lives and become nuisances to residents, Blackburn said. Greenville’s Trap Neuter Release program helps some of these issues, Blackburn said.

Responsible energy consumption and litter management are also important to Blackburn, she said. The Council should provide easier access to green energy sources and abandon environmentally harmful practices, Blackburn said.

“We have worked to encourage energy sources to make sure solar power is accessible to the people of Greenville and there is a fair rate of exchange,” Blackburn said. “In addition, one of my dreams is to have solar panels on top of City Hall and for us, as a community, to look for ways to be more environmentally conscious.”

In the Council term before Blackburn returned to office, she said, the city approved zoning that would allow a cryptocurrency mining operation to be set up in Greenville. These cryptocurrency outfits can take up the energy equivalent of a small town, Blackburn said, and can put the energy of local residents at risk.

If reelected, Blackburn said she hopes to become more involved with students and clubs on campus and listen to what they think needs changing in the city.

“I plan to be on campus as much as possible, listening to students and finding out what’s important to them,” Blackburn said. “I would encourage students to contact me and let me know what’s on their mind. If students have issues that they are very interested in and want to start some kind of group, initiative or ordinance, I’m here for it. Let’s do it.”