Marikay for Greensboro

Keep Greensboro Moving Forward

Marikay abuzuaiter – Experience and Success

Community Leadership

Marikay has been an integral part of the Greensboro community her entire adult life.

Her community service illustrates her devotion to Greensboro and her personal involvement with Greensboro’s residents by the community support she receives for the causes she supports. As Mayor, Marikay will continue being supportive of Greensboro’s residents and will continue to engage with them as well.

For the last 14 years, as an at-large councilmember, Marikay has been hyper-focused on listening to and responding to concerns of her constituents. Where there is a problem, she strives to find a solution.

Community Safety

Community safety has been her top priority. Her successes include:

Being supportive and advocating for a Family Justice Center when domestic violence murders were close to 55% of murders in 2013. Marikay continued to be involved as a devoted and active member of the FJC Executive Committee since discussions began about the Family Justice Center model in 2012. The FJC is the very first successful collaboration between the City and Guilford County and is considered as a national success story.
Leading the initiative to raise our Greensboro Police Officer’s salaries. On April 4, 2023, Police Chief John Thompson came to inform the Greensboro City Council that police officers were leaving and going to municipalities who were paying much larger salaries. While there had been discussions about raising our officer pay but knowing that we were suffering a critical shortage of officers, she put a non-agenda motion on the floor to raise officer salaries in line with other municipalities. The motion passed on a 7-2 vote.

Marikay advocates for a safe community for everyone in Greensboro

Marikay's Kiwanis Club donating $50,000 to the Greensboro Fire Department for the community safety trailer

Marikay with Dudley High School students Domestic Violence awareness day

Working Regionally and Internationally

Marikay realizes the importance of working with surrounding municipalities and county officials. As Mayor, she will continue nurturing those relationships.

Municipal Planning Organization/TAC

As Chair of the Municipal Planning Organization/TAC, she works with our smaller cities as well as the County with coordinating transportation plans and improvement projects. Knowing that our smaller municipalities are an important part of our success in transportation endeavors is crucial to our region receiving state and federal funding for infrastructure needs. Under her watch as Chair, the funds needed to finish the Urban Loop were approved by a unanimous vote.

PART

As Chair of the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation, Marikay understands the importance of making sure that residents in PART’s 9 county region have access to safe and consistent transportation. With the economic development successes over the last several years, Toyota, Boom, Marshall Aerospace, and the ancillary businesses supplying them, transportation for prospective and current employees has been one of Marikay’s most important initiatives.

Piedmont Triad Regional Council

As Vice-Chair of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council, Marikay promotes regional collaboration and cooperation among its members. Marikay is honored to be part of the PTRC to help solve short-and long-term problems that affect all of us locally and regionally.

Working Globally

Greensboro is a city that draws visitors with its global appeal. People from around the world are drawn to our NC Folk Festival and our diverse cultural events and programs, which promote understanding of different nationalities within our community. The International Advisory Committee of the City plays a crucial role in assisting individuals from our international communities as they familiarize themselves with the city’s departments. Ensuring the safety and accessibility of Greensboro for everyone has consistently been a top priority and that is one of the reasons I volunteered with them many years before I ran for elected office.

What They’re Saying About Marikay

Understands our values

Marikay Abuzuaiter is a proven leader who always views her responsibilities through the lens of what is best for all citizens. I know her well from serving beside her at the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation and the Piedmont Triad Regional Council of Governments. Marikay understands the value of working with those around her for the betterment of all and will be a great Mayor for Greensboro, the city where I grew up.

Kevin Austin

Yadkin County Commissioner, 16 years, Chair, Yadkin County Commission 11 years

Hard-working, outstanding candidate

When considering which candidate to vote for, my first priority is the qualification for office. In this year’s mayoral race, the outstanding candidate is Marikay Abuzuaiter. Marikay has been hardworking in the capacity as an at- large councilperson. Her comments and votes in city council meetings reflect her non-partisan positions. I don’t know anyone more qualified than Marikay Abuzuaiter to be the next Mayor of Greensboro, NC.

Lynn Bennett

Longtime resident of Greensboro

Small business advocate

Your dedication to supporting not only Savor the Moment but all local businesses has been inspiring, and I’m proud to support you in your mayoral campaign. You have demonstrated your support of local businesses in not just words, but more importantly, in deeds, too. You know what small business owners need to thrive in this economy, and I know you will continue to advocate for us as Mayor.

Tanya McCaskill-Dickens

Savor the Moment, LLC

Genuine and cares

I have known Marikay Abuzuaiter for over twenty years when she was an entrepreneur – I am one now! She is genuine, cares about others and always goes the extra mile. When I served as a Greensboro Police Officer, she was often the lone voice of support for GPD and GFD. She made it a point to attend our Citizens Police Academy so she could make informed opinions on our operations and is the only Council member to do so. She will lead Greensboro into its next chapter with wisdom, humility, compassion and grace. I wholeheartedly and without reservation endorse Marikay for Mayor!

Jamie Fulton

Greensboro Police Officer, Retired