George C. Simkins, Jr. Memorial PAC

The PAC was founded by a group of black men in 1949 headed by Vance Chavis, who was George Simkins’ former high school science teacher and mentor. Its name was the Greensboro Citizens Association, later changed to the Gifford County Citizens Political Action Committee. Later it became known as the “Simkins Committee” after the man who led the Committee for 40 years.

Using the power of the ballot box as well as a willingness to go to jail if necessary, Simkins led a movement that integrated public golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools, schools and hospitals in Greensboro. Simkins and his committee changed the structure and color of politics in Greensboro by getting enough votes to install a district system to elect Greensboro’s City Council. This enabled black people to have seats at the table.

In 1983 when the district system was installed the Simkins Committee was the most powerful political organization in the area and continues to hold that distinction to this day. Candidates for local and state office courted Simkins and the PAC board knowing it would be very difficult to prevail in Guilford County without its endorsement.

The PAC is dependent upon the trust of the community. It is the commitment of the PAC to never betray this sacred obligation to promote candidates who will support issues of vital importance to the black community. There is also a responsibility to educate voters on the issues. This is the legacy of the GEORGE C. Simkins Political Action committee that it’s members live by.

The committee having interviewed candidates listed below Issues this endorsement for the office each candidate seeks. This is a critical election we need the community to VOTE like our lives depend on it, because it does!