AgentPierce and BobLee are both running this one on our sites as our mutual good buddy – Marty Kotis a/k/a The Dennis The Menace of the UNC BOG is making news AGAIN just “being Marty”. 
Marty’s hometown (Greensboro) failing fishwrapper – The News & Record has aimed it’s editorial pea-shooter at him on numerous occasions…. much to Marty’s delight as this one is. He proudly sent this latest salvo to us Sunday morning.
Marty’s high crime oft-repeated is asking questions that others wish he wouldn’t ask. Whether that be about Triad political shenanigans or about UNC System “everyone in favor say AYE…. moving right along” issues. Marty is NOT be a consensus “just go-along kinda guy”. He actually reads reports and P&L statements !!! That being a quality I much admire.
My admiration for “Marty The Menace” is not shared by all his fellow BOGers…. including some of yours truly’s other buddies. I must have THE most eclectic bunch o’ buddies on the planet: Chansky…. Kennel…. Bubba…. Marty…. Norwood…. Holden…. “Bonnie & Clyde” and a few dozen others who are not quite ready to publicly bear the scarlet letter of being a BobLee Buddy. The complete list would rock a few worlds ‘fer sure!
NOTE: Marty’s alleged “support” of Tom “Z. Smith Reynolds’ Bag Man” Ross was actually his disapproval of the ham-fisted manner in which UNC BOG Chair/Dictator “Trainwreck” Fennebresque chose to kneecap “Bag Man” Ross. We are on-record as sharing Marty’s disapproval of both “Trainwreck”…. and of “Bag Man”.
Marty’s newly formed Brickyard Fan Club might note his stated disgust at all things Greatly Unpleasant amid the pines.
The N&R’s insinuation that Marty has “political ambitions” is not one I share based upon my numerous conversations with the naughty “Triad Troublemaker”. I suspect The N&R and I disagree on numerous other issues.
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Marty in the middle: Building a political legacy one brick at a time
Like an aging Hollywood actor who keeps looking younger and younger, the old Carousel Theater on Battleground Avenue is transforming before our eyes. It is having — as they tend to say on the Left Coast — some “work” done.
First, was the sudden face-lift on the outside: A new color and new name: the Red Cinemas (as in Retail and Entertainment District).
Then a new lobby, new employee uniforms, a new menu, a new website, a DJ booth, a popcorn buttering station, self-serve beverages and even flat-screen TV’s in the restrooms. More recently, a pair of space-age leather theater seats appeared in one of the foyers: Vote for one, moviegoers were asked; they’ll install the winner.
The extreme makeover comes from the new owner, William “Marty” Kotis III, who has remade familiar businesses before.
The old Darryl’s on High Point Road became the new Darryl’s, with fire pits and a brick-lined outside dining area. The old Uno Pizza on Battleground Avenue is now Marshall Freehouse, a British-style pub with waiters in kilts and wood-paneled walls.
And, by next spring, the old Carolina Tours property on Federal Place in downtown Greensboro will become a beer garden.
As Kotis, 46, sees it, there’s an art to development, even in a strip shopping center. Ideally, he likes his new buildings to look old — like renovations of historic properties, even when they aren’t. “My goal in architecture is to build something once — right — that will last.”
At the same time, Kotis is building a political resume that defies easy labels. For instance, he’s a Republican who vigorously fought a GOP-sponsored state House bill that would have forced major changes to the Greensboro City Council.
“I don’t want the federal government to come in and tell states how to govern,” he says, “and I don’t want the states doing that, either.”
As a member of the UNC Board of Governors, he was bothered by the treatment of a fellow Greensboro native, UNC President Tom Ross, who is being forced to step down. So he cast the lone vote against that decision.
“That’s not to say that the change wasn’t needed,” Kotis says. “It’s just that the process was not a good one.”
He is a fierce critic of his alma mater, UNC-Chapel Hill, for abetting an academic scandal that nationally disgraced the university.
“They think they’re helping,” he said of faculty and administrators who created bogus classes that enrolled large numbers of athletes. “But you’re not helping anybody if you give them a piece of paper, but not an education.”
And just last week he challenged a lavish new dormitory planned for men’s and women’s basketball players at N.C. State.
“It’s not that State’s breaking any rules,” Kotis says. “But it goes against the spirit of the rules.”
In the midst of a higher-education budget crisis, each bed in the dorm, which will be paid for with booster money, will cost $240,000. But only two others on the 32-member Board of Governors joined Kotis in voting no. Go Wolfpack.
He supports powerful Republican Senate leader Phil Berger Sr., whom many in Greensboro consider a prince of darkness. He is a friend of GOP state Sen. Trudy Wade, the architect of the attempted City Council changes.
But he doesn’t believe he has to agree with fellow Republicans all of the time to be a good Republican. For instance, he praises the current council as “very business-friendly.” “Greensboro is getting a chunk of my investments right now because they’re open for business.”
But he also praises a state legislature whose overreaching prompted the council to challenge the state in court.
Contradictions? Nah, Kotis shrugs. “People tend to get hung up on one thing. You have to look at the governing body in general. And in general I’m happy with the state encouraging job development and trying to attract other businesses to come here with favorable taxes and a favorable regulatory environment.”
He adds: “I tend to fall more in the moderate Republican camp, which is not too far away from a fiscally conservative, Blue Dog Democrat. There’s a whole chunk of people that I think are in the middle, and that are very like-minded. It’s the people on each extreme that tend to get a lot of attention. I’m not out there with them.”
Thus, he’s for Berger and Wade — when he isn’t against them. And he likes healthy profits but is notoriously picky about his projects and doesn’t like cutting corners.
As for his theater, he’s just getting started. The new seats probably will be recliners, which means four old seats will be ripped out to make room for each new one. “What that does is we become your favorite movie theater,” he says.
Then there’s more construction on the boards: retail shops in the front of the theater and a multi-level building in the rear that will overlook the Downtown Greenway. The growing empire of other properties he’s amassing along Battleground Avenue. And the eclectic and unpredictable political legacy he’s building, one brick at a time.
Contact Editorial Page Editor Allen Johnson at [email protected]
Good column. Great comments. Good responses. BOG needs more Marty’s.
Sort of ambivalent on Taj.
But my Wolfpack dues pay for Schollies & Infrastructure…… not Coaches already bloated salaries.
That is why folks are stopping or cutting back on Rams Club funds.
I’m not sure that your examples of downward Ram Club trends is true across the board. It SHOULD BE by all rights but How Did Obama Get Elected Twice ??? Not by anyone in my world… so maybe there are multitudes “out there” who are still drunk on TCW Kool-Aid. Gawd helps all!
Great column on Marty. He’s a very bright person and a gifted businessman. Marshall Freehouse is awesome and I can’t wait to drop by the theater. We differ on matters of process. I agree with Marty that the process of President’s Ross’ removal was not as it should have been. Although I think Pres. Ross has done a good job on balance, and I believe (despite our political differences) that he is a very honorable gentleman, the BOG has a different direction for the University and a change was warranted. I am not a “process guy’ so I voted to… Read more »
Great comments about my great column… :-)…
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NOTE: This BOG Guy is NOT “a Flagshipper”… at least “not THAT Flagship”.
Appreciate Kotis’ comments re: TGU but nowhere in any of the statements made by or attributed to him did he mention the word “athletics.” He DID , however use “staff” & “athletes” but neither changed the perception that Marty thinks the eggheads are , mostly , at fault. TGU woulda never happened were it not for the ballgames. Would be interested to hear him say exactly where he stands. Obviously , he’s reading. What say you , Mr. Kotis?
You are parsing words and playing semantics games. Its a common Internet ploy. If Marty wishes to engage you he is welcome to do so. I would not if I were him, but I’m not.
“It’s not that State’s breaking any rules,” Kotis says. “But it goes against the spirit of the rules.”
Precisely……Kinda like that old Four Corners thingee, flops, etc.
But mom did so love Phil Ford and the Four Corners…..
Smart guy, that Kotis……
From the Pattaya Marriott over breakfast 🙂
Yep…. kinda like The Four Corners… and flopping. 🙂
Good comments from Marty. BL, you left out my comments that I had not accused Marty of ducking Thursday comments. Even though you always get the last word, please don’t edit out my request that this had been enough on this subject or about Marty on Thursday.Would love to meet more of your friends or regular responders (maybe you could dig up “Fightin’BobKennelJr” or whoever) :+)))
Would love for Marty to be the official “VOICE”. Bet Reed would vote for him.
BK… WHOA! I gotta “T you up” on that one, BK. I would NEVER NEVER edit out any of your Golden Words… not nary a single one. I’m afraid that could be another of your “simply because I say so” thingies. I would not even correct your spelling.
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If Fighting Bob wants to meet with you, I’d be mighty glad to referee. I’ve never met FBK either. I have two more Lunches w/ The Legend coming up This Week. Don’t know if either one will be “clandestine” or not.
BL, you are priceless. Pleased you do not change any words in the responses but chuckle at the comment placement manipulation to better make your points :+)). Short of being a ” Harrumph”, all trusting is not equal, and all loyalty is not blind. Guarantee I would not tolerate the kind of stupidity and ethics violations we have witnessed with TGU. NC State had had its troubles also but the students, professors, administrators, or fat cats are outed as quickly as possible. My comment to Marty who was quite visible with his BOG stewardship re the “Taj Mahal” has been… Read more »
In asking about Taj’s “costs”, Marty was being the rarest of BOGers to even question ANY project costs at any campus. For most of the past 25 years, few if any proposals were even read much less questioned by any of Bev / Easley / Basnight / Hackney’s BOG appointments. Tee times were more important than “questions”. . Marty has been outspoken re: his TGU concerns and that outspoken has drawn “rebukes” from within the BOG. For him to go directly/personally to Swofford as a sitting BOG member would be highly rebukable. Has Chancy Randy gone to Swoff on this… Read more »
Kennel- I’ve spoken up about the UNC scandal many times in public meetings, closed meetings, communications and requests for information. The powerpoint slides about the classes that demonstrated staff knowledge were unconscionable. One of my first requests when joining the board in 2013 was that we launch an independent investigation (this was pre-Wainstein). It’s important to root out the problems so that we can 1) protect the reputation of those that earned their degrees, 2) ensure a level playing field and maintain honor, and 3) most importantly – provide the athletes the education they deserve and hold up our end… Read more »
TAKE THAT Kennel…. straight from Marty Hisownself. I will verify it came from his address and is consistent with all our conversations.
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I can probably anticipate the Kennelian response…. but maybe BK will surprise us.
Good column for Marty! He’s a smart guy.
Yes he is. I haven’t heard from the rest of your august body but I’m sure opinions will vary. 🙂
Run him for governor. I would vote for him.
You mean Marty or Kennel ??? 🙂
I like the way Kotis thinks and talks. I am also a UNC-CH alumnus and am fed up with the BOG and UNC-CH trustees response to the academic fraud scandal. They refuse to admit that the school was admitting functional illiterates and calling them “student athletes.” Standards should be raised for all athletes and they should not be treated any differently than other students or given special privileges like the Taj Mahal dorm at NC State, or any other UNC system school for that matter. The value of my UNC diploma has been severely tarnished and the UNC establishment could… Read more »
You are certainly not alone in those strong feelings. I believe a significant / ever-growing % of our fellow UNC alums share that disgust.
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NOTE: This “Roger” is NOT outspoken UNCCH Trustee Roger Perry.
Enjoyed the “Marty” editorial. Don’t know him but agree with his business restorations, disagreement with legislative meddling in local governance, disgust with TGU, and support for Ross. Per my new comments on your “Taj Mahal” blog, don’t agree that the project breaks the “spirit of the endeavor”. Would hope he would spend more effort on the host of broken spirits of his A!ma Mammy rather than NC State’s rather straightforward proposed facility. Has he spoken to fellow alumnus Swaff in Greensboro? :+))
Methinks your obsession with Marty’s rather innocuous concern about the per bed $$$ of The Taj Mahal reflects more about YOUR well-known paranoia towards the slightest perceived slight to YOUR Alma Mammy than it does about Marty’s stewardship of UNC System member institutions. 🙂
BL, I realize you and 58WolkKennel have “this thing” with his harrumphs and your retorts. That said IMO you just nailed his pompous self with “this one”. …. His blind devotion to all things Wolfpack is no different than the most blind Carolina Way disciple.
And THAT Frank will likely result in yet another “harrumph” from Bre’r 58Wolf. 🙂