Vivian Burke to be honored with bust in City Hall

The general government committee of the Winston-Salem City Council will consider a resolution tonight to dedicate a bust to honor Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke to be placed in City Hall.

Mayor Allen Joines requested the bust from his fellow council members in a Nov. 22 letter.

"Council member Burke has served admirably in her 36 years on city council and has been a trailblazer for electoral politics in Winston-Salem, serving as one of the first black women elected to city council and the first black mayor pro tempore," Joines wrote. "Mrs. Burke has worked tirelessly during her 36 years of service as a member of city council to elevate the condition of the disenfranchised and needy members of the community and has significantly improved relations between predominantly underrepresented groups through a number of initiatives which include the creation of the human relations department. Mrs. Burke's deep personal and professional commitment to advancing the community has resulted in her receipt of numerous local, state and national awards which have brought prominence to the city of Winston-Salem."

Joines recommended that a bust bearing Burke's likeness be permanently displayed in City Hall, adding that community leaders and personal friends of the mayor pro tem "have raised all of the funds necessary for the creation of this well-deserved honor."

Newly seated Winston-Salem City Council reshuffles committees

Vivian Burke was sworn in to her 13th term on Winston-Salem council

Mayor Allen Joines and eight members of Winston-Salem City Council — all but one of them veterans of the body — pledged new investment in infrastructure and a war on poverty as they took their seats for a new term after being sworn in.

And while the roster of the body reflected little turnover, a reshuffle of committee leadership as two council veterans stepped aside, signaled a fresh start for the council.

As chair of the finance committee, Councilwoman Wanda Merschel has been recognized by her colleagues for helping the city maintain the lowest tax and fee structure of any major city in the state through a succession of difficult budget years. Her retirement from council created a vacancy filled by Jeff MacIntosh, as the new representative of the Northwest Ward, but also created a leadership vacuum on the finance committee.

The council voted unanimously on the motion of Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke to appoint Robert Clark, a four-term Republican who represents the West Ward to chair the finance committee. The surprise was that the slate moved by Burke promoted Councilman James Taylor Jr. from vice-chair to chair of the public safety committee.

Robert Clark is the new chair of the finance committee.

"I have been the public safety chairman for 36 years," Burke said after the vote. The councilwoman, who has represented the Northeast Ward since 1977, added that she talked with her son, Judge Todd Burke, her campaign secretary, Naomi Jones, and her campaign manager, Wayne Patterson.

"I said, 'God has blessed me, and I'm not going to serve as chairman anymore,'" Burke recalled. "The mayor had made that recommendation that I would. And I called him and I said, 'I have something to say.' I said, 'I want to move away from being chairman of public safety.'... I feel that [Taylor] would do a good job. He is committed. I want you to know that it was a choice, and I think the city will be in good hands with James Taylor as our chairman."

Councilman Dan Besse will replace Clark as chair of the public works committee, and Councilwoman Molly Leight will replace Besse as chair of the general government committee. Besse said he requested the switch.

"I've had a particularly strong interest especially in our transportation infrastructure services ever since I've been on the council and wanted the opportunity to press forward in development on that end," said Besse, who is beginning his fourth term. "I thought I would have the strongest chance to do that as chairman of the public works committee."

James Taylor Jr. will chair the public safety committee.

Several council members are interested in putting a new bond issue before voters for a referendum next year. That includes Besse, who said he will push for funding for a streetcar system and intersection improvements, along with new sidewalks and bike lanes.

Clark said the city's roads and parks have been neglected because of budget constraints over recent years.

"I will be suggesting to this council that it is now time to seriously look at a general-obligation bond on a referendum," he said. "It has been 13-plus years since we've put a bond before voters and I think those resources are needed to get this city back to where it needs to be."

Joines said the new council needs to quickly put together a strategic plan and a capital improvement plan to prepare for a bond issue next year. The mayor, who has served three terms, has acknowledged the widening wealth gap in Winston-Salem over the course of his reelection campaign, and quickly pivoted to a gesture of economic reconciliation during his remarks.

"If Winston-Salem itself is to reach its full potential, we have to find a way to address the unacceptable levels of poverty in our city," the mayor said. "The poverty levels for families in our community were 21 percent last year, and 17 percent of our households qualify for food stamps. Certainly, educational attainment is a critical factor. For instance, the poverty rate for individuals with a bachelor's degree is only 5 percent, compared to 34 percent for individuals who do not finish high school. So dealing with this issue is certainly the right thing to do morally. But it's also the right thing to do because it affects us all and eventually becomes a burden on the taxpayer."

Dan Besse takes the helm of the public works committee.

Joines said that Councilman Derwin Montgomery, who represents the East Ward, and NC Sen. Earline Parmon have talked to him about the issue.

"So I propose that we create a poverty, work and opportunity task force to review the issues surrounding poverty, inventory the various programs in place now and to identify new programs that should be developed to address this issue," Joines said.

Leight, who has represented the South Ward since 2005, sketched similar contours in her remarks.

"I would like to see our city and council members not only continue our economic growth — the muscle of our city — but also put that growth to use for those amongst us who need the help the most: the hungry, the homeless, the have-nots," she said. "I pledge to direct my attention to the heart of our city, towards those poor and without homes and food, especially those children who go to school hungry. I also pledge to direct my attention towards quality-of-life issues — shall we call it the soul of our city. Those issues have had to take a back seat during the past few years. A quality city funds parks, libraries, museums, which in fact, in turn, become economic drivers for the city."

Councilman Denise D. Adams predicted "difficult decisions about taxes" to pay for raises for police officers and firefighters and to finance new infrastructure and quality-of-life initiatives. And consistent

Molly Leight is the new chair of general government.

with her reelection campaign, Adams pledged to widen the city's redevelopment focus from downtown to outlying residential areas.

"Everybody wants to come home to a nice community block where there might be a coffee shop, or there might be some small businesses, or there might be some areas where children and families can come to do recreational things — nice sidewalks, more bike trails and greenways, better paving," she said.

While many council members reflected on two or three terms, Burke's comments summed up a record 12 terms in office.

Burke said that with the help of Assistant City Manager Greg Turner she calculated that she has spent 3,320 hours in official meetings to handle council business, not even counting community meetings.

"Tell me that I'm not committed and dedicated," Burke said. "There's no debate."

The Northeast Ward councilwoman talked about how during her tenure on council she has watched an area of Hanes Mill Road transition from a tree canopy to retail development.

"And some of you might not like to hear about Wal-Mart," Burke said. "But I tell you — I told the constituents I represented: 'I cannot say no; this time I'm going to say yes.' And we put Wal-Mart there. It created so many job opportunities. It made for people to have better homes. So we are interested in economic development."

MacIntosh, as the sole new member of the council, credited his colleagues with helping the city retain its AAA bond rating and steering Winston-Salem through the recession.

Jeff MacIntosh is the newest member of council.

"I think we're on the verge of being able to do some really great things," he said.

Merschel did not attend her final council meeting because of an unexplained medical issue, but City Manager Lee Garrity read from a written statement received by e-mail. Merschel thanked staff, fellow council members, her husband, family and friends and her successor, but singled out fellow council member Burke for praise.

"A special thanks and congratulations to my longtime friend, Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke, on her historic election," Merschel said. "Her dedication to our community is legendary."

IMAGES: Victors and losers of Winston-Salem's primary election

Created with flickr slideshow.
Here are some photos that didn't make it into our Winston-Salem primary election package for our print edition today. As of early Thursday morning our website has not been updated due to technical difficulties, but pick up a hard copy of the paper to see our election coverage.

1. A weary Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke meets with supporters outside the Mazie Woodruff Center as polls close. Burke garnered 53.8 percent of the vote against two challengers, propelling her to a 10th term as council representative for the Northeast Ward. (photo by Jordan Green)

2. Brenda Diggs (right), an unsuccessful challenger in the Northeast Ward, watches President Obama's speech on Syria with campaign manager Nigel Alston and former Mayor Martha Wood during her campaign watch party at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. The results were not final, but campaign members knew the news would not be good. (photo by Jordan Green)

3. Mayor Allen Joines greets campaign co-chair Steve Strawsburg at his campaign headquarters on Liberty Street after learning that he had won about 85 percent of the early vote. (photo by Jordan Green)

4. Northwest Ward Councilwoman Wanda Merschel (right) congratulates Jeff MacIntosh (back right) after his Democratic primary win in the ward that Merschel currently represents. Also pictured: John Merschel and Susan MacIntosh. (photo by Alex Ashe)

CAMPAIGN TRAIL: The mayor turns out the vote

Parry Overby (right) and Eugene Gladney prepared to canvas for Allen Joines, who is seeking reelection to his fourth term as mayor of Winston-Salem, at about 11 a.m. this morning.

Early voting in the partisan primary for Winston-Salem City Council runs through Saturday at the Forsyth County Government Center, located at 201 N. Chestnut St. The polls are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Thursday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

The official primary election is held on Tuesday, Sept. 10. You can check your voter registration here to find out where your polling place is located.

Research the candidates here, and see YES! Weekly's endorsements here.

Urban Circulator, jobs and regional competition mark fault lines between candidates

Joines (right) jokes with Montgomery. Also pictured (l-r): Besse, Elliot, Reynolds, MacIntosh and Johnson.   

Candidates for Winston-Salem City Council addressed a capacity crowd at the Milton Rhodes Arts Center last night, articulating a range of viewpoints on matters ranging from a proposed light-rail transit system to how the city can compete more effectively with its neighbors and attract jobs.

The candidate forum featured a slate of seven Republicans, followed by 18 Democrats, who took questions from Winston-Salem Journal Editorial Page Editor John Railey and WGHP Fox 8 reporter Bob Buckley.

Democrat Dan Besse, who is running for reelection in the Southeast Ward, took the strongest position in support of the light rail project, known as the Urban Circulator.

"We can learn from Charlotte's developing an aggressively balanced transportation system," he said. "They have the interstates serving them. They also have a rail system. We can do that here locally, and we can draw billions of additional and redevelopment to our city."

Noah Reynolds, a Democrat running for the open seat in the Northwest Ward, took a different position.

"I believe I can offer a more efficient and less costly alternative to the streetcar idea by reworking and making more efficient our existing bus network," Reynolds said, adding that he favors park-and-ride centers to get people in and out of the city.

Besse also said Winston-Salem should emulate the Triangle's focus on education and research to drive economic development.

Some candidates said past city councils missed opportunities to enhance Winston-Salem's growth.

"We let Greensboro outfox us by getting the airport there instead of Winston-Salem," said Donald T. Shaw, who is contesting Robert Bultman in the Republican primary for a shot at Besse in November. "They were a little bit smarter than us. We did nothing and sat on our hands."

Democrat Joycelyn Johnson, who is attempting to reclaim her seat as East Ward representative from incumbent Derwin Montgomery, said past city leaders missed the mark on annexation.

"We were not as aggressive as other communities," she said. "Charlotte would annex Concord if they had the opportunity. There's only one other city in Durham County outside of Durham. Raleigh adopts RTP, as does Durham. We did not do the kinds of things, right or wrong, that other communities did."

But most candidates said Winston-Salem has no significant deficiencies compared to other cities in the state.

Mayoral candidates Gardenia Henley and Allen Joines

"There's nothing about Winston-Salem that cannot be fixed," said Gardenia Henley, a retired auditor with the US Agency for International Development who is challenging Mayor Allen Joines in the Democratic primary. "We just need someone, like myself, who's got the knowledge and the experience to do that. Now, I want to say that having traveled around the world and seen many different economies and having turned around many different economies, I know what Winston-Salem can be again."

Joines said Winston-Salem is a model while acknowledging it can borrow ideas from other cities.

"The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston selected Winston-Salem as a 'resurgent city' and sent about 40 individuals down from Springfield, Massachusetts to study how we had turned our economy around," Joines countered. "That being said, however, we can always learn from our other cities and other colleagues. Greenville, South Carolina is a good example of the things they've done with their downtown. I was down there yesterday actually recruiting a company that I think would be a nice fit for our new knowledge-based economy here in Winston-Salem."

A question about whether candidates should be forced to retire after a certain number of years through term limits drew the most pointed responses from candidates for the Northeast Ward seat.

"When we have a city council representative that holds the position for an extremely long time a lot of people lose interest," said Jemmise Bowen, a Democratic challenger, who said she does support term limits. "And I think some of what has happened in the Northeast Ward is that interest has been lost in local politics. I think that comes from assuming that everything will be okay, will be okay, will be okay.... If you see things that aren't relevant to you, it's time to either run or vote that person out."

Brenda Diggs, another Democratic challenger, said she does not support term limits.

Democrat Vivian Burke, who has represented the Northeast Ward since 1977, said she does not support term limits.

"I have been progressive, and I think I have been very, very good at what I do," she said. "You can check the record: I have not missed meetings.... When people get older it does not mean that there is something wrong as long as you can be active and productive, I don't think you need term limits."

Democratic and Republican candidates concurred that the city's most glaring need is for jobs.

Jeff MacIntosh, one of three Democrats vying for the open Northwest Ward seat, said the city's investment in downtown represents its best strategy for overall growth.

"I don't think we can cut our way to prosperity," he said. "I think we need to make smart investments. And I think the investments we've made in downtown over the years have paid off and will continue to pay off. Downtown is a net revenue generator. Downtown throws off more money to the rest of the city than they consume in services. So when you increase the density of people living downtown, you increase the tax base with no additional infrastructure costs."

Bowen, one of three candidates running in the Northeast Ward said the city needs to leverage its evolving transportation infrastructure to develop an industrial food production economy.

"I'm talking like canned vegetables," she said. "We can now produce vegetables from our neighbors in Walkertown, the surrounding areas, down east. We can also secure vegetables and food products from South Carolina. We have the mountains where we have peaches."

Republican Patricia Kleinmaier, who is contending with Democrat Denise D. Adams for the North Ward seat in the November general election, took aim at the city's reliance on food service and medical jobs. A tea party activist, Kleinmaier argued that the city should reduce the tax burden and weed out regulations to encourage business growth.

Republican candidates prepare for the forum.

"I think the most glaring need of the city is for jobs, not just restaurant jobs and not just medical jobs," she said. "We need to find some more things to do for the kids that don't go to college.... I think we need to work on getting more businesses here but not by using incentives to get them here. We need to let them know that there's a workforce here that's willing and able to work."

Republican Michael Owens, who will face the Democratic victor in the general election contest for the Northeast Ward seat, said job creation is important to him because he is personally unemployed.

"I've taken lots of classes on lots of subjects, but I don't have that scrap of paper that tells the world that I've studied something for a certain number of years," Owens said. "That said, we need jobs for people like me — hard workers, but don't have that piece of paper."

Howard Hudson, one of two candidates challenging incumbent Robert Clark in the Republican primary for the West Ward, cited fiscal responsibility as the city's most urgent need. He argued that the city council failed to take bold action and make difficult decisions when it did not implement the recommendations of the Citizens Organizational Efficiency Review Committee to save $4.7 million through spending cuts and fee increases.

Lida Hayes Calvert, the Republican candidate for the Northwest Ward seat, served on the committee.

"Do you know that to get your trash picked up in the back of your yard you don't have to have an excuse?" she said. "$114,000 we spend to pick up trash in the back of someone's yard without an excuse. You can be Joe and you can call in and say, 'Hey, this is Joe. I'm calling to tell you that I can't push my cart to the curb.' You know what the city says? 'Okay Joe, we'll be over there and we'll pick up your trash. No doctor's note, no nothing. Joe gets his trash picked up."

Among the two Democratic candidates for the South Ward, challenger Carolyn Highsmith built on her argument that she will provide more responsive representation to constituents.

"I am running a campaign focusing on listening, connecting and celebrating the citizens of the South Ward one block at a time," Highsmith said.

Incumbent Molly Leight, who has represented the South Ward since 2005, said she is "pretty pleased and proud of what we've accomplished in the last eight years," citing new companies that have located in Winston-Salem to create new jobs and additional tax revenue.

Reeling off names of programs and progress benchmarks, Leight noted that her platform sounded strikingly similar to that of Mayor Allen Joines.

"Did we write the script together?" she asked.

Kleinmaier, the Republican challenger in the North Ward, assailed some of the programs used by the current Democratic council majority to stimulate investment.

"I don't think the city of Winston-Salem should be in the business of loaning money to small businesses; that's why we have banks," she said. "And I don't think we need to be supporting every nonprofit. If you're going to start a nonprofit, you need to figure out a way to earn your own money and take care of your nonprofit, and not go begging the city to pay for all your expenses."

The city council approved $2.2 million for arts and community-development nonprofits in the current fiscal year budget, including $247,540 for the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County, which operates the Milton Rhodes Arts Center.

The candidate forum attracted a capacity crowd.

Calvert acknowledged that her company was contracted to paint the arts center, but said she supports the arts through her own patronage.

Clark, the sitting West Ward representative and the sole incumbent on the Republican panel, said he is concerned that the number of nonprofits supported by the city has increased over the past three years.

Knox withdraws from Winston-Salem mayoral race

James Lee Knox, the Republican candidate for mayor of Winston-Salem, will pull out of the race.

A press statement sent on behalf of the campaign from campaign manager David Singletary indicated the decision was a reaction to the Forsyth County Republican Party's disavowal of the candidate.

The statement from the campaign follows:

My desire to run for mayor of Winston-Salem was based upon my belief that I have something to offer, and I have a desire to work to serve the citizens of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

Today, I have decided that now is not my time. The decision of the Forsyth County Republican Party to disavow my candidacy, as opposed to merely not supporting me, has made the task of running for mayor difficult, but not impossible.

And difficult decisions have to be made with any campaign. In this case the most difficult ones are the ones that involve my family. I have a great deal of love and respect for my family, and I sincerely appreciate their support.

I also appreciate the support of those who stood beside me. I appreciate the kind words of support and encouragement that I've been given. My respect for my supporters and for the citizens of Winston-Salem are only second to the respect and love that I have for my family.

I look forward to continuing to support my local Republican party in any way that I can, although I disagree with the actions that were taken against me. The decision and subsequent resolution that endorsed a smear campaign against me is contrary to what I beliefs of my Republican party.

However, just like with any family, we had a disagreement, and I believe we will find a way to get past this and move on with the business of keeping ou community, our city and our America a place where every vote counts and anybody can run for office and ... sometimes even win!

So today I'm announcing that I'm ending my campaign for Winston-Salem mayor.

Thank you! God bless you all and God bless America.

Incumbent Allen Joines faces challenger Gardenia Henley in the Democratic primary on Sept. 10.

Challenger telegraphs plan to go negative on Mayor Allen Joines

James Lee Knox

James Lee Knox received his wife’s blessing to run for mayor of Winston-Salem, but not the Republican Party’s.

Knox filed about an hour before the deadline on July 19, taking on a popular Democratic incumbent with solid backing in the city’s business community and among liberal constituencies, including African Americans and many seniors.

Long active in the Forsyth County Republican Party, the 56-year-old Knox drives a wrecker for Coliseum Towing, a company owned by his wife that contracts with the city, among other clients. He said he disagreed with the Republican Party’s strategy four years ago to allow Mayor Allen Joines to run un-challenged.

“I’ve had probably a couple hundred people who have said it’s terrible that we didn’t have anybody run,” Knox said. “I said, ‘Yeah, I hope we can find someone.’ Apparently the party didn’t want to do that.”

Knox declined to discuss in detail conversations within the party, but said, “The chairman isn’t happy with me, but I’ll get over it.”

Republicans ranging from Lida Hayes-Calvert, a successful businesswoman with strong institutional backing, to Michael Owens, an unemployed self-generating candidate with no civic volunteer experience, have filed in all but one ward race. Forsyth County Republican Party Chairman Scott Cumbie did not return calls seeking comment on the party’s electoral strategy.

Five days before filing, Knox signed up to address city council during public comments in the most recent meeting. He took the council to task for voting to approve a resolution designating Winston-Salem a “compassionate city.”

“You can talk compassion, but where does that help us bring us jobs?” Knox asked. “Where do the jobs come from? How does that reduce crime rates? How does that help us with our streets? We can look at compassion in many ways, but compassion is a word. Where is the action? How do you do an action from that? How do you translate that into something positive for the citizens of Forsyth County? I know there are people who are discriminated against, and that’s good for them. This will probably help them. But for the average person out there — the average Joe — how does this translate into jobs for the people who are unemployed or lost jobs at Dell or whatever?”

City Manager Lee Garrity, who knows Knox well from his business dealings with the city, kidded him: “That sounded like a campaign speech.”

Knox is no political rookie. Last year, he won election as a Forsyth County Soil & Water Board Supervisor. And he ran unsuccessfully for the North Ward seat on city council in 1985 and 1989.

Knox said he’s modeling his candidacy on Republican Jack Cavenagh’s ousting of Democratic Mayor Martha Wood in 1997. That year, Republican candidates Vernon Robinson — known as “the black Jesse Helms” — carried the South Ward and Republican Steve Whiton prevailed in the Southwest Ward — seats that are both occupied by Democrats today.

“I’m going to be running an aggressive campaign — low money, but aggressive,” Knox said. “Think of Jack Cavenagh running against Martha Wood. He ran a low-money campaign, but attacked, attacked, attacked.”

The strategy worked in 1997 until the next election, when savvy challenger, former City Manager Allen Joines, turned the tables on Cavenagh.

Visiting with constituents at a campaign event hosted by fellow Democrat Dan Besse on Sunday, Joines indicated he relishes the opportunity to meet Knox in the general-election contest.

“Good,” the sitting mayor said. “It worked real well for [Cavanagh]. I won with 78 percent of the vote.

“I don’t respond to attacks,” Joines added. “I just talk about my accomplishments and what I want to do.”

Progressive councilman goes on offensive against Raleigh

Democrat Dan Besse speaks with supporter Caroline Warren.

Democrat Dan Besse, who has represented the Southwest Ward on Winston-Salem City Council since 2001, launched his reelection campaign at a picnic shelter at Miller Park with a spirited attack on the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

"We have been dealing for the past couple years with a newly extreme state legislature in Raleigh that has not seen the value in the local flexibility that we need to ensure that we have a green, clean, healthy community," Besse said. "And we're pushing back against that. And we need to continue to push back against that.

"If I'm reelected, I will because what we're getting is bad marching orders in the wrong direction from Raleigh giving us things like requiring us to allow concealed weapons in parks and greenways," the candidate continued. "They are saying we can't have the flexibility to do what we need to do on the local level to protect our water supply like Salem Lake. They're saying that we are going to be financially penalized if we use transportation money for multimodal transportation improvements, including those needed sidewalks and needed transit safety improvements instead of spending ever last dollar on more roads and more lanes."

Supporters applauded Besse for pushing the city to install more sidewalks in the Southwest Ward and leading the successful effort to expand bus service to Sundays. About 55 people attended the campaign event. The incumbent Democrat set the stage for his reelection contest against the Republican nominee. The Sept. 10 primary will determine whether Besse faces Donald T. Shaw or Robert Bultman in the general election.

"I don't know who my opposition will be in November," Besse said. "The other guys have a primary coming up. But there's every indication that it will be somebody from the tea-party wing of that party. And that's unfortunate. We have some good, responsible Republicans in town that we're able to work with, as well as a lot of good independent and Democratic voters in the city that we work with. But not everybody has that kind of mainstream, basic-responsibility mindset. And when you don't you tend to get the folks that have blinders on; they see only one issue — the property tax rate or the income tax rate. And all they say is, cut. They like to say, 'Running government like a business,' but they don't. Instead, they get in and they slash necessary public services, starve out and neglect our public infrastructure like our public transportation system and let it decay by neglect."

Mayor Allen Joines appeared at the campaign event to express support for Besse. The mayor cited the importance of teamwork in achieving policy results, and credited Besse for supporting economic development and helping to reduce chronic homelessness.

"We've planted a lot of good seeds over the past four years," Joines said. "But it's like a garden. If you don't nurture those seeds, they're gonna wither up and dry. So I'm asking to be reelected. I'm asking you to reelect Dan so he can come along with us and continue to help us put good water and fertilizer on those seeds and let 'em grow and let our city continue to be healthy and strong."

Besse returned the favor by saying, "It's no secret that I'm a big supporter of Allen for mayor, and I hope that you'll join me in voting for him."

Besse promoted incumbent Democrats as a slate, singling out North Ward Councilwoman Denise D. Adams in particular.

"As Allen emphasized, we can't get things done on a local level without working as a team," Besse said. "I think we do have a good working team on city council and with the mayor now. We have been making strong progress over most of the past decade across a broad front of issues. Let's keep the city moving forward together."

Burke defends NW Ward seat, Knox bucks party to challenge Joines

Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke gives election staffer Joshua Chunn a lesson on penmanship.

Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke resolved the suspense about whether she'll seek election by filing in the 11th hour.

The nine-term incumbent, who has represented the Northeast Ward on Winston-Salem City Council since 1977, said she hadn't decided whether to run again until just recently.

"I prayed about it," Burke said. "I had a meeting at my house last night. I had a roomful of people. They talked; I listened. I told them they would know my decision tomorrow."

Burke faces two challengers, Brenda Diggs and Jemmise Bowen, in the Democratic Party.

Other last-minute filings include James Lee Knox, a Republican filing for mayor. He said he has his wife's blessing, but not that of the Forsyth County Republican Party, which is focusing resources elsewhere. Knox was elected last year to the Forsyth County Soil and Water Board and ran unsuccessfully for the North Ward seat on city council in 1985 and 1989.

In a sign the GOP is making a play to expand its standing on city council, where seven out of eight seats are held by Democrats, the party is fielding candidates in all but one ward.

Its best shot may be the Northwest Ward, which has the second highest percentage of registered Republican voters, outside of the West Ward, which is represented by Republican Robert Clark. Lida Hayes-Calvert, a small business owner who served on the city's Citizens' Organizational Efficiency & Review Committee, and has hired a consultant who formerly worked on the staff of Congresswoman Virginia Foxx.

In the Southwest Ward, Republicans Donald T. Shaw and Robert Bultman will contend in the Republican primary for the opportunity to take on Democratic incumbent Dan Besse.

Republican Nathan Jones is challenging Democratic incumbent Molly Leight in the South Ward, while Republican Mike Hunger has filed for the Southeast Ward seat currently represented by James Taylor Jr. and Republican Patricia Kleinmaier has stepped up to meet Democratic incumbent Denise D. Adams in the North Ward.

The survivor of the Democratic primary in the Northeast Ward will face nominal competition from Michael Owens.

Intra-party competition in a couple primaries intensified over the final two days of filing.

Just before the noon deadline today, Laura Elliott, an ordained pastor with a progressive platform filed as a Democrat in the Northwest Ward. Yesterday, Noah Reynolds, a scion of the Reynolds tobacco family, filed as a Democrat. Rounding out the three-way Democratic primary is Jeff MacIntosh, a realtor whose interest in the seat was known before filing opened.

And in the Democratic primary for the East Ward, Phil Carter, an active member of the local Democratic Party, jumped in with incumbent Derwin Montgomery and longtime councilwoman Joycelyn Johnson.

Yesterday, Carolyn Highsmith, a community leader in the Konnoak Hills neighborhood who played a leadership role in a campaign to raise home values reduced in the recent tax revaluation, filed to challenge incumbent Molly Leight in the Democratic primary for the South Ward.

In the West Ward, incumbent Robert Clark has two challengers in the Republican primary: Howard Hudson and Andrew Johnson.

West Ward challenger sets up a Republican primary

Winston-Salem Councilman Robert C. Clark will have a Republican primary challenger in the West Ward.

Howard Hudson, a retired lawyer, filed for the seat today.

Hudson said the primary reason for his challenge is that Clark has voted to raise taxes for the past two years while approving spending on what the candidate considers "questionable and even frivolous capital projects." BB&T Ballpark, Union Station, a joint city-county shooting range for law enforcement personnel and the purchase of energy-efficient buses. He also opposes development of a streetcar system, which council has been considering over the past couple years.

"I actually have swapped a number of e-mails with Mr. Clark over the past four years," Hudson said. "I asked him not to vote for an 8-percent tax increase. He did. I wrote him an e-mail about that. He said there really is a tax decrease for 60 percent of property owners and some property owners will see a tax increase."

The 2013 Forsyth County tax revaluation resulted in some property owners' tax bills going up and others going down, depending on whether their properties gained or lost valuation.

"In the e-mail, on the bottom line Mr. Clark basically said property owners in the West Ward and in the other contiguous wards that will see a tax increase should be happy because the equity in our homes did not drop," Hudson continued. "I found that rather abrasive."

Two Democrats, incumbent Allen Joines and challenger Gardenia Henley, filed for mayor today, setting up a contested primary. Joines is completing his third term. Henley has run unsuccessfully for NC House and governor, and has investigated alleged improprieties in the Forsyth County Board of Elections and Winston-Salem Sanitation Division.

Dan Besse, a Democrat who current represents the Southwest Ward, filed for reelection today, and Democrat Jeff MacIntosh filed for the open Northwest Ward seat. Both are unopposed so far.

South Ward Councilwoman Molly Leight, a Democrat, plans to file tomorrow.

Previously.

Research candidates for Winston-Salem City Council at YES! Weekly's online voter guide, Triad Elections '13.

Montgomery launches re-election campaign for East Ward

Derwin Montgomery

Winston-Salem City Councilman Derwin Montgomery opened his remarks with a recitation of his favorite poem, “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Guest, during a gathering on Monday evening at the Winston Mutual Building to kick off his re-election campaign in the East Ward.

“He started to sing as he tackled the thing/ That couldn’t be done, and he did it!” Montgomery recited, before recalling that he ran for city council four years ago as a 20-year-old Winston-Salem State University student.

Montgomery unseated incumbent Joycelyn Johnson in the Democratic primary four years ago by harnessing Winston-Salem State University student votes in a low-turnout contest. Johnson has announced plans to challenge Montgomery this year, setting up a rematch.

Mayor Allen Joines, East Winston community leader Marva Reid and businessman Algenon Cash were among those who appeared at the event to support Montgomery’s candidacy.

“He’s an energetic, bright young man that has brought a lot of talent to our council,” Joines said. “We’ve struggled in the vineyards, as you say, on some tough, thorny issues there, and it’s always been my pleasure to work with him. He’s been a big supporter of economic development to try to move this city forward.”

Reid, president of the East-Northeast Winston Neighborhood Association, said, “The East Ward needs a person that see their leadership as doing the people’s business. In the past, East Winston leaders were considered the swing voters or going along with the majority. But Councilman Derwin Montgomery has exemplified that he will stand up [against] injustices for us and for all people.”

Cash, a Republican, acknowledged that Montgomery “and I don’t share the same politics,” but said, “I stand here tonight in full support of this young man and his vision.”

Montgomery said it was no coincidence that he chose to launch his campaign at the Winston Mutual Building, a four-story landmark in the East Winston landscape that has sat vacant in recent years. Fifth Street Investments, a company registered by local developer Hank Perkins, bought the property last September.

“Six months [into my term] that’s when they made everybody move out,” Montgomery recalled. “The company went into receivership. Everybody was afraid that it was going to be demolished. It was important to preserve the building because it had so much symbolism in representing African-American entrepreneurship.”

Montgomery said the 2013-2014 annual budget recently approved by city council includes a provision to move the Winston-Salem Police Department’s crime-prevention unit into the second floor of the Winston Mutual building.

“It’s going to say to the entire community that this building is back in use, and we’re going to put tenants in it,” the councilman said.

The candidate built on the theme of his surprise win four years ago.

“We showed this community that things can be done that we think cannot happen," he said. "We continue to look at all the obstacles that we face in this community. We have done great work over the past four years. We have worked with the mayor and the rest of the council to try to bring more jobs to bring more jobs to Winston-Salem and to create an environment that is open to businesses to grow and develop. We try to nurture that same environment when it comes to small business and small-business development."

Montgomery said one of his priorities is matching people who are looking for work in the East Ward with employers who are trying to fill job positions.

“As a council member it’s not written in my job description that that’s something that I’m supposed to do," he said. "But the community needs individuals that will do that type of work. We need individuals to continue to move forward to connect the dots for neighborhoods that have felt separated from what is happening in downtown Winston-Salem and across the entire city."

Winston-Salem council: No evidence of misconduct in sanitation department

The Winston-Salem Council voted unanimously tonight to adopt a resolution stating that the city manager and city attorney found no evidence to substantiate allegations of forgery, perjury, unaddressed incidents of sexual harassment, failure to respond in a timely manner to a medical situation and retaliation in the sanitation department.

The statement was issued in response to remarks made by several current and former employees to council in a public comment period during a Feb. 18 meeting.

The formal statement indicated that council was prohibited due to state personnel privacy law and a federal healthcare privacy law from disclosing additional information, but directed the city manager to try to obtain written authorizations from affected employees so that additional details of the investigation could be released at a later time.

"We are very willing and anxious to provide the information," Mayor Allen Joines said. "We take those allegations very seriously."

The city council met twice in closed session to discuss the matter.

"We did a thorough investigation," City Manager Lee Garrity said after the vote. "It did take several interviews. This all had to be reviewed by the city attorney. The city council members had questions. And then we had to determine what the city council could and couldn't release."

Victor Bethea, a sanitation laborer who was among the current and former employees who addressed council in February, declined to comment tonight on council's formal statement.

Bethea explained to council members how he had been implicated in the firing of another employee, Angelia Byrd, the driver for his crew.

"In reference to Ms. Byrd I was the person that they forged his name on false accusations about her that I did not state or did not write a statement to," Bethea said during the Feb. 18 city council meeting.

Garrity told YES! Weekly in late March that no forgery occurred, and that the matter had arose because of confusion on the part of Deputy Sanitation Director Randy Britton during a hearing for Byrd to appeal her termination.

Donald Gore, a sanitation driver who complained that he had suffered a minor stroke after driving a truck that lacked air conditioning on a hot summer day, also declined to comment this evening.

City council hears report on discontent in sanitation department

Council members pose for a photo to commemorate the city's centennial.

Winston-Salem City Council met in closed session for about 50 minutes on Monday night to hear a report from top administrators on the findings from an investigation into allegations of misconduct in the sanitation department.

"We do take these issues very seriously, and that's why we have asked for this investigation," Mayor Allen Joines said after council adjourned in public following the closed session. The mayor added that he was limiting his statement to avoid preempting a formal statement to be drafted by City Manager Lee Garrity and City Attorney Angela Carmon on behalf of the city council and released in the coming weeks.

Former and current sanitation employees have raised several issues of concern about the department, including allegations of sexual harassment, unsafe working conditions and disrespectful treatment by citizens who are customers of the department's public services. Most troubling perhaps is an allegation by a sanitation laborer captured on an audio recording that a supervisor forged his signature on a statement.

The supervisor, Darrell Moody, can also be heard on a recording obtained by YES! Weekly, pressuring the laborer, Victor Bethea, to change his statement and threatening to write his own statement in substitution. Both incidents took place during an administrative investigation that ultimately led to the dismissal of a driver named Angelia Byrd who was involved with a confrontation with a resident over whether the resident should be receiving special backyard trash pickup.

The allegations were detailed in an investigative report published by YES! Weekly earlier this month. Garrity, Assistant City Manager Greg Turner and Sanitation Director Johnnie Taylor, along with Carmon, met in closed session with council to answer members' questions.

Joines said the city will have to strike a balance in its statement between providing adequate detail to maintain public confidence and protecting the privacy rights of employees.

"It's a very difficult position that the city is in," he said. "We have to be careful in how that's worded to protect the rights of employees, but we do want to reassure the public that the department is being managed appropriately." 

Addressing council during the public speakers portion of the meeting before council went into closed session, Byrd reminded council members that she had come before them last month with allegations of sexual harassment, forgery and wrongful termination. She asked Joines and the other council members what came of the investigation and whether anything had been done about it.

Joines responded that council would be unable to publicly address many of the allegations because of restrictions on the release of personnel information.

Byrd said after the meeting that she expects to meet with Garrity to receive a report on the findings of the city's internal investigation. 

Related to the personnel problems in the sanitation department, employees have raised questions about possibly abuses in the city's curbside garbage pickup program, which allows residents to receive backyard service simply by filing an application that attests that no one in the household is capable of moving trash to the curb. About 5 percent of households in Winston-Salem receive backyard service in Winston-Salem, compared to about 1 percent in other cities across the state. A citizens budget review committee has recommended that the city require residents to obtain a doctor's note to continue to receive backyard service -- a change that would save taxpayers an estimated $114,000.

"I've been a bit concerned about the large number of exemptions," Joines said on Monday. "I've felt for some time that we should maybe take a look at that issue and perhaps adopt a more formal policy and require more detail in the applications."

He added that he expects staff to make a detailed report to the city council's public works committee on the matter in coming months.

Councilman Dan Besse, who represents the Southwest Ward, has said he supports the current policy, arguing that requiring the elderly and people with disabilities to obtain a doctor's note would subject them to indignity and unwarranted inconvenience.

"Thus far a majority of the Winston-Salem council has come down on the side of the elderly, frail and disabled," he said earlier this month. "That's my vote, and I'm sticking to it."

In other news, the council unanimously approved a resolution in support of legislation filed by NC Rep. Ed Hanes Jr. that would allow county commissions to set aside the most recent tax reappraisal. Constituents in predominantly black neighborhoods on the east side of Winston-Salem have sought relief from the recent round of revaluations, which they contend have artificially diminished the value of their properties.

Council also delayed a vote on change orders to Blythe Construction and HDR Engineering for work on stormwater management and new streets at the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter on the eastern flank of downtown.

Councilwoman Wanda Merschel, who represents the Northwest Ward, said she opposed the change orders because of escalating costs due to unforeseen environmental contamination.

"At some point someone's going to have to explain to me what could have been done to avoid $5.2 million in change orders," she said.

Turner, the assistant city manager, said fly ash and fuel oil were discovered that were likely created by a physical plant and incinerator operated by the city. He said state would require the city to clean up the mess one way or another.

"This is our fly ash and our fuel oil poured on top of it," said Councilman Robert Clark, who represents the West Ward, "and we have to clean it up."

Merschel replied, "This one is hard.... This one just looks bad for taxpayers."

Before council could take a vote, Councilman James Taylor Jr., who represents the Southeast Ward, made a motion for no consideration. The parliamentary procedure results in the matter being placed on the agenda for the next meeting in April. After listening to objections from Merschel, along with Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke and Councilwoman Denise D. Adams, Taylor said he found himself on the fence and surmised that he might be in a position to cast the swing vote on the contract.

 

Mayor Joines cited for unsafe movement in car accident

Allen Joines

Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines was involved in a car accident on 2nd Street near Spring Street yesterday at about 4 p.m., police report.

Police said Joines' car drifted into the adjoining lane and collided with the right side of another car driven by Aaron M. Whiteford, 28, of Winston-Salem. Joines and Whiteford suffered no injuries, and total damage to both vehicles was estimated at $3,500.

Joines was cited for unsafe movement, according to police, but speed and alcohol were not factors in the crash.

Bill filed by Forsyth lawmaker to set aside revaluations

Ed Hanes Jr.

UPDATE: NC Rep. Ed Hanes says Rep. Evelyn Terry, a fellow Democrat, will co-sponsor the bill, and that he's still working on his Republican colleagues.

ORIGINAL POST: NC Rep. Ed Hanes Jr. (D-Forsyth) has filed legislation allowing county commissions to set aside the latest property revaluation. The bill, which was filed today, was drafted in response to a public outcry by homeowners in predominantly black neighborhoods on the the east side of Winston-Salem who are alarmed that depreciation rates from 50 to 70 percent will effectively wipe out their most significant investments.

No other members of the Forsyth County delegation, including fellow Democrat Evelyn Terry or the three Republican members, are cosponsors.

Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines has pledged to introduce a resolution in support of the bill at the next city council meeting on March 25.

Meanwhile, the bill faces steep hurdles, being that it was filed by a freshman Democrat in a Republican-controlled state legislature without the support of the county delegation's Republican members. 

And even if the bill passes, there is no guarantee that the Republican-controlled Forsyth County Commission will choose to act on it. Commissioners Walter Marshall and Everette Witherspoon, the two Democrats and representatives of District A who serve on the county commission have urged property owners to lobby their Republican colleagues.

In other legislative news today, Hanes signed on with Rep. Debra Conrad and Rep. Donny Lambeth — both Forsyth County Republicans — to a bill that would allow the city of Winston-Salem to skirt seismic upgrade requirements — essentially building codes ensure that structures are safe in the event of an earthquake — for temporary occupancy of an emergency operations center.

Sen. Pete Brunstetter (R) and Sen. Earline Parmon (D), the two senators from Forsyth County, are cosponsors of the Senate version of the bill.

Mayor sides with east Winston-Salem homeowners in reval fight

Allen Joines

Mayor Allen Joines told a group of east Winston-Salem homeowners last night that there's nothing city government can do to help them, but signaled his solidarity in an election year when black voters are looking for reassurance that their interests are being addressed.

"I'm with you," Joines told about 25 people at a community meeting at Shiloh Baptist Church on Monday evening. "I understand the concern about this revaluation.

"Citizens and residents have worked hard all their life, paid off that mortgage," he continued. "Then, when they retire a little later on in life that piece of property is something that could help them in their later years. They have some asset that they could pass on to their children and things of that nature. So there's something just wrong, I believe, in this process." 


Virginia K. Newell, a retired alderman and retired math professor at Winston-Salem State University who is now a real estate agent, issued a test to Joines, asking him what effect he thought the reappraisal would have on a house that recently went up for sale in her neighborhood.

"Ms. Newell, I would have to believe that potential buyers are going to look at the tax value as some indication of what they believe the value would be," the mayor answered. "I've had some real estate appraisers try to tell me that it really doesn't impact it. But I believe it does. When I was looking to buy my house, I looked at what the tax value was and tried to make some decisions along those lines. I believe it would have a negative impact. You're in real estate. You probably know better than I do."

Joines said he supports legislation NC Rep. Ed Hanes Jr. has pledged to file that would freeze property values at their valuation before the recent reappraisal. Joines said he plans to take a resolution in support of the Hanes bill to city council on March 25, adding that he is confident his colleagues will support it.
  
Led by the Rev. Paul Lowe Jr., the residents also agreed to seek a meeting with the Forsyth County Board of Equalization and Review to address deep drops in property values in predominantly African-American neighborhoods at a systematic level.

Forsyth County Commissioner Walter Marshall, who represents District A, encouraged residents to get involved in the process of appointment for the board of equalization, which hears appeals to tax revaluations. He said there is one black member of the five-member board, Richard Davis. Marshall said the Republican-controlled county commission allows the two black Democrats to appoint one person to the board. Residents of east Winston-Salem should engage Davis to find out if he's sensitive to their concerns, Marshall said. If not, they should find someone else to request appointment and tell their District A representatives so they can lobby their Republican colleagues on the county commission. 

The deadline for applications is March 20, and the county commission will make the appointments on March 25.

Ruth Carter, a resident of the East Ward, articulated fears in the community that the significant depreciation in values sets the east side of Winston-Salem up for a wave of gentrification.

"Something is going to happen over here in east Winston that's going to take our homes, whether we want 'em to or not," Carter said. "This is what I'm looking at. Now, I don't know about you, but this is my gut feeling: They are lowering the tax [value] on our houses in order for us to give 'em up. I tell you: I'm going to fight it."

Joines is a strong supporter of the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, formerly known as Piedmont Triad Research Park, the Salem Creek Connector and other initiatives to make the eastern flank of downtown more attractive and vital.

"I can understand your concern," Joines told Carter. "That's the reason I think we all got to stick together here. There has been some discussion of class-action lawsuits and things of that nature."

 

Mayor Allen Joines announces reelection campaign

Mayor Allen Joines kicked off his reelection campaign this morning at Medicap Pharmacy on Liberty Street on the east side of Winston-Salem.

"What we're really all about at city government is listening to folks in the community and trying to address problems," Joines said. "And we've done that. Up here on Liberty Street, we've made significant investment in the public infrastructure all along here with sidewalks, new lights, landscaping to create a positive environment for business. We've worked with the Liberty CDC on acquiring land and flipping land and getting buildings redone. I know there's more things that we can do. We just talked about that — that we might need to jazz up our small business loan program a bit."

The campaign event was hosted by Joines' campaign co-chair, Jim Shaw, who is president of the Liberty Community Development Corp. The mayor is making the rounds throughout the city, accompanied by political consultant Mike Horn, today to speak with small groups of business and community leaders. He was scheduled to stop at Chelsee's Coffee Shop & More on Trade Street at 10:15 a.m. and with the Minister's Alliance at a church at 11 a.m. The mayor makes his official reelection announcement at noon today on the steps of City Hall. 

Councilman James Taylor Jr., who represents the Southeast Ward was among about a dozen people present for the campaign event, including Forsyth County Commissioner Walter Marshall, NAACP leader Stephen Hairston, Piedmont Propulsion Systems General Manager Sammy Oakley, publicist Carroll Leggett, former councilman Fred Terry and Brenda Diggs. 

Taylor said he also plans to run for reelection for the Southeast Ward seat. 

"With James' leadership we really developed a very strong RUCA program — Revitalizing Urban Commercial Areas — where we took $2.8 million of the money we got back from Dell," Joines said. "We got all our money back. We used a portion of that to help with areas like Liberty Street and Waughtown, King Plaza over in James' ward, and the Polo-Cherry area. We're working with the business community to make improvements in those areas. We haven't got it all done yet, but we're making good progress." 

The mayor said the has lost 15,000 jobs in manufacturing and construction over the past 12 years, but has replaced them with 17,000 new jobs in advanced manufacturing, information technology and the medical sector. He cited Piedmont Propulsion Systems, where Oakley told him the company employs 45 people at Reynolds Airport. Joines also said the city remains focused on the social goals of reducing childhood obesity and increasing recycling. 

 The mayor fielded a question about what the city is doing to provide employment opportunities for young people as construction continues on Piedmont Triad Research Park on the eastern flank of downtown. Joines said he and East Ward Councilman Derwin Montgomery recently met with park President Eric Tomlinson to discuss the matter. 

"How do we get the word out about the types of jobs that are being created so young people can start preparing for them?" the mayor asked rhetorically. "One, we're going to have a town-hall meeting with Eric and talk about some of those things. The other thing is change the website — young people, that's one thing they know how to do — with a section about the different types of jobs that are being created and will be created, and the type of skill sets that will be needed, so young people can see that to create a career path. The other thing we're going to do is have more communication with our school system so they understand the kind of jobs that are being created there, and they can communicate that to the students through their counselors the types of courses that they'll need to take. We acknowledged we haven't done a good enough job."