Diggs kicks off campaign for Northeast Ward seat on city council

Brenda Diggs addresses volunteers at the Mazie Woodruff Center.

Brenda Diggs kicked off her campaign for the Northeast Ward seat on Winston-Salem City Council with about 50 supporters at the Mazie Woodruff Center.

Everyone has been asking why she is running, Diggs said.

"Everything I've done it's not been done for me," said Diggs, a retired bank executive, who has serves on the city's police retirement commission and has chaired United Way campaigns. "It's been because I believe I was given power, I was given ability, I was given a mind to do something that enriches the life of someone else. And I will tell you that journey is not an easy journey. When you decide that you will be a servant, just the 'name' servant' can invoke pride in some, fear in some, envy in some and, yes, anger. But for me, that is my life.

"So it's a simple answer I give to the question of why are you running, why are you running now?" the candidate continued. "I want to serve all of the people of the Northeast Ward. I want to be the voice for those who don't necessarily feel today they have a voice to represent them."

Diggs is challenging longtime incumbent Vivian Burke in the Democratic primary, along with Jemmise Bowen. The primary winner will meet Republican Michael Owens in the general election for the heavily Democratic ward.

Diggs paid homage to Mazie Woodruff, a former county commissioner, whose life the candidate said paralleled and influenced her own. Woodruff is the namesake of the Forsyth Tech satellite campus in northeast Winston-Salem, where the campaign event was held.

"She was an absolute dynamic servant leader in this community," Diggs said of Woodruff. "She had a very gracious, warm smile. She always went around the city doing what she could do help someone else. And the beautiful thing about her is that she never, ever — I don't remember ever reading or hearing about her asking anything for herself. Neither do I remember her saying, 'Look at what I've done. Look at me. Pat me on the back.'"

Diggs poses with her campaign volunteers.

Diggs' event drew one sitting council member: Molly Leight, who represents the South Ward.

"I do have to acknowledge that there is someone who is currently sitting on the city council with me today, and I consider that an absolute privilege," Diggs said. "Any time someone thinks enough of you to come out and be a part of what you're doing, that is a great thing."

Montgomery, Diggs first to put names on the ballot for Winston-Salem City Council

Derwin Montgomery and Brenda B. Diggs

Derwin Montgomery, a one-term councilman seeking reelection in the East Ward, and Brenda B. Diggs, a political neophyte intent on winning the Northeast Ward seat, were jockeying for bragging rights as the first candidate to complete paperwork when filing opened at noon today at the Forsyth County Board of Elections.

Montgomery, who is defending his seat against former East Ward representative Joycelyn Johnson, arrived at 11:20 a.m. He drove straight to the election office from South Carolina, where he had been visiting family for the July 4 holiday, without stopping at home. Diggs arrived about 15 minutes later with an entourage of 18 people that included family, friends, community supporters and a designated photographer to commemorate the event.

The Northwest Ward seat sought by Diggs is currently represented by Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke, who could not be reached today for comment about whether she intends to file.

Diggs approached Montgomery about 10 minutes before noon.

"Derwin, you've done this before," she said, "but this is a history-making moment for me."

Montgomery files with help from election worker Judy Speas

Noting Diggs' entourage, Montgomery chuckled and said, "I should have taken a page out of your book."

He gave no indication of entertaining the possibility of deferring the honor.

Jacob Wright, an election worker, broke the polite standoff by offering to get Diggs started with her paperwork at another computer terminal down the counter.

Diggs celebrates her candidacy with supporters.

The deadline for filing is July 19 at noon. Winston-Salem operates under a partisan election system. Filing also opened today for nonpartisan municipal elections in Kernersville, Clemmons, Lewisville, Bethania, Tobaccoville, Rural Hall and Walkertown. In neighboring Guilford County, filing opened for nonpartisan elections in Greensboro, Jamestown, Summerfield, Stokesdale, Oak Ridge, Pleasant Garden, Sedalia, Whitsett and Gibsonville.

By noon, Montgomery was ready to put his signature on his paperwork. Diggs finished in quick succession and convened with her family, which included two grand-nieces, in the lobby for photographs.

UPDATE: Joycelyn Johnson has for the East Ward and Councilman Robert Clark has filed for re-election in the West Ward. Clark and Montgomery said Mayor Allen Joines plans to file on Monday.

Southeast Ward Councilman James Taylor Jr., South Ward Councilwoman Molly Leight, Southwest Ward Councilman Dan Besse and North Ward Councilwoman Denise D. Adams have also said they plan to file.

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