THE CHRONICLE’S ENDORSEMENTS: Forsyth County Board of Commissioners
THE CHRONICLE’S ENDORSEMENTS: Forsyth County Board of Commissioners
Early voting begins Thursday, April 19. The Democratic and Republican primaries are on May 8. Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is one of the important races on both ballots that will help to shape policy for the next few years in our community.
County Commissioners District A
The office of the Forsyth County Commissioners has been the home of many great leaders such as Mazie Woodruff, Beaufort Bailey, Walter Marshall and the legendary Earline Parmon. Three of the four candidates in this race, Fleming El-Amin, Everette Witherspoon and Tonya McDaniel, are known protégés or associates of Earline Parmon. It has been surprising to see such qualified candidates competing for the same office.
Senior Incumbent Everette Witherspoon was elected in 2010, and is vying for his third term as a Forsyth County Commissioner. Witherspoon has typically been an outspoken voice on key issues like improving Forsyth County infant mortality rates. He has also fought to address community concerns centered around recent inmate deaths occurring at the Forsyth County Jail.
Tonya McDaniel has called Winston-Salem home for at least the past 10 years. She is also a graduate of Winston-Salem State University. McDaniel lost her son to gun violence and is devoted to finding solutions to keeping families safe in Forsyth County. She may work well with the current or new Forsyth County Sheriff to improve on public safety.
Fleming El-Amin is the former chairman of the Forsyth County Democratic Party. El-Amin was appointed by the Democratic Party to fill the term of the incomparable Walter Marshall in 2017. El-Amin, as chairman of the Board for the Department of Social Services, helped to steady the reins of the organization during a critical leadership transition from recently ousted Social Services Director Debra Donahue to the newly appointed Victor Isler. He also regularly attends school board meetings to find ways to support education.
Tony Burton has been a community pillar in education for the past few decades, working to shape the minds of our youth to be the leaders of tomorrow. Burton has positioned himself as a candidate that will take his passion for education and work extremely close with the newly elected members of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board to move education forward in Forsyth County.
With two open seats, voters can select two candidates. We believe that education is one of the most important community issues that we are facing in our county. Tony Burton’s experience in education, his passion for second- chance youth and his service to the children at Northwest Child Development Centers is enough to earn our nod for one of those two seats.
The Chronicle endorses Tony Burton for one of the two Forsyth County Commissioner District A seats.
Everette Witherspoon, Tonya McDaniel and Fleming El-Amin are all candidates that are worthy of being selected for the remaining seat.
County Commissioner At Large
Incumbent Democrat Ted Kaplan is unopposed in the Democratic Primary for the Forsyth County Commissioner At Large seat. Kaplan will face the winner of the Republican Primary in November.
Republicans A.L. “Buddy” Collins and Jimmie Boyd will face off in the Republican Primary for Forsyth County Commissioner At Large on May 8.
A.L. “Buddy” Collins is a Kernersville attorney that practices law in Forsyth County. Collins was previously a member of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board for 16 years, and recently resigned as vice chairman of the North Carolina Board of Education.
Jimmie Boyd ran unsuccessfully for one of the GOP’s three District B nominations to the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners in 2012. He has expressed concern for improving the cost of health care in county systems, and has called to see incentives developed for small businesses.
The Chronicle endorses A.L. “Buddy Collins” for the at large seat in the Republican Primary.
PRIMARY VOTING INFORMATION
Early voting starts today. The Board of Elections office on the second floor of the County Government Center will be the sole early voting site open on today, April 20 and 23-27 with hours from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Then four satellite sites will open April 30-May 4 from 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. at the Southside, Lewisville and Rural Hall libraries and VFW Post 5352 in Kernersville, in addition to the Board of Elections office, which will maintain its regular hours. Saturday, May 5, will be the last day of early voting as all five sites will be open from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
