WS Chronicle

History was made earlier this week at City Hall when elected members of the Winston-Salem City Council were sworn in. For the first time ever, the majority of the seats on the council are held by Black women. 

While at least one Black woman has held a seat on the Winston-Salem City Council since 1977, when Vivian Burke and Virginia Newell became the first women elected, no more than three have ever served at the same time … until now. 

On Monday, Dec. 2, incumbents Denise “DD” Adams (North Ward), Barbara Hanes Burke (Northeast Ward), Annette Scippio (East Ward); and the newly elected members Vivian Joiner (South Ward), Regina Ford Hall (Northwest Ward), all were sworn in and account for five of the eight seats on the council. 

The other three seats are held by incumbents Robert Clark (R) (West Ward), James Taylor (D) (Southeast Ward), and newcomer Scott Andree-Bowen (D) (Southwest Ward).

Mayor Pro Tempore Adams (D) has served on the council since 2009. She has served as chair of the Community/Development/Housing/General Government Committee and vice chair of the Finance Committee. Adams defeated challengers Eunice Campbell and Kymberli Wellman in the primary election with more than 65% of the vote and ran unopposed in the general election last month.  

Councilmember Burke (D) was first elected to the council in 2020. Burke has served on the Public Safety Committee and the Public Works Committee. Before serving on the council, Burke was elected to the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) Board of Education. She also ran unopposed in November. In the primary election, Burke defeated challenger Paula McCoy. 

Councilmember Scippio (D) was chosen by voters to fill the seat in the East Ward in 2018 when Derwin Montgomery, who is president of The Chronicle, stepped down to fill a seat in the N.C. General Assembly. Scippio won the seat in the 2020 primary election by defeating a host of challengers. Over the years Scippio has served on the Public Works Committee and the Community Development/Housing/General Government Committee. Scippio ran unopposed in the general election and defeated challengers Phillip Carter, Christopher Tayler and Jared Lamkin in the primary election. 

Councilmember Vivian Joiner (D) defeated two-time incumbent John Larson in the primary and ran unopposed in the general election. Joiner has called Winston-Salem home for almost 25 years. In 2003 Joiner and her partner, Stephanie Tyson, opened Sweet Potatoes, an award-winning restaurant located downtown. Joiner and Tyson also own a sister restaurant located next to Sweet Potatoes, called Miss Ora’s Kitchen.

Councilmember Hall (D) defeated James Hodson (R) with 63% of the vote last month. Hall currently serves as executive director of the Boston-Thurmond Community Network, an initiative designed to facilitate and support the vision of the Boston-Thurmond Community. 

When asked about the being a part of history, Scippio said having five Black women and six Black councilmembers total serving on the council is an amazing feat. 

“Historically this hasn’t happened and we represent the electorate, that’s the cool thing. And two are representing majority wards, which is a testament to how African Americans have become respected in the eyes of voters,” Scippio said.

Scippio also made note that five of the council members are products of Winston-Salem: Scippio, Adams, Burke, Hall, and Taylor were all born and raised here.

“We’re all home grown and there are different decades represented. We know the good, the bad, and the ugly,” Scippio continued. “Everyone that will be sworn in today has gifts and talents and everyone is exceptionally qualified. Does that mean there’s going to be major catastrophic changes? No. What it means is there will be some solid changes that will last.” 

After being sworn in, the mayor and each of the council members had an opportunity to address the public and talk briefly about their plans for the next four years. 

Mayor Allen Joines, who will be serving his seventh consecutive term as mayor, said he’s just as excited today as he was when he was first elected in 2001. Joines said the city has made great progress over the past four years, but there’s still work to be done, specifically around affordable housing, reducing the poverty rate and homelessness, and economic development. “I’m really looking forward to working with our new council members as well as working with our returning council members, as well as the staff,” said Joines while discussing his plans. 

“There’s a lot of work to be done, but I believe we have the horsepower and the right people in the right places to make things happen.”