WS Chronicle

The three seats up for grabs in District B on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners were retained by incumbents in the 2024 general election. Incumbents Richard Linville, Gloria Whisenhunt, and Gray Wilson, who are all Republicans, finished with about 52% of the total vote. 

According to unofficial voting returns available on the N.C. State Board of Elections’ website,  Linville, who has served on the board since 1980, finished with 66,836 total votes. Whisenhunt, who was first elected in 1996, had the second most votes with 63,335. Wilson finished with 62,483 total votes. Wilson was elected earlier this year to replace longtime commissioner Dave Plyler, who retired.

None of the Democrats running for seats in District B, which includes areas in the county outside the Winston-Salem city limits, finished with more than 60,000 votes. Curtis Fentress finished with 59,883. Valerie Brockenbrough finished with 59,165; and Marsie West finished with 56,385. 

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners consists of seven members and is the governing body of Forsyth County. Elections are held in even-numbered years and board members serve four-year staggered terms. Six of the commissioners are elected from the two districts, two for District A, four for District B, and one is elected at-large.

The Board of Commissioners major responsibilities include adopting the annual County budget, setting the County property tax rate, establishing County policies, and acting on zoning and other land use matters. The Board also appoints members of numerous citizen boards, committees and commissions.