WS Chronicle

BY TODD LUCK 

THE CHRONICLE

Selester Stewart is among the Democrats hoping to take seats occupied by Republican Forsyth County commissioners. He is the only African-American running for a seat on the Board of Commissioners. Two African-Americans – Everette Witherspoon and Walter Marshall – are on the board representing District A.

Voters will get to choose their county commissioners for District B, which includes western Winston-Salem and the areas surrounding the city. Stewart is one of three Democrats vying for a spot.

Stewart was born and raised in Forsyth county. His mother was a teacher and his father was a preacher. In his campaign videos, the married father of two said voters want a commissioner who is still working and raising a family. He also said he wanted to be visible in the community and invest in things like education and public safety.

“I see us making great strides in the community, but we need our government to invest in the people,” he said in an online video.

His campaign’s Facebook videos have gotten as many as 18,000 views. One criticized the commissioners for delaying action on renovating the aging courthouse by showing a can literally being kicked down the road.

Stewart has a criminal justice degree from North Carolina Central University, where he graduated magna cum laude. He has a master’s degree from Shaw University and a doctorate from Drew University.

He’s been a business owner since graduating college, having founded Georgia Health Partners in 2007, a private clinic that provides counseling and intervention services in the Atlanta metro area. His website touts his experience managing 175 employees and multimillion dollar budgets among his qualifications to be a commissioner.

He’s currently involved with his church, serves on the Jerry Long YMCA board and is a volunteer football coach for Clemmons’ Tiny Broncos. He’s been endorsed by the Forsyth County Association of Educators  and Triad Labor Council.

Other Democrats running in District B are Bob Stitcher and Trent Harmon. The Republicans running to keep their seats are Richard Linville, Dave Plyler and Gloria Whisenhunt, all of whom are longtime incumbents. If the Democrats can gain one seat, they’ll have the majority on the county commissioners board.