Items from across the Triad and Beyond, compiled by Keith T. Barber and Jordan Green
Besse to seek third term on city council
Winston-Salem City Councilman Dan Besse announced he would seek a third term as representative of the Southwest Ward during a campaign kickoff Items from across the Triad and Beyond, compiled by Keith T. Barber and Jordan Green event at Miller Park in Winston-Salem on Sunday.
“It’s up to you to decide if I’ve earned your trust,” Besse told the more than 50 supporters in attendance. Besse cited improved transportation infrastructure, expanded greenways and bikeways, a better public transit system, enhanced public safety and downtown revitalization as among his top achievements in his first seven years in office. He also cited job creation, a progressive approach to environmental issues and a better quality of life for the city’s residents as the result of a collective effort by the council. Besse credited the work of Mayor Allen Joines — who announced he would pursue a third term as mayor during a May 26 rally — with much of the city’s job growth since 2001. He said the city council has been proactive in economic development, which is why the city’s unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the
region. Winston- Salem’s unemployment rate stands at 8.4 percent,
according to the NC Employment Security Commission’s April report.
Greensboro’s unemployment rate is 9.5 percent, while High Point’s
jobless rate stands at 11.3 percent. Besse said city leaders can still
do a better job of improving the quality of life for all the city’s
residents, including the 28,000 constituents of the Southwest Ward.
“City council is not for serving a political ideology,” he said. “It’s
to serve your constituents.” — KTB
Wright reelected as Guilford County Republican chairman
The executive committee of the Guilford County Republican Party has reelected Bill Wright as its chairman and Patrick Tillman as its vice-chairman. Tillman is the son of NC Sen. Jerry Tillman of Randolph County. The committee elected Tony Wilkins as executive director. Wright said in a prepared statement that the county party stands behind the principles of limited government, less government regulation, lower taxes, strong national defense, free markets and individual liberty, adding, “We will not compromise those principles for the sake of political expediency based on poll numbers or focus groups. We will work diligently at the grassroots level to elect conservative, Constitution-believing candidates from the courthouse to the White House.” — JG
Forsyth commissioners approve 2009-2010 budget
By a vote of 4-3, the Forsyth County Commission followed County Manager Dudley Watts’ recommendation
and approved a property tax rate of 67.4 cents for every $100 of
valuation for fiscal year 2009-2010 during a special meeting on May 28.
The budget adopted by the commissioners lowers the county’s property
tax rate from its current level of 69.6 cents per $100. Commissioners Debra Conrad and Richard Linville had
advocated dropping the tax rate to 66.3 cents per $100 valuation, and
voted against the measure. In his budget message, Watts explained to
commissioners that the 1.1 cents increase from 63.3 to 67.4 would help
pay the debt service on the
For more information, call 336.373.2155. — JG
Lewis announces run for US Senate; Cunningham hints at candidacy
Democrat Kenneth Lewis, a Winston-Salem native, formally announced his candidacy for the US Senate seat currently held by Richard Burr (R-NC) during a meeting at Forsyth County Democratic Headquarters on May 30. Also, former NC Sen. Cal Cunningham, a
Winston-Salem attorney, said “the conversation is ongoing” regarding a
possible run for US Senate in 2010. Lewis, a business attorney at
Womble Carlyle, credited his interest in public service to his family.
Cunningham
joined the Army Reserves after Sept. 11 and served as a JAG lawyer in
Iraq. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his efforts to prosecute
military contractors. In a Public Policy Polling survey released May
26, Cunningham polled closest to Burr out of a field of seven potential
Democratic candidates that included Elizabeth Edwards, NC Sen. Dan Blue, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, US Rep. Bob Etheridge, US Rep. Heath Shuler and former state Treasurer Richard Moore.
The
survey, which questioned 798 North Carolina voters, had Cunningham
trailing Burr, by a 8 percentage points. Edwards and Blue posted the
second highest numbers, trailing Burr by 11 points in the poll.
Cunningham also enjoyed the highest favorability rating among the
Democrats at 46 percent. “We need energetic and compelling leadership
and we’re not getting it,” Cunningham said during the May 30 meeting.
Cunningham said he fully expects the party to unite behind one
candidate before the May 7, 2010 Democratic primary. — KTB
Commissioners could cut school funds
The
Forsyth County Commission will consider a resolution to cut $1.12
million from funds designated for the Winston- Salem/Forsyth County
Schools central office during the board’s June 8 meeting. County
Manager Dudley Watts negotiated the reduction in funds with the
school system for the current 2008-2009 fiscal year due to “prevailing
economic conditions.” The commissioners approved $113.5 million in
funding for the school system during its adoption of its fiscal year
2009-2010 budget on May 28. The school system had requested a little
more than $115 million from the county. The school system’s overall
budget is estimated at $550 million.
Kerry Crutchfield, director
of financial services for the school system, said the $550 million
figure may seem a bit inflated but it’s due to the opening of three new
schools — Caleb’s Creek Elementary, Kimball Farm Elementary and Flat
Rock Middle School. In March, the school system learned that it would
receive $25 million in funds as part of the economic stimulus package
to go toward programs for handicapped students and Title I schools. Any
school with 35 percent or more of its students receiving free or
reduced price lunches is eligible for the federal funds. Forty-three of
the 76 schools in the Winston- Salem/Forsyth County school system are
Title I eligible, said Title I program director Cheryl Johnson.
The
infusion of stimulus funds will allow the school system to serve
schools with 50 percent or more students receiving free or reduced
lunches during the 2009- 2010 school year, she said. — KTB
