Polite hopes vast experience will pay off in race
The Chronicle reported last week
in a headline and in a story that Jim
Bob Campbell was the only African
American seeking the sheriff's office
in the upcoming election. That was
not correct. Sheriff's Department vet
eran John Polite is also running and
he is an African American. Here is a
profile on Polite. - The editor
BY COURTNEY GAILLARD
THE CHRONICLE
.** Sgt. John Polite came to wofk for
tMhe Forsyth County Sheriff's Depart -
* ment in 1975 in police communica
'tions. and he never thought he would
be running for sheriff 26 years later.
But Polite is running and is one of
two black Democratic candidates on
the sheriff's ballot.
Over two decades. Polite, a grad
uate of Winston-Salem State Univer
sity, has worked in numerous divi
sions of law enforcement, ranging
from the civil division. Highway
Patrol, school resource officer, jail
officer and court security and has
earned to advance law enforcement
certificates. Now a deputy sheriff in
charge of 13 officers. Polite didn't
think he would make an extensive
careef at the Forsyth County Sher
iff's Department when he began as
one of the first black officers there. A
family friend of Polite was instru
menial in his being hired in his first
job at the department. Polite knew
that once he got his foot in the door
time would show that he could do the
job well.
One would think after all of that
time and exposure to various levels
of law enforcement, a bid for sheriff
would be a natural progression for
Polite. He considers it to be simply
making the best out of change, which
he has gladly welcomed and appreci
ated.
"I've always had the ambition to
run for sheriff. It's something that
has been in the back of my mind for
sometime, and it's something that
you have to concern yourself with
and do in a timely manner," said
Polite. C.C. McGee, whom Polite is
up against in the Democratic primary,
also works for the Sheriff's Depart
ment.
Deciding whether to run for sher
iff. Polite said, "was something I had
to pray about, and 1 gave it great
thought and asked God to order my
steps in this endeavor. With all that
being done, I feel I was given a sign
that it was my time to run," Polite
said.
Even though Polite is eligible to
retire in June of next year, he remains
confident that his long-standing rep
utation in the community as a deputy
sheriff and citizen will catapult him
to be a strong contender for sheriff.
Unafraid of change and aware of
what the officers and citizens both
need throughout the county. Polite
wants to bring about changes that he
thinks are long overdue.
"I have the ability, the training,
the know ledge and the integrity to do
this job, and that's what I am putting
forth to the citizens of Forsyth Coun
ty," said Polite, wfio was born and
raised in Winston-Salem.
If elected sheriff. Polite wouldC
like to reorganize the sheriff's staff to
fully maximize employees' efforts by
assigning more personnel to patrol
throughout the county and taking
more proactive methods to monitor
potential criminal activity in the
county. Polite is interested in devel
oping a citizens review board made
up of residents^round the county to
provide feedback on ways to handle
criminals. He also would like to pro
vide services and activities for the
elderly, who oftentimes go over
looked and under-cared for by the
community.
Aware that Forsyth County histor
ically has been a difficuh place for
blacks to win countywidt elections.
Polite, who sqys he's unapologetical
ly black, sees the uphill battle before
him.
However, Polite feels residents
are far more concerned with his abil
ity to deliver justice than the color of
his skin.
Polite regrets that both his mother
and aunt are no longer living to see
him run for office, because both were
1
so supportive of him Phrly in his
career. They encouraged him to take
advantage of opportunities whenever
they came his way. and he believes
he is doing just that.
Sgt. John Polito
Head of UNGG's multicultural affairs dies
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
GREENSBORO - Stu
dents, faculty and staff at The
University of North Carolina at
Greensboro honored a beloved
member of the UNCG family
during a "Candlelight Remem
brance Service" foe Pamela
Wilson, director of the Office
of Multicultural Affairs, who
died at Moses Cone Hospital
Tuesday. The service was held
at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the
fountain in front of the Univer
sity Dining Center.
"Her loss will be deeply felt
by all
whose
lives
she
touched
in many
wonder
f u I
ways,"
said
Chan
cellor
Patricia
Sullivan. "Our thoughts and
prayers are with Pamela's
immediate family and for the
UNCG community as we share
their grief."
Wilson, who was a member
of the UNCG family for almost
11 years, was a friend, mentor
and role model for countless
students. The Office of Multi
cultural' Affairs coordinates
several annual events that
address and promote diversity,
awareness and multiculturalism
at UNCG, including the Martin
Luther King Jr. Service Award,
a Black History Month series
and the annual Shades of Color
Conference, held recently.
Wilson was responsible for
bringing prominent African
American speakers to campus,
including Myrlie Evers
Williams, Shirley Chisholm,
Joycelyn Elders. Ossie Davis,
coach Herman Boone and for
mer boxing champion Rubin
"Hurricane" Carter.
I
Before being named direc
tor of multicultural affairs. Wil
son worked as an assistant
director in the UNCG Office of
Academic Advising and Sup
port Services. A graduate of
High Point University, Wilson
held a master's degree from
N.C. A&T State University.
She was an adjunct instructor at
Guilford Technical Community
College and was employed by
A&T from 1980-89. She was a
native of High Point.
Wilson
MBA program approved for WSSU
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONIC ! I
The proposed master's in
business administration pro
gram of Winston-Salem State
, University's School of Busi
ness and Economics was
approved March 6 by the Uni
versity of North Carolina
Board of Governors during a
scheduled meeting of the
board.
"This program will play a
.^.significant role in the univer
'?^sity's goal of providing well
strained and highly motivated
I'Ifuture business leaders for the
'?^region," said Dr. Arthur King,
dean of the WSSU School of
Business and Economics.
"This program will be the
high-quality, low-cost option
for working professionals to
obtain an MBA in the region."
WSSU's School of Busi
ness and Economics recently
achieved accreditation from
the prestigious accrediting
agency AACSB International
- The Association to Advance
Collegiate Schools of Busi
ness. King feels the new
MBA program will enhance
the school's ability to leverage
that accreditation.
The curriculum will stress
the universal traits of manage
ment and their use in various
organizations. The curriculum
is designed to create an under
standing of an organization's
business activities and to
develop business skills and
high levels of competence in
major concentration areas.
Candidates for the MBA
degree can concentrate in any
one of these areas: MBA with
a concentration in financial
services, MBA with a concen
tration in health-care manage-_
"Tft'ent. MBA witff i ?8ftcentra
tion in management informa
tion systems
Candidates also may com
plete a general MBA by taking
electives from several areas.
A strong undergraduate
education in any academic
field is good preparation for
graduate study in business.
Prior academic work in busi
ness is not necessary. Students
with undergraduate degrees in
the sciences and liberal arts
are strongly encouraged to
apply. Each candidate must
have a bachelor's degree and
submit a GMAT score.
Sessions will be scheduled
to give information to people
II ?? ? .
interested in enrolling in the
program. For more informa
tion. call (336) 750-2342 or
send e-mail to
oluokunmCsiwssu.edu.
You can e-mail the
news department at
news@wschronicle.com
? _r?
(Ocvrw-ffs*^H- ot- ^nv-^nv
fJall o+x t&e< ccwvjXAfr ojf ^alcr*, Cr>Ck*pc>
^0?&r\ provides:
? Flexible scheduling
? Affordable education
? Course credit for work experience
? S.A.T. not required
? Financial aid available
? For men and women 23 and older
? First undergraduate course for FREE when
registering for two
NOTICE MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED FIRMS
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is seeking minority and women-owned firms
(M/WBE) to bid on upcoming highway projects throughout the State. The Locations of the projects are:
i> ? GOALS BY
C 2 4) ? o ? PERCENT
s 3 3 a >- ?=, ???
o 00 > " ^3 UJ UJ UJ
kl t \ rr o ^CcDcqCD
q- o g h _j 5 UJ o 5 ?
6.051044 Dare/Hyde Construction of passenger/vehicle NC-12 from Hatteras Village to English 0%
ferry Qcracoke island
8.1242002 Duplin Grading, drainage, paving and Bridge over Northeast Cape English 10%
structure Fear River and approaches ton
NC-41/50 near Chinquapin *
8.2250108 New Widening, grading, drainage. Smith Creek Parkway from Metric 9%
Hanover paving and structures proposed US-117 Connector to
east of 23rd Street
8.2312001 Johnston Grading, drainage, paving and Bridge over a branch and Metric 10%
structure approaches on SR-1553
8.2321501 Nash Grading, drainage, paving, and Bridge over Stoney Creek and English 9%
structure approaches on SR-1435 at
Nashville
8.2430501 Columbus Grading, drainage, paving and Bridge over Frair Swamp and English 7%
structfire approaches on SR-1740 (Old
Lake Road
8.2462101 Robeson Grading/drainage, paving and Bridge over CSX Transpoita- English 5%
structure tion System and approaches on
SR-1001
5.4641028 Robeson Cleaning and painting of Ext 3 Existing bridges at various English 0%
structures and pollution control locations along 1-95 in Robe
son County
5.4641029 Robeson Cleaning and painting of Ext 3 Existing bridges at various English 0%
structurs and pollution control locations along 1-95 in Robe
. son County
5.4641030 Robeson Cleaning and painting of Ext 3 Existing bridges at various English 0%
structures and pollution control locations along 1-95 in Robe
son County r.
8.1511501 Rockingham Grading drainage, paving and Bridge over Mayo River and English 9%
structure approaches on US-220 Busi
ness
9.8079843 Guilford Widening, drainage, paving and NC-68 from South of SR-1556 G$g1ish 10% 5%
signing (Gallimore Dairy Road) to
North of Triad Center Drive
8.1602201 Davidson Median guiderail 1-85 from US-29/52/70/I-85 English 12%
business to south of NC-109
8.2751001 Watauga Grading, drainage, paving and Culvert on Clarks Creek and English 5%
culvert approahces on SR-1136
8.1792305 Catawba Widening, grading, drainage, SR-1692 (Tate Boulevard Ext) Metric 10%
paving and culvert ext. from east of SR-1468 (Sweet
water Road) to SR-1476 (Fair
erove Church Road)
8.2812102 Gaston Grading drainage, paving and RC Box Culvert at Forest English 9%
culvert Brook Branch and approaches
on SR 2444 (Gaston Day
School Road)
8.2941001 Haywood Grading, drainage, paving and Bridge of Fines Creek and English 10%
- structure approaches on SR-1334
8.2580801 Richmond Grading, drainage, paving and Bridge over CSX Transporta- Metric 5%
structure tion System and approaches on
SR-171-XRict street) fyfe-.
8.1402210 Wake (8 Grading, drainage, paving and US-64 from 1-440 (Raleigh Metric 11%
weeks adver- structures Beltline) to New Hope Road
tisement)
*** MONDAY, March 18,2002 6 PM ? MIDNIGHT***
North Raleigh Hilton ? 3415 Wake Forest Road ? Raleigh. N.C.
LETTING DATE: March 19, 2002
Prime contractors will be available to receive quotes for trucking, sub-contracting and
materials. MAV'BE's needing more information and/or technical assistance may come
to Room 522 to meet with representatives from the Bennington Corp.. NCDOT's
Supportive Provider. (919)832-6027
NUIUI unice ot un Rights & Business Development 1 ?JMHH522-0453
CertificatitiB of highway contracting firms: Richard Chrisawn
Certification of supply/service/engineering firms: Robert Mathes
Comments or concerns: Delano Rackard: Director