Endorse
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bring hundreds of millions of dollars of economic invest- (
ment and development into North Carolina along with t
thousands of jobs for the people of this state . He supports j
teachers, also.
Spaulding would work for stable social and business >
climates to create "a vibrant and active business commu
nity." 8
On Nov. 8, the winner of the primary will face the t
winner of the Republican primary, which is expected to be ,
incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory.
Lieutenant Governor
Candidates: Holly Jones, Ronald L. Newton,
Robert Wilson and Linda Coleman
The Chronicle endorses Linda Coleman, an African
American who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor
as the Democratic nominee in 2012. She received 2.1 mil- (
lion votes statewide. She served as a Wake County com- f
missioner for four years, was elected three times to the t
North Carolina House of Representatives and served as )
director of the Office of State Personnel from 2009 to j
2012. Coleman has the background to step into the
Governor's position if needed. North Carolina needs a (
lieutenant governor who knows how to navigate state ,
government yet has the courage to work for change. "I (
want to give North Carolina's middle class families a j
fighting chance again," she says. i
The winner of the primary faces incumbent ,
Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest on Nov. 8. i
t
Attorney General
Incumbent: Democrat Roy Cooper (who Isn't seek- j
ing re-election in order to run for governor) (
Candidates: Josh Stein and Marcus W. Williams t
The Chronicle endorses Marcus W. Williams of ,
Lumberton, an African-American who is an attorney with (
decades of legal experience. He is licensed to practice law
before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Fourth Circuit Court ]
of Appeals and other federal courts. He has been the assis
tant public defender for North Carolina and executive t
director of Legal Services (which provides legal assis- .
tance to low-income individuals) for the state of ,
Pennsylvania and two regional programs in the North ]
Carolina. t
North Carolina needs a flexible attorney general who
has an ear toward people who could be wrongly accused, (
which the current attorney general appears to not have. ]
The winner of the primary will face the winner of the \
Republican Primary on Nov. 8.
One Republican vying to replace Cooper is Forsyth ,
County District Attorney Jim O'Neill.
Some wonderment: Mr. O'Neill has basically ignored
cries from the black community to look at questionable
cases like Kalvin Michael Smith. We have not speculated
on it one way or the other. Yet, in O'Neill's campaign ad,
he has the gall to insult every fair-minded person in
America by placing blame for the troubles of the world
on Barack Obama while positioning himself as the savior
of the free world. God Almighty seems to be the only One j
who can save this country from people like him, Senator j
Richard Burr and Attorney General Roy Cooper. ,
N.C. Commissioner of Labor
Candidates: Charles Meeker and Mazie Ferguson
The Chronicle endorses Mazie Ferguson of
Greensboro, an African-American lawyer who is a life
long civil rights activist. She's worked with the Congress
of Racial Equality (CORE) and the NAACP. She's the
former assistant legal council for N.C. A&T State
University. Ferguson is the former pastor of First
Missionary and Liberation Baptist churches. She's also
former head of the Pulpit Forum ministerial alliance.
Ferguson says she would work for the workers of
North Carolina. We need a commissioner who has that
drive.
The winner of the primary will face incumbent
Republican Cherie Killian Berry on Nov. 8.
N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent: Democrat June Atkinson
Candidates: Henry J. Pankey and June Atkinson
The Chronicle endorses Henry J. Pankey, an African
American from Durham who is a retired assistant princi
pal with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School's
Parkland High School. He has won numerous awards dur
ing his almost 40 years in education, including Durham's
Principal of the Year for turning around the low-perform
ing Southern High School. While at Parkland, he was
named Assistant Principal of the Year by the N.C.
Association of Educators in 2012.
While Atkinson has been state superintendent for pub
lic schools since 2005 and touts the increase North
Carolina's graduation rate during her tenure, Pankey, who
has written numerous op-ed pieces that have appeared in
The Chronicle, supports teachers and students and advo
cates working to get them to a standard of excellence.
The winner of the primary will face the winner of the
Republican Primary on Nov. 8.
m
Johnson has the expertise to keep that office running
moothly and knowledge of working with the Clerk of
Courts office to add to it. Knowing how county govern
nent operations work as a whole would be a plus to have
n our register of deeds.
The winner of the primary will face Republican Steve
Wood of Pfafftown on Nov. 8.
The Register of Deeds records, manages, and pre
lerves public real property records, vital information on
tilths, deaths and marriages, and military service records,
vhile also administering the Notary Oath. <
Winston-Salem City Council Northeast Ward
Incumbent: Democrat Vivian H. Burke
Candidates: Vivian H Burke and Keith King
The Chronicle endorses Keith King.
In this Ward race, there isn't a question of qualification
ir platform or program or anything that would clearly dif
ferentiate one person over another. There is no question
ibout Mrs. Burke's commitment to this community. She
las proven that over the last 39 years. Therein lies our per
ilexing state of mind.
Mrs. Burke has been, and we're sure will always be, a
:hampion for all of the people of this city. She has learned
nuch and she has taught much. We hold her in the highest
isteem. There is no criticism here, only accolades for a
ob well done. As is stated in the Holy Bible, we all want
t to be said of us, "well done thou good and faithful ser
vant ..." Mrs. Burke will always be our champion. But, as
t is with all things, there is a time to hold on and a time
o let go. We believe it is time to let go.
Part of the concern that we have always had in this city
s developing and grooming new leadership. Well, how
san we groom future leaders if there is nowhere for them
o serve or nothing for them to lead?
This is perhaps one of the most difficult things this
lewspaper has ever felt obligated to do. And, yet, we feel
:ompelled to say it.
Mrs. Virginia Newell served 16 years, Mr. Carl
Russell served 16 years and Mrs. Wanda Merschel served
16 years. We believe those periods of time, less than half
he time Mrs. Burke has served, is longer than we should
isk anybody to serve. And, so, this peculiar predicament
ve find ourselves in forces us to ask voters to praise Mrs.
Burke for her service, but it is time to give someone else
he opportunity to do likewise.
We thank God for the fact that we have competent,
committed and other capable citizens willing to step into
Vlrs. Burke's shoes and continue to carry the torch. We
relieve her opponent, Keith King, is that person.
The winner of this primary faces no Republican oppo
sition on Nov. 8.
Winston-Salem City Council South Ward
Incumbent: Molly Leight (who isn't seeking
re-election)
Candidates: Carolyn Highsmith and John Larson
The Chronicle endorses John Larson, who is vice pres
dent of restoration at Old Salem Museum and Gardens.
Larson, a longtime South Ward resident, has spearheaded
jfforts to preserve city landmarks and worked to protect
ment negotiations. He is a current member of the Creative
Corridors Board and the Old Salem Residents
Association. Current SoMb Ward City Council Member
Leight endorses him.
While Highsmith has been a community advocate for
years, Larson has, too, and has more experience working
with a wider variety of entities in the city. He would be
able to forge alliances with other City Council members
for the good of Winston-Sakm as a whole.
The winner of the primary will face Republican
Michael "fyler on Nov. 8.
Referendum
Connect NC Public Improvement Bond
The Chronicle endorses Connect NC and urges voters
to vote "Yes" for it.
It is a $2 billion general obligation bond for state infra
structure spending. The bond won't raise taxes and the
state will still be able to maintain its Triple A bond rating
while borrowing the money. The money will fund local
projects such as a new science building for Winston
Salem State University and renovation of Forsyth Tech's
Forsyth Building.
Letters
fttmpaftfif
Vote 'Yes' for the Connect NC bond
To The Editor:
The Connect NC public improvement bond is critical
to the health of our beloved state for several reasons.
If passed, North Carolina will be able to make critical
improvements to infrastructure such as water and sewer
facilities, public safety and agriculture, as well as invest
ments in our paries and natural resources. What this bond
will do for higher education, however, will have long-last
ing impact across our state and nation.
As a proud alumnus of Appalachian State University, I
understand well what an important resource my alma
mater is for Western North Carolina. Over the past decade,
the university's students have contributed nearly $22 mil
lion in value to the community through volunteer service.
Now the university sits at a critical juncture - with the
passing of this bond, it could, as early as summer, break
ground on a new building that will make a significant dif
ference in the quality and availability of health care in our
state. Rural North Carolinians in particular are experienc
ing a critical shortage of qualified health care profession
als, and this shortage is expected to get worse, not better.
Appalachian's new College of Heklth Sciences is
ready to meet this critical demand. Appalachian State
University will be able to train health care professionals to
meet the needs patients have for coordinated health care
teams. The Connect NC bond is an investment in the citi
zens of North Carolina. If we, as a state, say we want this
bond, we are voting "yes" for education and health care,
and ultimately for the betterment of our state.
Early voting lasts until March 12. Don't wait - this
vote is too important.
James K. Reaves
Kemersville
.......... /-... / ... ....
was born and raised in Mount Airy, the son of James King of Mount Airy and Virginia King of Winston
Salem. He is married to Denise King and they reside in Winston-Salem. He Ls a member of Revealed Church
of Christ where he has served as a Trustee for the last 10 years. King is also a member of the Downtown
Winston-Salem Partnership and is co-chairman of the Winston-Salem Transit Authority.
King was employed in the last food industry for 16 years where he began as a cook and eventually progressed
. to district manager. After leaving the fast food industry he opened his own establishment in Clemmons but
had a strong desire to own a restaurant in downtown Winston-Salem. While researching new restaurant
locations he noticed the absence of a grocery store in the downtown area. After much prayer and faith in God, he
decided to open a grocery store on Liberty Street Kingz DownTown Market opened in December 2007.
King received a loan to open the market from the Winston-Salem City business development office and exhibited
excellent stewardship of these funds by repaying the loan ahead of schedule. The opening of "The Market" was
more than a blessing from the Lord. There were songs of praise, worship, thanksgiving and most of all prayer.
Because of his repayment history and its success, The Market, was chosen as the site to unveil Governor Bev
Perdues small business initiative in March 2010. At a press conference at The Market the JobsNOW small
business lending initiative was announced.
The Market currently employs eight people and is increasing daily due to the grace and mercy of God. King
continues to seek opportunities for expansion and to be a blessing to the city of Winston-Salem and the
downtown business community.
As a business man King has the privilege of serving the residents of Winston-Salem cm a daily basis. His
interaction with customers and community leaders affords him the opportunity to learn about the cares and
t concerns of the people of Winston-Salem, especially the citizens of the Northeast Ward. It is because of these
interactions that Keith King has a strong desire to serve and represent the people of the Northeast Ward. You
may contact him at king4citycoundl@outlookxom
ha-, treasurer
Incumbent: Democrat Janet Cowell
(who isn't seeking re-election)
Candidates: Dan Blue III and Ron Elmer
The Chronicle endorses Dan Blue III, an African
American from Raleigh who is the son of state Senate
Democratic Leader Dan Blue Jr. and is a lawyer who prac
tices commercial transactions and bond financing.
Current state treasurer Cowell, the North Carolina
Association of Educators, AFL-CIO and Equality NC,
have endorsed him.
Blue has the financial acumen to handle the office as
well as fiscal responsibility. "North Carolina deserves fis
cally responsible leadership that respects and protects the
public employees, taxpayers and communities throughout
the state," he says. We agree.
On Nov. 8, the winner of the primary will face
Republican Dale Folwell of Winston-Salem, a former ;
N.C. representative and former Employment Security
Division head.
Forsyth County Register of Deeds
Incumbent: Democrat C. Norman Holleman
Candidates: C. Norman Holleman and Lynne
Johnson
The Chronicle endorses Lynn Johnson, an African
American who is a Winston-Salem State University alum
na with 27 years of experience in the Register of Deeds
office, which included being supervisor of the vital
records division. She now works for the Clerk of Couits
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