JoAnne Allen seeks more signatures in race for mayor BY TEVIN STINSON THECHKOMCLE If Winston-Salem native Jo Anne Allen collects enough signatures. Mayor Allen Joines will have competition this fall when citizens across Forsyth County cast their ballots during the general election. - Allen, who is looking to run as an unaf filiated candidate, needs more than 6,000 signatures before Sept. 23 to be added to the ballot. Although the exact number of signatures is unknown, the rule is that she must obtain signatures from at least four percent of registered voters. During a recent discussion with The Chronicle, Allen said she wants to ensure that every voice in Winston-Salem is heard. Allen mentioned she believes some where down the line, elected officials lost sight of what their purpose was. According to Allen, elected officials have started to v benefit personally from their titles and for got about the residents. "I have a problem with that. Winston Salem is my home. I want . to keep things mov- . ing forward I and that has j not hap- 1 pened," she I oa,\A wAc ijoiu. no mayor, I plan to bring pride back to the city." During a meet and greet event earlier this month, Allen said she will address a number of issues including decreasing the poverty level. Based on the population of the city, Winston-Salem ranks number two in the country for the number of residents living at or below the poverty line. Allen argues that although Joines has made strides to decrease the poverty in the area, more should have been done sooner. "This city did not get this way overnight. City officials have been sitting back and watching this happen and it's time for a change," Allen said. Allen who often speaks during the pub lic comment period at city council meet ings and community meetings throughout the city, said, "The city council does not run Winston-Salem. "Joines and business interests are who really run the city," she continued. "A number of these businesses have earned millions of dollars while the City of Winston-Salem continues to struggle." Allen said she decided she wanted to run for mayor in 2010. According to Allen, she had grown tired of the lack of commu nkation between members of the city council and the residents of the city. "I'm all about transparency and we are not getting that," said Allen. "We must put the people first in every step of our deci sion making." Although she is still working on obtaining signatures from registered vot ers, Allen remains confident that she will be on the ballot this fall. A number of young voters have said they agree with a number of points made by Allen. On March 24, Allen plans to officially unveil her plan to turn around the city. For more information on this event, visit her official website www.joanneallenformay or.com. "We are really gaining momentum among young voters," she said. "We plan to be on that ballot." Demo President Martin J. O'Malley Bernie Sanders Hillary Clinton Roque Rocky De La Fuente US Senate Ernest T. Reeves Chris Rey Deborah T. Ross Kevin D. Griffin NC Governor Ken Spaulding Roy Cooper NC Lieutenant Governor Holly Jones Ronald L. Newton Robert Earl Wilson Linda Coleman ^ NC Attorney General Josh Stein Marcus W. Williams NC Commissioner of Labor Charles Meeker Mazie Ferguson NC Superintendent of Public Instruction Henry J. Pankey June Atkinson NC Treasurer Dan Blue III Ron Elmer Forsyth County Register of Deeds C. Norman Hollerman IM^?? III ??IH ?? crats Lynne Johnson CITY OF WINSTON- SALEM Council Member Northeast Ward Vivian H. Burke Keith King f CITY OF WINSTON- SALEM Council Member South Ward John Larson Carolyn Highsmith REFERENDUM Connect NC Public Improvement Bond The issuance of two billion dollars ($2,000,000,000) State of North Carolina Public.Improvement Bonds constituting general obligation bonds of the State secured by a pledge of the faith and credit and taxing power of the State for the purpose of providing funds, to capital improvements and new facilities and the renovation and rehabilitation of existing facilities for, without limitation, the University of North Carolina System, he North Carolina Community College System, water and sewer systems, the State's National Guard, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, attractions and parks, and the Department of Public Safety. For Against _ 'Winner names in bold. Republicans President John R. Kasich Marco Rublo Donald J. Trump Ted Cruz US Senate Larry Homlquist Paul Wright Greg Brannon Richard Burr NC Governor Pat McCrory Charles Kenneth Moss C. Robert Brawley NC Attorney Generall Buck Newton Jim O'Neill NC Commissioner of Agriculture Andy Stevens Steve Troxier NC Commissioner of Insurance Joe McLaughlin Ronald (Ron) Pierce Mike Causey . NC Secretary of State Michael LaPaglia A.J. Daroud NC Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson J. Wesley Sills Rosemary Stein TuOda" Ma^ls ReCreati?n Center waU in Une to cast their Mb* during the primary ?Ucfo>n"on? primary election just before the polls close atCarver High School on Tuesday, Mar. 15. Wins Jrompagi A] Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton won North Carolina by double digits. She also won the states of Ohio, Illinois, Missouri and Florida on Tuesday. On the Republican side, Presidential Candidate Donald Trump took .North Carolina, Missouri, Illinois and Florida, while John Kasich took Ohio. N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper defeated for mer lawmaker Ken Spaulding for the Democratic nomination to V i challenge Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, who also won his nomination. For Senate, former law maker Deborah Ross easily won the Democratic nomi nation and current Sen. Richard Burr won the Republican nomination. For attorney general, N.C. Senator Josh Stein clinched the Democratic nomination. Buck Newton defeated Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill for the office's Republican nomination. Linda Coleman got the Democratic nomination to face incumbent Lt. Gov. Dan Finest - again. It will be a repeat of the race four years ago. Incumbent Commissioner of Agriculture Steve TYoxler won the Republican nomi nation and faces no Democratic challenger. Mike Causey won the Republican nomination for N.C. insurance commis sioner and will face Democratic incumbent Wayne Goodwin in the general election. Former Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker won the Democratic nomination for commissioner of labor, beating Mazie Ferguson of Greensboro. He'll face longtime incumbent Republican Cherie Killian Berry. Dan Blue III won the Democratic nomination for N.C. treasurer and faces no Republican challenger, so he will succeed incumbent Janet Cowell, who didn't seek re-election. Michael LaPaglia won the Republican nomination for N.C. secretary of state and will challenge Democratic incumbent Elaine Marshall, who has held the office since 1997. N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson won her nomina tion and will face Republican challenger Mark Johnson, who is a member of the Winston Salem/Forsyth ? County Schools board. The NC Connect Bond was approved by more than two-thirds of voters. Winston-Salem State University Chancellor Elwood L. Robinson, who supported the bond initia tive, issued the following statement regarding the passage of the Connect NC Bond: "Thank you to the resi dents of North Carolina who voted to approve the Connect NC Bond. At Winston-Salem State University, this investment will allow us to construct a 123,000-square-foot, state of-the-art science building that supports die universi ty's commitment to meet ing the region's demand for more STEM-H (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and health sciences) graduates. As a historically Mack universi ty, WSSU is committed to providing under-served populations with cutting edge learning spaces and laboratories that help pre pare them for the rigors of the 'real world' application of science and research. We are grateful North Carolina residents voted to support this critical invest ment." r

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