2024 NC General Election

2024 NC Primary Elections

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NC Voter Coalition (demo)

North Carolina

Adrian Smith is a lifelong learner who attended Warren Wilson College, majoring in Environmental Studies with a focus in Sustainable Agriculture and minoring in Spanish, and later received an MBA from a well-regarded state school. He also holds a graduate certificate from the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute at CU Boulder. Adrian, his wife, dog, and 4 chickens (Penny, Patty 2, Erin, and Joey) live in West Salem.

Adrian works as an entrepreneur and is the founder of Robert Rust Foods, He had previously worked at organizations such as the Center for Creative Economy, Mixxer Makerspace, and Flywheel Foundation. 

As of February 16, 2024, Adrian Smith’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Plans to "Find suitable locations for solar panel installation. This could include large open land, parking lot canopy, building roofs, and roadways."

Plans to "Finance the purchase and installation of solar panels through the sale of municipal bonds. There are amazing incentives available for municipalities through the Inflation Reduction Act that would save Winston-Salem millions of dollars on this project."

Wants to transition Winston-Salem to 100% renewable energy by 2030.

- Plans to "Find suitable locations for solar panel installation. This could include large open land, parking lot canopy, building roofs, and roadways."
- Plans to "Finance the purchase and installation of solar panels through the sale of municipal bonds. There are amazing incentives available for municipalities through the Inflation Reduction Act that would save Winston-Salem millions of dollars on this project."
- Wants to transition Winston-Salem to 100% renewable energy by 2030.

Public Services

As of January 31, 2024, Adrian Smith’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Economy

Education

Wants to create an Affordable Housing Loan Fund, managed by the city. The city would invest in this fund alongside banks’ Community 
Winston-Salem could create a land banking department that acquires, manages, upfits and sells vacant lots.

Plans to "establish Reinvestment Act Funds, to create an ongoing loan fund for the sole purpose of building affordable housing in Winston-Salem."

Advocates for "the sale of vacant lots to Community Development Corporations and developers to build affordable housing units."

Wants to "open up zoning so it is easier to build multi-family housing and ADUs and limit the number of rental units that owners who don’t live in Winston-Salem can own."

Wants to "Perform energy audits on all city-owned buildings. Use federal incentives to upgrade systems, improve insulation, and reduce air leaks. This improves energy efficiency, saves money, improves comfort, and increases reliability."

- Wants to create an Affordable Housing Loan Fund, managed by the city. The city would invest in this fund alongside banks’ Community 
Winston-Salem could create a land banking department that acquires, manages, upfits and sells vacant lots.
- Plans to "establish Reinvestment Act Funds, to create an ongoing loan fund for the sole purpose of building affordable housing in Winston-Salem."
- Advocates for "the sale of vacant lots to Community Development Corporations and developers to build affordable housing units."
- Wants to "open up zoning so it is easier to build multi-family housing and ADUs and limit the number of rental units that owners who don’t live in Winston-Salem can own."
- Wants to "Perform energy audits on all city-owned buildings. Use federal incentives to upgrade systems, improve insulation, and reduce air leaks. This improves energy efficiency, saves money, improves comfort, and increases reliability."

Housing & Urban Development

Proposes combining WSTA and WSFCS bus systems.

Proposes building a Park-and-Ride so "residents can easily catch a bus to PTI airport."

Supports "building dedicated bike lanes, greenways, multi-use paths, and wide sidewalks connecting those bus terminals to other important residential and commercial zones throughout the city."

Wants to "build smaller bus terminals in high traffic zones throughout Winston’s eight wards."

- Proposes combining WSTA and WSFCS bus systems.
- Proposes building a Park-and-Ride so "residents can easily catch a bus to PTI airport."
- Supports "building dedicated bike lanes, greenways, multi-use paths, and wide sidewalks connecting those bus terminals to other important residential and commercial zones throughout the city."
- Wants to "build smaller bus terminals in high traffic zones throughout Winston’s eight wards."

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Adrian Smith

She has a Bachelor's in history from UNC-Greensboro, a degree in nursing from UNC-Chapel Hill, and a degree in business administration from Appalachian State University. 

Carolyn is a retired registered nurse and nurse practitioner. 

As of February 16, 2024, Carolyn Highsmith did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

Carolyn Highsmith

Supports greater transparency among the city council and promoting citizen engagement.

- Supports greater transparency among the city council and promoting citizen engagement.

Wants to fully fund B.E.A.R, a mental health intervention initiative.

- Wants to address issues with crime.
- Wants to fully fund B.E.A.R, a mental health intervention initiative.

Says the city's economic statistics are "dismal."

- Says the city's economic statistics are "dismal."

As of January 31, 2024, Carolyn Highsmith did not have a website or any information online.

Wants "guaranteed shelter" for homeless individuals.

- Wants "guaranteed shelter" for homeless individuals.

John Larson has been a resident of the South Ward for 47 years. He holds a Master's of Arts in History and a Bachelor's in History, both from the University of South Carolina. Larson is a member of the Home Moravian Church. 

John Larson is a City Council Member representing South Ward, elected in 2016. He has previously served as the Chair of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Historic Properties Commission.

John Larson has been serving as a City Council Member representing South Ward since being elected in 2016. He has also served as the Past Chair of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Historic Properties Commission.

John Larson to run for re-election to Winston-Salem City Council

Has supported $5.9 million in renovations to Washington, Hobby, Granville and Parkland parks, along with creation of a “pocket park” at Cloister and Konnoak streets.

- Has supported $5.9 million in renovations to Washington, Hobby, Granville and Parkland parks, along with creation of a “pocket park” at Cloister and Konnoak streets.

John aided the new Fire Station 13 efforts to improve emergency response time.

- John aided the new Fire Station 13 efforts to improve emergency response time.

As of January 31, 2024, John Larson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Said, "we must ensure that existing and future public housing and City-supported affordable housing projects meet high standards for energy efficiency and sustainability."

- Said, "we must ensure that existing and future public housing and City-supported affordable housing projects meet high standards for energy efficiency and sustainability."

Wants to "maximize energy efficiency in the City’s buildings and operations."

Supports the process of "of transitioning the City’s vehicle fleet to zero emissions vehicles" and wants to "invest in renewable energy resources."

Wants to restructure city transportation and increase spaces for pedestrians and bikers.

Plans to improve forestry and greenery by planting more native plants.

Wants to secure funding for the city under the Inflation Reduction Act.

John has previously supported $22.7 million in street, sidewalk, strollway, and bridge improvements, and supported a pavilion honoring Black Moravian Peter Oliver.

- Wants to "maximize energy efficiency in the City’s buildings and operations."
- Supports the process of "of transitioning the City’s vehicle fleet to zero emissions vehicles" and wants to "invest in renewable energy resources."
- Wants to restructure city transportation and increase spaces for pedestrians and bikers.
- Plans to improve forestry and greenery by planting more native plants.
- Wants to secure funding for the city under the Inflation Reduction Act.
- John has previously supported $22.7 million in street, sidewalk, strollway, and bridge improvements, and supported a pavilion honoring Black Moravian Peter Oliver.

John Larson

Vivian has lived in Winston-Salem for the past 25 years. 

Vivian and her partner Stephanie have owned and operated Sweet Potatoes, a restaurant in downtown Winston-Salem, for over 20 years. 

As of February 16, 2024, Vivian V. Joiner’s website did not contain information on this issue.

The candidate's website says, "“Vivian knows how to bring community together. She’s been doing that for over 20 years.”"

As of January 31, 2024, Vivian V. Joiner’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "Solutions to find better ways to partner with each other as neighbors, police and community activist to keep our neighborhoods safe."

Wants to "find better ways to partner with each other as neighbors, police and community activists to keep our neighborhoods safe."

- Wants to "find better ways to partner with each other as neighbors, police and community activists to keep our neighborhoods safe."

Said, "When the recession hit in 2008-2009, it was the local community that supported local businesses like ours to survive the down-turn in the economy."

Said, "More than twenty years ago, my partner Stephanie and I opened Sweet Potatoes – a restaurant in downtown Winston-Salem... Each day brings new challenges as well as opportunities to share in community."

Said, "As a small business owner I am often tasked to find meaningful resolve to challenging problems. I believe that skill set will serve me well in the City Council."

- Said, "As a small business owner I am often tasked to find meaningful resolve to challenging problems. I believe that skill set will serve me well in the City Council."

Said, "Solutions to the lack of Affordable Housing that adds to the risk of homelessness. I will fight for equitable housing inventory of affordable housing units to truly impact the housing shortage that is affecting where and how we live daily."

Said, "I will fight for equitable housing inventory of affordable housing units to truly impact the housing shortage that is affecting where and how we live daily."

- Said, "I will fight for equitable housing inventory of affordable housing units to truly impact the housing shortage that is affecting where and how we live daily."

Vivian V. Joiner

- City council members work together to set and implement city policy. 
- The city council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city.
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 

One of the local lawmakers for your city.

Winston-Salem City Council Member, South Ward, Democratic Primary

Candidates (4)