ELECTIONS: Five Democrats, including incumbent ... - Triad City Beat

2026 Primary Candidate List

Chenita Barber Johnson - Ballotpedia

Chenita Barber Johnson lives with her husband and two children in Winston-Salem. She earned a bachelor's degree from Winston-Salem State University.

Chenita is a co-founder of the Coalition for Equity in Public Education. She has also been a substitute teacher, PTA parent liasion, and advertising consultant.

Chenita Barber Johnson's campaign for Forsyth County Board of Education Member, District 1 is her first entry into politics.

Chenita has previously run for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools school board in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022, but lost each time.

Supports funding for home/school parent coordinators and increasing the number of school counselors.

- Supports funding for home/school parent coordinators and increasing the number of school counselors.

School Facilities & Resources

Opposes school choice, saying it is "detrimental to the entire community" and has "damaged the school system financially."

- Opposes school choice, saying it is "detrimental to the entire community" and has "damaged the school system financially."

Access to Education

Advocates for increased minority representation in teaching and leadership positions.

Advocates for better pay for teachers and administrators.

- Advocates for increased minority representation in teaching and leadership positions.
- Advocates for better pay for teachers and administrators.

Teachers

School Curriculum

Advocates for a safe environment for students.

Advocates for a safe environment in all schools, including for LGBTQ+ students.

- Advocates for a safe environment in all schools, including for LGBTQ+ students.

Student Wellbeing

Chenita Barber Johnson

Chenita Barber Johnson has previously run for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools school board in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022, but lost each time.

Buket Urgen

Alex B. Bohannon is a Parkland High School graduate and has a bachelor's degree in political science from Elon University.

Alex is a human resources analyst at the City of Winston-Salem. He has worked there since 2021. He previously worked as a diversity compliance specialist for the City of Winston-Salem, a program assistant at the Ken Carlson Boys and Girls Club, and a summer camp site supervisor and counselor at the Winston-Lake Family YMCA.

Alex B. Bohannon is currently a member of the Forsyth County Board of Education representing District 1. He is serving his second term in the position.

Alex Bohannon '17 delivers empowering keynote address at the ...

Alex is currently a member of the Forsyth County Board of Education representing District 1. He is serving his second term in the position.

Supports funding the Leandro Plan, a court-mandated remedial roadmap designed to ensure North Carolina fulfills its constitutional obligation to provide every student with a "sound, basic education" through equitable funding and systemic school improvements.

- Supports funding the Leandro Plan, a court-mandated remedial roadmap designed to ensure North Carolina fulfills its constitutional obligation to provide every student with a "sound, basic education" through equitable funding and systemic school improvements.

As of January 2, 2026, Alex B. Bohannon’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Alex B. Bohannon

March 3 primary launches sweeping 2026 election cycle for Forsyth ...

LinkedIn

Daryl Napper has a bachelor's degree in religion from Shaw University. He is married and has four children.

Daryl is a pastor. He has served as a pastor for 20 years.

Daryl is a pastor. He has also served as a recreation lead for the city of Winston-Salem and a career counselor.

Daryl's campaign for county board of education is his first run for public office.

As of January 2, 2026, Daryl Napper did not have a website or any information online.

Daryl Napper

As of January 2, 2026, Daryl Napper’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Candidate website

Howard Claggett is originally from Washington, D.C., and has lived in Winston-Salem for decades. He is a graduate of Guilford Technical Community College. He is married and is a father and grandfather.

Howard has worked as a custodian, in warehouse operations, and as a property manager.

Howard's campaign for county board of education member is his first run for public office.

As of January 2, 2026, Howard Claggett’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports increasing teacher pay and improving working conditions.

- Supports increasing teacher pay and improving working conditions.

Howard Claggett

Claggett currently has no public website for his 2026 campaign. His campaign for the Forsyth County Board of Education is for a seat in District 1. He previously ran for the Forsyth County Board of Education in 2022 and 2024, but did not win those elections. Claggett does not currently hold a public office.

As of January 2, 2026, Howard Claggett did not have a website or any information online.

Tremona Purvis is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has a bachelor 27s degree in elementary education from Winston-Salem State University. She is the founder of the organizations Broken Women Break Through, Rae 27s of Light, and Mothers of Angels.

Tremona Purvis - North Carolina League of Conservation Voters

Tremona Purvis is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has a bachelor' s degree in elementary education from Winston-Salem State University.

Tremona is a kindergarten teacher at Griffith Elementary School, where she has worked for 30 years. She also founded the organizations "Broken Women Break Through," which helps women heal from addiction, mental illness, and substance abuse, and "Rae's of Light," which offers scholarships for postsecondary education and mentoring for middle and high school girls. 

Tremona is a kindergarten teacher at Griffith Elementary School. She also founded the organizations "Broken Women Break Through," which helps women heal from addiction, mental illness, and substance abuse, and "Rae's of Light," which offers scholarships for postsecondary education and mentoring for middle and high school girls. 

Tremona C. Purvis's campaign for Forsyth County Board of Education member, District 1, is her first time running for public office.

Tremona's campaign for Forsyth County Board of Education member, District 1, is her first time running for public office.

As of January 2, 2026, Tremona C. Purvis did not have a website or any information online.

For Candidate Tremona C. Purvis on Issue education-access:  
Supports collaboration between parents and teachers as essential for children's success.

Believes that parent-teacher collaboration and parental involvement in schools are essential for student success.

- Believes that parent-teacher collaboration and parental involvement in schools are essential for student success.

Instagram

Tremona C. Purvis

Tremona Purvis is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has a bachelor s degree in elementary education from Winston-Salem State University.

As of January 2, 2026, Tremona C. Purvis’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Trevonia Brown-Gaither and her husband, Reginald Gaither, live in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Trevonia Brown-Gaither - Ballotpedia

ELECTION RESULTS: Incumbents win big in Forsyth County races ...

WS/FCS reverts to late August start date in 2026-2027

Trevonia Brown-Gaither and her husband, Reginald, live in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Twitter

Trevonia is currently a member of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools school board representing District 1. She assumed office in 2023.

Trevonia is currently a member of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools school board representing District 1. She assumed office in 2023 and is serving her first term.

As of January 2, 2026, Trevonia (BG) Brown-Gaither’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Facebook

Trevonia (BG) Brown-Gaither

As of January 2, 2026, Trevonia (BG) Brown-Gaither did not have a website or any information online.

Supports the nomination of Alex Bohannon for chair during the voting process.

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 