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Three file to run for seats on the city council
2 in GOP, 1 Democrat join races in Southeast, South and Northeast
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Published: July 11, 2009
Three more candidates have filed to run for the Winston-Salem City Council, two filing yesterday and one on Thursday.
Wesley Hudson, 39, a Democrat, filed to run for the South Ward seat now held by Molly Leight. Hudson, making his first run for office, said he is concerned about the financial and economic future of the city.
"I am also a little bit concerned about the direction of the baseball park," Hudson said, referring to the city's recent decision to advance more money for the construction of a new baseball stadium downtown. "I am happy that (the park) is there, but I am not happy that the city was forced into the position to have to make the decision that they did. There seems to have been a lack of foresight."
Hudson said he favors privatizing some city services such as garbage collection and leaf removal as a way of cutting expenses -- and taxes. He said that the South Ward is "slightly neglected" and needs a stronger voice.
He said he is not accepting campaign donations because he thinks they could lead to conflicts of interest. He also does not plan to put up any campaign signs.
Hudson owns Hudson Remodeling and Restoration and Green Earth Landscaping.
Chuck Woolard, 65, a Republican, filed Thursday to run for the Southeast Ward seat now held by Evelyn Terry. Woolard is making his first run for office. He disagrees with the city's recent decisions on the baseball stadium and thinks his part of town is not getting the kind of representation it should.
"We are not getting any type of industry out this way," Woolard said, adding that those who do want to expand their business find themselves running into obstacles from city planners.
Woolard said that the city should renegotiate the baseball contract to have immediate ownership of the stadium instead of getting it after the end of a 25-year period.
"I have my doubts about the way that this thing has come apart and the money that the city is going to be out on a limb for," he said. "I look at the tax dollars it will probably end up costing the taxpayers."
Woolard, who is retired, said that he was among those who were brought into the city by forced annexation, and that he would vote against bringing anyone into the city in the future who did not want to be annexed.
Claudia L. Shivers, 34, a Republican, filed yesterday to run for the Northeast Ward seat now held by Vivian Burke. She is making her first run for office and said that education is her principal concern.
The city council has no direct responsibility for public education, but Shivers said that she can make a difference by advocating from the council to school-board members and members of the county board of commissioners.
"I am running because I have done a lot of work in community organizing," Shivers said. "I have been a community advocate and I feel that running for city council is taking it to the next level."
Shivers is an accountant and partner in Collective Accounting and Tax Services. She said she is a member of the ECHO (Everyone Can Help Out) Council, a group that works to build connections among various segments of the community.
Three candidates also filed yesterday for nonpartisan races in other Forsyth County municipalities.
Bob Prescott of Kernersville filed for re-election to that town's board of aldermen. Prescott was elected to the board in 2007, and previously served as an alderman from 1991 to 1994.
Chris D. Jones, an incumbent, and Christopher Shandra, a challenger, filed to run for the Clemmons Village Council. Jones has served on the council since 1997. Shandra, 44, is making his first run for office.
Dewhitt C. Neely, an incumbent member of the Rural Hall Town Council, filed Thursday for re-election.
■ Wesley Young can be reached at 727-7369 or at wyoung@wsjournal.com.
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