{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Donald Dunn","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDonald Dunn is a Democratic candidate for an at-large seat on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education, on the ballot in the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary [1]. This is his third bid for the board; he previously ran for the District 2 seat in 2010 and the at-large seat in 2014, without winning either race [1].\n\n> **Editorial note -- same-name confusion.** Searches for \"Dunn\" in North Carolina politics can surface Tim Dunn, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel who ran for North Carolina Attorney General in the 2024 Democratic primary. That person is not the candidate profiled here. Donald Kennedy Dunn is a Winston-Salem State University graduate, pharmaceutical sales representative, and small-business owner running for the Forsyth County school board [1].\n\n## Background and education\nDunn holds a bachelor's degree from Winston-Salem State University [1].\n\n## Career\nDunn works as a pharmaceutical sales representative and, with his family, owns and operates two child development centers in Winston-Salem [1]. He has been active with the North Carolina Parent Teacher Association, Forsyth Education Partners, and Pop Warner football [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nDunn's 2026 campaign platform calls for \"responsible budgeting, long-term fiscal health, and prudent use of district resources,\" and for recruiting a permanent superintendent along with experienced educators and staff [1].\n\n## Family\nDunn lives in Winston-Salem with his spouse and child [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Donald Dunn -- candidate profile, Branch.vote](https://www.branch.vote/races/2026-north-carolina-primary-election-nc-state-county-board-of-education-member-nc-county-forsyth-d/candidates/donald-dunn) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[2] [Notice of Candidacy 2025, Donald Dunn -- Forsyth County Board of Elections](https://forsyth.cc/elections/CampaignReports/2025/Board%20of%20Education/Dunn,%20Donald/01%20Notice%20of%20Candidacy%202025%20Donald%20Dunn.pdf) -- accessed 2026-07-19","firstname":"Donald","lastname":"Dunn","middlename":"Kennedy","suffix":null,"token":"5131ccd4b974aaec"},"token":"MlDf9p3n2YgxPTht"},{"candidatename":"Linda Winikoff","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nLinda Zaleski Winikoff (Democrat) ran in the 2026 Democratic primary for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education at-large seat. She finished approximately 100 votes behind frontrunner Elisabeth Motsinger and requested a recount. The recount confirmed the original result, and Winikoff did not advance to the general election.\n\n## Sources\n\n- [1] [Linda Winikoff for School Board At-Large](https://www.lindawinikoff4schoolboard.com/)\n- [2] [WS/FCS at-large primary outcome unchanged after recount \u2013 WFDD 88.5](https://www.wfdd.org/education/2026-03-19/ws-fcs-at-large-primary-outcome-unchanged-after-recount)","firstname":"Linda","lastname":"Winikoff","middlename":"Zaleski","suffix":null,"token":"77d5e3a3a7356dec"},"token":"ZZ0diLdvMS9sNFcT"},{"candidatename":"Ronda Mays","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nRonda Mays is the Democratic candidate for one of three at-large seats on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education in the November 3, 2026 general election. The at-large seats are countywide positions that help set district policy, approve the school budget, and oversee the superintendent and district operations [1]. Mays advanced from the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary with more than 14,000 votes, finishing among the top three candidates who move on to the general election, alongside Valerie Brockenbrough and Elisabeth Motsinger [1][12].\n\n## Background and education\nMays was born in Buffalo, New York, and graduated from the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. She earned a bachelor's degree in 1993 and a graduate degree in 1995 from the State University of New York at Buffalo [1].\n\n## Career\nMays holds a North Carolina school social work license and has worked in the field since 1993, including as a medical social worker, lead therapist, program coordinator, and youth-detention worker [6]. For more than 25 years she has served the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school community, holding positions including Lead Graduation Coach (2021-2022), Director of Family Engagement (2022-2023), and most recently School Social Worker & Behavioral Liaison for Stokes County Schools (2023-present) [6]. She served as president of the Forsyth County Association of Educators from 2015 to 2019 [6][12].\n\n## Office history\nMays' first run for elected office came in 2024, when she won the Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 31 over Laurelyn Dossett, 5,590 votes to 4,511 [13]. She lost the general election to Republican Dana Caudill Jones, who also faced independent candidate Teresa Hopper Prizer [14].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nHer 2026 campaign platform emphasizes student-centered education, transparency, and responsible budgeting, with a focus on academic programs, expanded mental-health resources, and safe school environments [7]. She has been endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety, the Forsyth County Association of Educators, Gun Sense Voter, and Red Wine and Blue [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Ronda Mays -- Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ronda_Mays) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[4] [Endorsements for Ronda Mays -- North Carolina Democratic Party Candidate, Blue Voter Guide](https://bluevoterguide.org/NC/candidate_Ronda_Mays/526336) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[6] [The Candidate -- Ronda Mays for WS/FCS Board of Education](https://vote4mays.com/the-candidate) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[7] [Ronda Mays for WS/FCS Board of Education](https://vote4mays.com/) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[9] [Ronda Mays -- LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ms-ronda-j-mays-314a0444_early-voting-is-taking-place-in-forsyth-and-activity-7167151666020995072-SLlq) (LinkedIn requires login; reflects a public post as of March 2026.)\n\n[12] [Candidates with ties to public education file together for state and county office -- 88.5 WFDD](https://www.wfdd.org/story/candidates-ties-public-education-file-together-state-and-county-office) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[13] [Election results: Democrats Paul Lowe and Ronda Mays win their primaries for State Senate Districts 31 and 32 -- Triad City Beat](https://triad-city-beat.com/election-results-democrats-paul-lowe-and-ronda-mays-win-their-primaries-for-state-senate-districts-31-and-32/) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[14] [Open Senate 31 seat pits two challengers against each other -- Winston-Salem Journal](https://journalnow.com/news/local/government-politics/elections/senate-31-challengers-dana-caudill-jones-ronda-mays-joyce-krawiec-election-2024-open-contest/article_823b51b0-873b-11ef-89ec-93d72daeff96.html) -- accessed 2026-07-19","firstname":"Ronda","lastname":"Mays","middlename":"Jean","suffix":null,"token":"8f0ee862314fb01d"},"token":"bm7KEnruGoLsd8oy"},{"candidatename":"Vondell M. Davis","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nVondell Marie Davis is a candidate for Anson County Board Of Education At-Large in Forsyth County, North Carolina in the 2026 election cycle. The North Carolina primary is scheduled for March 3, 2026, with the general election on November 3, 2026.\n\nNo additional biographical information is currently available for this candidate. Voters seeking more information are encouraged to contact local news sources, the county Board of Elections, or the candidate's campaign directly.\n","firstname":"Vondell","lastname":"Davis","middlename":"Marie","suffix":null,"token":"43d6bd053c147376"},"token":"vjSq9sYoJa-FmF72"},{"candidatename":"Richard Watts","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nRichard Karl Watts Jr. (Democrat) is an incumbent member of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education, serving at large. He is seeking a second term in 2026, having first won election in 2022.\n\n## Background and education\n\nWatts attended Wake Forest University on nearly a full scholarship. He then became an 8th-grade social studies teacher.\n\n## Career\n\nWatts spent more than 32 years in Forsyth County public schools as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. He taught at Wiley Middle School, served as assistant principal at Southwest Elementary School in Clemmons, and was principal at Kimberley Park Elementary, Julian Gibson Elementary, and Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy. He was named Principal of the Year by his peers on at least two occasions. He has pastored his congregation at Rickards Chapel AME Zion Church for 36 years.\n\n## Sources\n\n- [1] [WSFCS Board of Education Candidate Responses, Richard Watts, At Large \u2013 Clemmons Courier](https://clemmonscourier.com/2022/11/03/wsfcs-board-of-education-candidate-responses-richard-watts-at-large/)\n- [2] [Democrat Watts says he will seek second term on Forsyth school board \u2013 Journal Now](https://journalnow.com/news/local/education/article_b0a80b63-7605-46e0-909b-fb1883664983.html)","firstname":"Richard","lastname":"Watts","middlename":"Karl","suffix":"JR","token":"8aaed7bb41c99702"},"token":"Aw7wx5K2QRltlULr"},{"candidatename":"Frank M. James","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nFrancis Marshall James IV ran as a Democratic candidate in the March 3, 2026 primary for Forsyth County Board Of Education At-Large, finishing 7th of 10 Democratic candidates with 8,429 votes. The top 3 advanced to the November 3, 2026 general election, and Francis Marshall James IV was not among them, per the NC State Board of Elections' official precinct-level primary results [1].\n\nAccording to the North Carolina voter file, Francis Marshall James IV is a registered voter in Forsyth County, North Carolina, registered since 1999 (27 years), with party affiliation listed as Democratic [2].\n\nThe voter file shows Francis Marshall James IV's year of birth as 1967; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [2].\n\nThe voter history file shows 9 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [3].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Francis Marshall James IV can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [March 3, 2026 primary official precinct-level results \u2014 NC State Board of Elections](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2026_03_03/results_precinct_sort/FORSYTH_PRECINCT_SORT.txt) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n\n[2] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[3] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","firstname":"Francis","lastname":"James","middlename":"Marshall","suffix":"IV","token":"922a1ac4793041df"},"token":"maNFQDqeO7WhL01l"},{"candidatename":"Valerie Brockenbrough","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nValerie Brockenbrough is a Democratic candidate for an at-large seat on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education in the November 3, 2026 general election. She advanced from the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary alongside fellow Democrats Ronda Mays and Elisabeth Motsinger [1].\n\n## Background and education\nBrockenbrough earned a bachelor's degree from the Ecole Francaise d'Attache de Presse in 1996 [1]. She describes herself as a small-business owner of 20 years, the owner of Zoe b Organic, a wholesaler of baby and pet products, and a mother of three [2].\n\n## Career\nBrockenbrough first ran for office in 2024, seeking one of three Forsyth County Board of Commissioners District B seats in the Democratic primary; she advanced to the general election but finished behind the three Republican incumbents, who were re-elected with roughly 52% of the vote [2][5].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nDuring her 2026 school-board campaign, Brockenbrough has emphasized the district's $45 million budget shortfall, calling for the district to hire a chief financial officer who reports directly to the board rather than to the superintendent, more frequent finance-committee meetings, and greater transparency in budget reporting [4]. In her 2024 campaign she called for moving the district's school-bond referendum up from 2028 to 2026 and for greater investment in school buildings and emergency services [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Valerie Brockenbrough -- Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Valerie_Brockenbrough) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[2] [No surprises in race for seats on Forsyth County Board of Commissioners -- WS Chronicle](https://wschronicle.com/no-surprises-in-race-for-seats-on-forsyth-county-board-of-commissioners/) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[3] [Endorsements for Valerie Brockenbrough -- North Carolina Democratic Party Candidate, Blue Voter Guide](https://bluevoterguide.org/NC/candidate_Valerie_Brockenbrough/530422) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[4] [Meet the at-large Democrats running for WS/FCS Board of Education -- WXII 12](https://www.wxii12.com/article/wsfcs-board-of-education-at-large-democrats-budget-trust/70405528) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[5] [Valerie Brockenbrough -- 2024 candidate profile, Branch.vote](https://www.branch.vote/races/2024-nc-primary-election-nc-state-county-commissioner-nc-forsyth-county-district-b-d/candidates/valerie-brockenbrough) -- accessed 2026-07-19","firstname":"Valerie","lastname":"Brockenbrough","middlename":"Lecoeur","suffix":null,"token":"666018877e742045"},"token":"IdS_B3vGdgph96bk"},{"candidatename":"Henry McCarthy","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nHenry Malcolm Mccarthy ran as a Democratic candidate in the March 3, 2026 primary for Forsyth County Board Of Education At-Large, finishing 10th of 10 Democratic candidates with 1,900 votes. The top 3 advanced to the November 3, 2026 general election, and Henry Malcolm Mccarthy was not among them, per the NC State Board of Elections' official precinct-level primary results [1].\n\nAccording to the North Carolina voter file, Henry Malcolm Mccarthy is a registered voter in Forsyth County, North Carolina, registered since 2014 (12 years), with party affiliation listed as Unaffiliated [2].\n\nThe voter file shows Henry Malcolm Mccarthy's year of birth as 1944; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [2].\n\nThe voter history file shows 9 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [3].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Henry Malcolm Mccarthy can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [March 3, 2026 primary official precinct-level results \u2014 NC State Board of Elections](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2026_03_03/results_precinct_sort/FORSYTH_PRECINCT_SORT.txt) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n\n[2] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[3] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","firstname":"Henry","lastname":"Mccarthy","middlename":"Malcolm","suffix":null,"token":"3bf2dae8eb3249c3"},"token":"uUKO2mg4nUMMpAoP"},{"candidatename":"Gwendolyn Johnson","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nGwendolyn Trivette Johnson ran as a Democratic candidate in the March 3, 2026 primary for Forsyth County Board Of Education At-Large, finishing 5th of 10 Democratic candidates with 9,683 votes. The top 3 advanced to the November 3, 2026 general election, and Gwendolyn Trivette Johnson was not among them, per the NC State Board of Elections' official precinct-level primary results [1].\n\nAccording to the North Carolina voter file, Gwendolyn Trivette Johnson is a registered voter in Forsyth County, North Carolina, registered since 2012 (14 years), with party affiliation listed as Democratic [2].\n\nThe voter file shows Gwendolyn Trivette Johnson's year of birth as 1973; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [2].\n\nThe voter history file shows 10 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [3].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Gwendolyn Trivette Johnson can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [March 3, 2026 primary official precinct-level results \u2014 NC State Board of Elections](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2026_03_03/results_precinct_sort/FORSYTH_PRECINCT_SORT.txt) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n\n[2] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[3] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","firstname":"Gwendolyn","lastname":"Johnson","middlename":"Trivette","suffix":null,"token":"049ee3dd9d554ea4"},"token":"LBBVyvdlAq8qRVDi"},{"candidatename":"Elisabeth Motsinger","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"According to the North Carolina voter file, Elisabeth Marie Motsinger is a registered voter in Forsyth County, North Carolina, registered since 1983 (43 years), with party affiliation listed as Democratic [1].\n\nThe voter file shows Elisabeth Marie Motsinger's year of birth as 1957; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 11 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Elisabeth Marie Motsinger can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","firstname":"Elisabeth","lastname":"Motsinger","middlename":"Marie","suffix":null,"token":"a27c586e9bfa9220"},"token":"vMuQCvgqdjU84pnO"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":"county_school_board","office":"county_school_board","officedescription":"A school board member serves on the elected body that governs a public school district. The board sets district policy and budget priorities and hires and evaluates the superintendent, while leaving day-to-day management to the administration.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment for a public school district \u2014 setting direction while leaving day-to-day management to the superintendent.\n- Budget literacy for operating and capital budgets, in coordination with the county commission (which appropriates) and the state.\n- Ability to hire, evaluate, and when necessary replace the superintendent \u2014 the board's highest-stakes recurring decision.\n- Constituent relations with parents, teachers, principals, and community members.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Association.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County School Board Member","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":3,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Forsyth County Board Of Education At-Large"}