Forsyth County Democratic Party

Forsyth County Democratic Party The FCDP elects Democrats to local, state, and federal office who fight for our neighbors across Forsyth County. For Families. For Freedoms. For Futures.

We organize, register voters, monitor polling sites, and show up year-round. Our office will be temporarily closed during the week of July 24th through August 1st as we transition to our new location at 723 Coliseum Dr, Suite 102. Stay tuned for expanded office hours and opportunities to volunteer! Learn more about the Forsyth County Democratic Party by visiting our website: www.fcdpnc.org

Did you know that North Carolina requires candidates to provide detailed information about donors who give more than $50...
09/04/2026

Did you know that North Carolina requires candidates to provide detailed information about donors who give more than $50 towards their political campaign?

And would you find it surprising if a candidate for District Attorney accepted PAC donations?

In Part 2 of "Know Before You Vote: District Attorney," we followed the money, and we were surprised at the amount of money one candidate has amassed this year.

This one took us longer than usual. Following the money meant checking every name against the records, and a few of them sent us back for another look. We think you'll find it was worth the wait.

Researched & written by D.C. Davis, Cardinal Scribe

Read on Substack: https://postly.click/Z0j

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Know Before You Vote: District Attorney (Part 2)
We followed the money, and SURPRISE! 👀
Forsyth County Dems and Cardinal Scribe
Sep 03, 2026

This one took us longer than usual. Following the money meant checking every name against the records, and a few of them sent us back for another look. We think you'll find it was worth the wait.

We can't choose well what we don't understand. This month we're taking a close look at every office on the November 2026 ballot, what the job is, who wants it, and who is funding the campaign.

💰 FOLLOW THE MONEY, PART 2
The Friends of Jim O’Neill campaign finance reports, as reported to the NC State Board of Elections (https://postly.click/O5m) offer an insight to the money behind one of Forsyth County’s most important offices.

District Attorney Jim O’Neill (R) has many big-money donors.

In our previous article, Know Before You Vote: District Attorney (Part 1), we looked at the $6,800 Club. Below, in addition to a list of large donors between $6,500 and $5,000, are several donors who do not live in Forsyth County.

Out of State Contributions:
Kewal Likhyani of Hockessin, DE, donated $5,000. Likhyani owns IP2Revenues, a company that specializes in the analysis of intellectual property rights. Their primary focus is on how these rights can influence business performance.

Amit Likhyani, Enterprise Software Sales Dynatrace, Las Vegas, NV, donated $1,000. Enterprise Software Sales at Dynatrace sells an AI-powered observability platform.

A $5,000 contribution is listed under the name John F. Myers, CEO Myers Corp., Clearwater, FL. That company name is listed with the State of Florida (https://postly.click/kAx) as Inactive.

Derek M. Gray, Attorney, from Mauldin, SC donated $2,000.

Outside of Forsyth County Contributions:
Stephen Knight Pond, Publisher at Hillbrook, Ltd., Greensboro donated $5000

Kevin Powell with Kevin Powell’s Automotive and Powersports Group from Advance, donated $2,500.

Inside of Forsyth County:
💰 $5,000 Club
Paul Fulton, Chairman of the Board, Bassett Furniture Industries

Michael Hough, Partner Hatteras Financial

Ben Sutton, Jr. (founder of ISP Sports), listed as Chairman of Teall Sports and Entertainment

Konstantinos Gus Kazakos, Real Estate Developer

Stephen Taylor Williams

Beth A. Robertson of Winston-Salem contributed $6,500 to O’Neill’s campaign.

Also Listed:
Each partner at Grace, Tisdale, and Clifton, P.A. contributed $6,800

Michael “Mike” Grace, Attorney, Winston-Salem

Donald “Ken” Tisdale, Jr., Attorney, Winston-Salem
Tisdale is one of Jim O’Neill’s campaign treasurers.

Chris Clifton, Attorney, Winston-Salem

Michael Grace, Attorney, Raleigh — $4,000 donation
The address given for this Michael Grace is an apartment in Raleigh.

To Clarify:
Michael A. Grace, Sr., is an attorney in Winston-Salem and founder of the Grace, Tisdale, and Clifton law firm. Michael A. Grace, Jr. (his son) is listed as General Counsel & Director of National Strategy for Checkmate Government Relations and part of their Washington, D.C. team (https://postly.click/GZV).

Checkmate is a lobbying firm formed in late 2023. Companies and groups pay firms like this to press their case with elected officials. Ches McDowell, brother to U.S. Rep. Addison McDowell (NC-District 6), is a managing partner. According to filings with the State of NC (sosnc.gov), Checkmate’s principal office is at 121 Reynolda Village Way, Suite A in Winston-Salem.

Prior to joining Checkmate, Michael A. Grace, Jr. practiced at Kilpatrick Townsend and Stockton in Winston-Salem. That is the firm listed beside the name Michael Andrew Grace on Lorrin Freeman's 2022 campaign finance report (see below).

MORE MONEY QUESTIONS
There are some remaining questions from previous elections, not only about the amount of money in O’Neill’s campaign chest, but also his campaign’s involvement with other elections.

Click on the link below to read a story from 2022 involving the Wake County DA. https://postly.click/OL0

Forsyth County DA Jim O’Neill’s wife, assistant Forsyth DA Jennifer Martin, and a man who’s O’Neill’s business partner funneled cash into Wake County DA Lorrin Freeman’s campaign for reelection ahead of her May primary this year, campaign finance records show.

In addition to Wake County DA Freeman’s campaign finance report’s listing of Jennifer Martin as a contributor, it also lists:

Michael Andrew Grace
Lawyer
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton
Winston-Salem

Rumors persist that Jim O’Neill has more money than a District Attorney should have. He is listed as a member of Coddle Creek Investors, LLC (https://postly.click/BwY). According to state records, the “Description of Nature of Business” is listed as “Commercial Rental,” and the business office is listed in downtown Winston-Salem.

💰 PAC+ CONTRIBUTIONS
Another interesting set of contributions to Jim O’Neill is:

$5,000 from the Reynolds American Inc PAC.

Vaughn Jennings, listed on the campaign report as “Government Affairs, Reynolds American” donated $200.

Jason Wood, who is listed as “Policy and Advocacy, Reynolds American,” donated $100. His listed address is in Lexington, NC.

Jeff Raborn of Advance, NC donated $5,000.

SIDEBAR:
Forsyth County DA Jim O’Neill’s second quarter finance report, as reported to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, lists a donor on 05/26/2026:

JEFF RABORN
ADVANCE, NC 27006

Raborn donated $5,000, but his occupation was not listed as required by North Carolina law for any donation over $50.

According to the North Carolina General Statues, (see link below) Chapter 163 Article 22A Subsection 163-278.11. Contents of treasurer’s statement of receipts and expenditures.

(a)(1)The statement shall list the name and complete mailing address of each contributor, the amount contributed, the principal occupation of the contributor, and the date such contribution was received. The total sum of all contributions to date shall be plainly exhibited. Forms for required reports shall be prescribed by the Board. As used in this section, “principal occupation of the contributor” means the contributor’s:

a. Job title or profession; and
b. Employer’s name or employer’s specific field of business activity.

Raborn is the Executive Vice President, Law & External Affairs and General Counsel for Reynolds American in Winston-Salem (see link below). He is named in the May 13, 2026 NY Times article exposing Reynolds American’s lobbying efforts to change the FDA’s handling of flavored e-cigarettes.

According to the May 20, 2026 New York Times story by Kenneth P. Vogel and Christina Jewett, “A $5 Million Donation From Big To***co Preceded F.D.A. V**e Decision”:

“Over lunch at his golf club in Jupiter, Fla., on the first Saturday of May, President Trump got an earful from a group of to***co executives and lobbyists unhappy with the way the Food and Drug Administration was regulating their industry.”

“It was attended by Jeff Raborn, a top executive at Reynolds, and Phil Park and Todd Walker of Altria, according to the people familiar with the meeting. Also attending were Brian Ballard and Rich Haselwood, lobbyists for the firm Ballard Partners, which represents Reynolds and helped marshal a sophisticated and expensive influence campaign that culminated in the new va**ng guidance. Mr. Ballard is a top fund-raiser for Mr. Trump. Mr. Haselwood had been an in-house lobbyist at Reynolds before joining Ballard Partners this year.”

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance, sent a letter to David Waterfield, President of Reynolds American, dated August 3, 2026 (link to full PDF of the letter included below).

Wyden accused the company, and named Raborn specifically, of “bribing” the President “with a payment of five million dollars in exchange for a regulatory change that will greenlight the retail sale of flavored e-cigarettes and va**ng devices across the country.”

Inquiring Minds Want to Know
Why is the Reynolds PAC involved in the election of a District Attorney? Why did Wood, who does not live in Forsyth County donate money to the DA? Is O’Neill planning another run for state-wide office?🐦

Researched & Written by:
D.C. Davis, Cardinal Scribe

Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Choose Your Starting Point — There's more than one way in! 🙌People ask us all the time: "How do I actually get involved?...
09/04/2026

Choose Your Starting Point — There's more than one way in! 🙌
People ask us all the time: "How do I actually get involved?"

It's easy — there's no single right door. Just pick the one that fits your life right now. Here are a few options to get your wheels turning:
🕛 Power Hour — A short, focused block of volunteer work. Low pressure, real impact. Great if you're new.
📢 Auxiliaries & Caucuses — Find the group that fits you. Connect with folks who share your background, your interests, or your fight.
✍️ Comms Team — Help us tell the story. Writers, designers, social media folks, photographers — we need you.
🏘️ Precinct Meetings — Meet your neighbors. Shape what happens on your street.
You don't have to do all of it. You don't have to do it forever. You just have to start.

👉 Find your starting point: https://fcdpnc.org/volunteer

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NC state law says Forsyth County's District Attorney is a full-time job. So what happens when the person who holds it ke...
09/03/2026

NC state law says Forsyth County's District Attorney is a full-time job. So what happens when the person who holds it keeps running for a different one?

The DA sets the court calendar. That means the DA decides which cases move and which ones sit. And right now, Amara Hunter says some cases here in Forsyth have been waiting more than three years.

Incumbent Jim O'Neill has been DA since 2009. He ran for Attorney General in 2020 and lost. He ran for Lt. Governor in 2024 and lost. Both times he kept his day job.

Today's article comes in two parts:
- Part 1 introduces the candidates, their qualifications, and their funding.
- Part 2 comes out this afternoon. We followed the money past the county line, and it got interesting.

Researched & written by: D.C. Davis, Cardinal Scribe
Read on Substack: https://postly.click/mIP
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DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Forsyth County is Prosecutorial District 31, and the District Attorney is our top prosecutor. State law lays out the requirements of the job. The D.A. is responsible to:
- Decide who gets charged with a crime, and with what
- Bring those cases to court, and do it in a timely way
- Set the trial calendar, which decides how fast cases move
- Represent the state in criminal court and in juvenile court
- Advise local police and court officials on the law

The law also describes this as a full-time job. This means the D.A. can’t run a private law practice on the side.

PROSECUTORIAL DISTRICT 31
North Carolina splits the state into areas for prosecuting crimes. Each area is called a prosecutorial district, and each one elects its own District Attorney for a four-year term. Some districts are made up of multiple counties while others, just one.

There are 43 total prosecutorial districts in North Carolina. Forsyth County is the only county in it’s district, and it’s number is 31.

🟦 AMARA HUNTER
Amara Hunter, a former police officer, is the Democratic candidate for Forsyth County District Attorney. She was an Assistant DA in the Forsyth County DA’s office and now serves in the Forsyth County Public Defender’s office.

Hunter included a one-page fact sheet on her website which says in part:
"The Forsyth County District Attorney (DA) is the chief prosecutor for criminal cases in our area. They decide if charges are filed, how they are filed and who gets charged.

"The DA is one of the most powerful local officials in the justice system, because they can determine: Who gets a second chance vs. who gets locked up. Whether fairness and equity are prioritized – or ignored.

"Our current DA has been failing the community.

"Our current District Attorney offers no leadership. Our jails are overcrowded and some cases have been pending pretrial for over 3+ years. We need a DA whose number one focus is Forsyth County. Amara will work for the victims, families, and the community to ensure strong public safety and equal justice. Jim O’Neill cannot offer that. He moonlights as your DA while running for (and losing) higher political offices year after year. Amara is committed to Forsyth County taxpayers and the justice system."

Hunter posted on Facebook:
“Feeling really grateful for all of the support behind this campaign. This has truly been a grassroots effort, and it means so much to have people who believe in me and what we’re working toward for Forsyth County.

I was honored to receive Josh Stein’s endorsement earlier this year, and I’m even more excited that he’ll be joining us for our fundraiser in October! I’m just thankful for everyone who continues to show up and support me. I don’t take any of it for granted.”

During his endorsement, Governor Stein said:
“Amara is experienced, competent, and qualified to be our next District Attorney, and we need to do whatever we can to get her elected.”

Gov. Stein’s opponent in the 2016 NC Attorney General race was Jim O’Neill.

🟥 JIM O’NEILL
James “Jim” R. O’Neill (R) was appointed District Attorney by Gov. Bev Perdue in November 2009, when longtime DA Tom Keith retired. He won full terms in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

He also spent much of that time running for a different job. In 2020, halfway through his third term as DA, O’Neill was the Republican nominee for NC Attorney General. He lost to incumbent Josh Stein. In 2024, halfway through his fourth term, he ran for Lt. Governor. He finished second to Hal Weatherman in a crowded Republican primary, then lost the May runoff to Weatherman.

Like most conservative Republicans, O’Neill is not publicly campaigning. He is using his office and his record as DA to speak for him. He is also using fear, as seen on his website:

"We have a choice: continue with someone who gets the job done — or risk letting crime and instability hurt our families, our businesses, and our way of life. Jim O’Neill is someone who delivers results for Forsyth County.

"If you believe in: Safer streets. Justice balanced with mercy. Protecting victims and giving second chances where they count. Common sense prosecution, not social justice."

O’Neill is currently making national news for the indictment of a local teenager involved with the May shooting in San Diego, CA. WFMY2 reported O’Neill specifically called out the encrypted messaging app Signal because that’s how the attackers communicated. He wants lawmakers to prohibit use of such apps so law enforcement can monitor them.

💰 FOLLOW THE MONEY (PART 1)
*The campaign finance reports quoted below are on file with the NC State Board of Elections (https://postly.click/eFr) and are for this election cycle. Contributions were made between Jan 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026.

AMARA HUNTER CAMPAIGN
According to the “Statement of Organization” Hunter filed, her campaign committee was organized December 29, 2025. As of June 30th, Hunter’s campaign had $40,580.76 cash on hand. Hunter has put a lot of her own money in this campaign and has one donor, Elizabeth Foley, who contributed $6,800. Only a few of Hunter’s 150+ donors have contributed between $1,000 and $2,000. She has a strong grassroots following who donated $50 or less.

JIM O’NEILL CAMPAIGN
The second quarter finance (sum to date) reports show O’Neill’s campaign has $338,677.77 cash on hand. Also reported in those reports are monthly receipts from a bank in Raleigh identified as “Interest Earned”. That would indicate previous campaign funds have been moved to a separate account, allowing the interest from that money to be added to O’Neill’s current campaign fund.

💰The $6,800 Club
The individual donors listed have been regular contributors to O’Neill’s campaigns, not just when he is running for DA. Under current laws, an individual can contribute a maximum of $6,800 for the primary and $6,800 for the general election.

As of June 30th, contributions include:
- Don Flow, $13,600 and wife Robbin Flow, $6,800
- Joel Schneider, $10,200 and wife Susan Schneider, $6,000

Each person named below has contributed $6,800:
- The Budd Group CEO, and brother to NC Sen. Ted Budd, Joseph “Joe” Budd
- Former Wachovia CEO Leslie M Baker, Jr
- Suzanne Baker
- INV LLC owner, John C Whitaker, Jr. (son of former RJ Reynolds President J. C. Whitaker, Sr.)
- Elizabeth B. Whitaker
- Dr. Anthony “Tony” Atala
- Dr. Katherine Atala
- Former Lowe’s CEO Robert Niblock
- Melanie Niblock
- Chris Beechler
- RJ Phillips
- Lori Essick
- Ronnie Essick
- John Burress III
- Martin L Holton III
- Michael Lancaster
- Lynn Murphy
- David Neill
- Yvonne Morris “Nichelle” Rizk

💰The $6800 Club Donors OUTSIDE of Forsyth County:
- Southern States Police Benevolent Association, based in McDonough, GA donated $13,600 on behalf of its members.

Individual $6,800 donors from outside of the county include:
- Dr. Lenin “Lenny” Peters, High Point
- Cory Allen Phillips, Kings Mountain

For reference, the following these donors are in the LAKE NORMAN area:
- Freddie Lawrence Willis, Troutman
- Gloria S. Willis, Troutman
- Richard D. Essick, Mooresville
- Sonya Essick, Mooresville
- Randall Leon Marion (Randy Marion Chevrolet), Mooresville

More on “Follow the Money” this afternoon.

Stay tuned… you don’t want to miss this! 🐦

Researched & Written by: D.C. Davis, Cardinal Scribe

Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Remember the data center Rural Hall residents fought to stop? One county commissioner made the motion that helped stop i...
09/02/2026

Remember the data center Rural Hall residents fought to stop?

One county commissioner made the motion that helped stop it, and his seat is on the ballot this November.

It’s the "at-large" seat, which means EVERY voter in Forsyth County gets a say. Dan Besse is facing Terri Mrazek, who has run for a commission seat three times before.

Today’s "Know Before You Vote" looks at both candidates and at campaign finance reports where one donor list is surprisingly short.

Researched & written by D.C. Davis, Cardinal Scribe

Read on Substack: https://postly.click/4Xt

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Know Before You Vote: County Commissioner, At Large
Who are the candidates & how do they plan to help us?

We can't choose well what we don't understand. This month we're taking a close look at every office on the November 2026 ballot, what the job is, who wants it, and who is funding the campaign.

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners
The Board of Commissioners’ major responsibilities include adopting the annual County budget, setting the County property tax rate, establishing County policies and acting on zoning and other land use matters. The Board also appoints members of numerous citizen boards, committees, and commissions. (co.forsyth.nc.us/)

AT-LARGE (You will vote for 1 commissioner)
An “at-large” commissioner represents all of Forsyth County rather than one specific district. Voters across the entire county cast ballots for this seat, and the person elected serves the county as a whole.

🟦 DAN BESSE
Forsyth County Commissioner Dan Besse (D), a former Legal Aid attorney, served on the Winston-Salem City Council for 20 years. He was elected commissioner in 2024.

As part of its March primary voter guide, WFDD (Public Radio for the Piedmont and High Country) said of Besse:

"On the conservative majority commission board, he’s known for working across the aisle to advance more progressive policies. His campaign has emphasized public education, health care and public safety, securing an endorsement from the NC Police Benevolent Association."

Because Besse is the at-large commissioner, every person in Forsyth County is one of his constituents. On his website, Besse says:

"I understand that working for all the people of our county includes ensuring that historically underserved communities—including so many of our Black and Hispanic/Latino neighbors—are not left out or left behind. In education, health, environment, safety, and economic opportunity, we must maintain a focus on bridging the gaps to opportunity for all."

All of Besse’s priorities seemed to converge during the debate over allowing a data center to be built in Rural Hall. At the July 30th county commissioners’ meeting, Besse made the motion to defeat the proposed data center plan.

🟥 TERRI MRAZEK
Theresa Elizabeth “Terri” Mrazek is Besse’s Republican opponent. While Mrazek appears to be well known in the Belews Creek area, and within the Forsyth County Republican Party’s leadership, the general public has not seen much of her.

Mrazek listed her occupation as “Retired (Sales), Flow Automotive” on the Organizational Disclosure 2020 Report. On Mrazek’s website, she says:

“I am a successful businesswoman and a passionate community activist. But nothing is more important than family. I am a mother of five and a grandmother of ten, and I want my family to have the opportunities that I have had in our Commissioners.”

In a February interview by Tony Green for the local newsletter, We Love Lewisville-Clemmons, Mrazek said:

“As a County Commissioner, my vision is rooted in collaboration and service to the best interests of all residents. County government carries significant responsibility, including oversight of public safety, public education, infrastructure, public health, parks, and essential services. I believe thoughtful leadership requires balancing fiscal responsibility with compassion and long-term planning.”

According to a WFDD report (Public Radio for the Piedmont and High Country), Mrazek attended a forum, hosted by Housing Justice Now and this is part of that story:

"... Mrazek is a businesswoman and landlord. She’s campaigning for a commission seat for the fourth time, having run unsuccessfully in 2020, 2022 and 2024. She says she supports low taxes and a strong economy.

"When asked about the housing crisis at the same forum, Mrazek recalled providing housing to those who had been in 'a bad situation.'

“'I brought in a lady who was being badly treated and her two daughters into my home so she didn’t have to live in a shelter, and her daughters continued their education,' she said. 'And they were of the brown race, right? I opened my doors for them.'

"The organization that hosted the forum, Housing Justice Now, released a statement about her comment on social media.

"They said, 'This language reflects outdated beliefs about race — language that is especially unacceptable in a county where residents of color face discrimination when accessing resources, including housing.'

💰 FOLLOW THE MONEY
According to campaign finance reports filed with the NC State Board of Elections, Besse has put a lot of his personal money into this campaign. He has fewer than 75 donors with only one giving $2,000 (a doctor) and one donating $1,000 (a lawyer).

Mrazek’s finance reports show she has fewer than 10 donors. The two largest contributions were from Joyce Krawiec for NC Senate ($1,000) and Ed Broyhill ($1,000).

Krawiec, a retired NC Senator (District 31) and current Forsyth County Board of Elections member, has sufficient funds remaining in her campaign account allowing her to contribute to several Republican candidates.

Broyhill, son of the late U.S. Senator Jim Broyhill (R-NC), is currently being sued (SMITHLINE FAMILY TRUST II v. BROYHILL et al) in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina for “Fraud or Truth-In-Lending.” 🐦

Researched & Written by: D.C. Davis, Cardinal Scribe

Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.

What if the incumbent on your ballot has never actually been elected?That’s the situation in the race for Forsyth County...
09/01/2026

What if the incumbent on your ballot has never actually been elected?

That’s the situation in the race for Forsyth County Commissioner District B.

Chris Parker is currently serving on the Board of Commissioners, but voters didn’t put him there. After longtime Commissioner Don Martin retired this summer, the Forsyth County Republican Party appointed Parker to fill the vacant seat. This November will be Parker’s first run for elected office.

His opponent, Marsie West, has been working toward a seat on the board since 2023. She first ran for the board in 2024, then continued showing up at County Commission meetings and speaking out on local issues.

The difference in how they arrived at this race isn’t the only contrast worth looking at. Their campaign finance reports raise some interesting questions, too.

Who’s funding their campaigns? How have West and Parker been involved in Forsyth County? And what do they say they’ll do with the seat?

Today’s "Know Before You Vote" takes a closer look at Forsyth County Commissioner District B.

Read the full post on Substack: https://postly.click/Nxy

Researched & written by D.C. Davis, Cardinal Scribe

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We can't choose well what we don't understand. This month we're taking a close look at every office on the November 2026 ballot, what the job is, who wants it, and who is funding the campaign.

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners - The Board of Commissioners’ major responsibilities include adopting the annual County budget, setting the County property tax rate, establishing County policies and acting on zoning and other land use matters. The Board also appoints members of numerous citizen boards, committees, and commissions. (co.forsyth.nc.us/)

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DISTRICT B (You will vote for 1 commissioner)

🟦 MARSIE WEST
Marsie West (D) of Winston-Salem is running for Forsyth County Board of Commissioners from District B. According to West’s website (see link below) her key priorities are fiscal responsibility, transparent government, economic development, strong public education, public safety, and affordable housing.

West has spoken out at several Board of Commissioners meetings, including during an effort to persuade commissioners to hold meetings at night instead of at 2 pm. According to a March 2025 report by WFDD:
“Marsie West was among several residents who spoke in favor of the schedule change. She said most local governments hold later meetings so the public can have face-to-face interactions with leaders.”

After much discussion, and Republican opposition, the commissioners agreed “to experiment” with having one meeting at night. There was such a large turnout, the commissioners were forced to schedule one night meeting a month.

In his endorsement of West, posted on Facebook (see link below), Lewisville Mayor Billy Carter said:
- Marsie publicly opposed the Rural Hall “Project Iron Spur” data‑center proposal and played a visible role in the grassroots organizing effort that helped residents push back.
- Marsie has been in attendance for almost every County Commissioner meeting for the past 3 years and is already up to speed.
- Marsie has served in multiple local government roles and has hands‑on experience managing budgets to ensure responsible stewardship of our tax dollars.
- Marsie is committed to public safety and the proper funding of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

West first filed to run for the Board of Commissioners in 2023 and was a District B candidate in the 2024 election. After that campaign, she has continued regularly attending County Commission meetings and speaking out on local issues.

🟥 CHRIS PARKER
Chris Parker is the Republican candidate for District B. He is the president of Vienna Village Assisted Living facility in Pfafftown. Parker announced his candidacy after Commissioner Don Martin (R) announced his retirement.

The Forsyth County Republican Party appointed Parker to fill Martin’s seat after Martin officially retired on July 30th. Current NC State Senator Dana Jones (District 31) and Rep. Jeff Zenger (NC House 74) were in attendance to witness Parker’s swearing-in as commissioner.

According to Parker’s website (see link below), his priorities are fiscal responsibility, public safety, workforce development and education, housing affordability, and community services. This is Parker’s first run for elected office.

💰 FOLLOW THE MONEY
West is running a grassroots campaign with fewer than 100 small-dollar donors and no large donors. The second quarter finance reports showed that as of June 30th, West had about $5,000 on hand.

Parker has less than 100 donors. His biggest local donors are former Wachovia Bank CEO Leslie M. Baker, Jr. and his wife. Each gave the maximum of $6,800. One other person contributed the maximum (see Sidebar below). According to Parker’s second quarter finance reports, he has over $70,000 cash on hand.

SIDEBAR
Parker is on the Board of Trustees of Belmont Abbey College, a Catholic school outside of Charlotte. At least four people from the college, who have no ties to Forsyth County, have contributed a total of $11,504.48.

- 11/01/2025 - Belmont Abbey College Retired Chair of the Board of Trustees Keven T. Kennelly, Sr. = $2,000
- 11/05/2025 - Belmont Abbey College Chair of the Board of Trustees Charles Cornelio = $6,800
- 03/20/2026 - Belmont Abbey College Advancement Professional Michael Ellis = $100
- 03/26/2026 - Belmont Abbey College President Jeff Talley = $2,604.48

OPINION
This is a case for limiting outside money from influencing county politics. The people who live in Forsyth County should determine who gets elected, not individuals from outside the county who have thousands of dollars to give away.

Shortly after moving to Belmont, and only two months after becoming president of the college, Talley contributed over $2,000 to Parker’s campaign. What was the purpose? If Belmont Abbey leaders wanted to show their appreciation to Parker for serving on the Board of Trustees, wouldn’t donating this money, in honor of Parker, to a charity in Forsyth County have been a better option? Better still, why not donate to people in their own backyard who need help? 🐦

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Researched & Written by: D.C. Davis, Cardinal Scribe

Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.

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