W-S mayoral race heats up
By David Irvine and Angel Hsu
Contributing Reporters

Winston-Salem’s upcoming mayoral election will be one of the most important in recent memory, as the city is searching for solutions to new economic problems arising out of the announcement that Wachovia Corp.’s headquarters will be moving to Charlotte.

Two men claim to have the answers, though, and will be campaigning for the city’s top job up to election day Nov. 6.

Incumbent Mayor Jack Cavanagh is seeking re-election on the Republican ticket, and his challenger is Democrat Allen Joines.

Originally from New York, Cavanagh completed his undergraduate work at Elon College and received a Master’s Degree from Appalachian State University. He has served as a North Carolina Senator and a Winston-Salem Alderman. Cavanagh is currently a professor at Winston-Salem State University, in addition to serving as a trustee for the school.

Throughout his past four years as mayor, he has, among other things, successfully established the Citizen Efficiency Review Committee, the Venture Capital Committee, initiated the Brownfields Redevelopment, passed a $71 million bond issue and overseen the renovation of the old “historic” City Hall.

Joines received a bachelor of science degree from Appalachian State University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Georgia. Joines is no stranger to Winston-Salem, either.

He has 30 years of experience in senior-level positions with the city.

Joines’ most recent position was deputy city manager, a post at which he served for 10 years.Throughout that time, Joines was responsible for the recruitment or expansion of 28 companies to the city which created over 6,000 new jobs and made $330 million of investment.

Additionally, he is currently the president of the Winston-Salem Alliance, a non-profit, economic development corporation founded last year by Wachovia’s chairman.

Both candidates have their own ideas concerning ways to revitalize Winston-Salem in the wake of the Wachovia move. Joines says he wants to “increase job and wage growth in all areas of the city by carrying out a ‘smart’ economic development program.”

He points to several essential components of his plan. “It will re-use older industrial areas, will position Winston-Salem to take advantage of the FedEx hub and will make Winston-Salem a fertile ground for entrepreneurial development,” Joines said.

“We must start at the core, the heart, the root of the community,” Cavanagh said.

“(Downtown) is where I put all my efforts.” He currently has several such efforts underway. Cavanagh’s administration has allocated $1.2 million to develop downtown Winston-Salem and is improving the city’s “social capital” by establishing more “public spaces” and plazas.

“Given another opportunity, we’re going to see major changes,” he said, “We’re going to see people in new places that will think differently than the ‘Old Guard,’ but it won’t happen overnight.”

There are plenty other issues at stake in the campaign, as well. The quality of life in various neighborhoods of the city is a concern shared by both candidates. Cavanagh spoke of his vision of returning Winston-Salem to a community in which children can play in their front yards without fearing automobiles.

“We have been relegated to the back of the house, to the backyard,” he said.

Joines described neighborhood revitalization as one of his major campaign objectives, to be achieved “through improved roads and utilities, removal of blighting conditions while preserving the historical character of the neighborhoods and supporting partnerships between law enforcement and neighborhoods.”

A public conference featuring the mayoral candidates, as well as politicians running for other local offices, is planned for later in the month.

Both candidates will have a short time frame in which to present their respective platforms to citizens.

Cavanagh has not hesitated to criticize his opponent, accusing Joines of serving simply as a pawn for big business. Still, the campaign has maintained a generally civil tone, and Cavanagh said “politics is not personal, it’s business.”

“I have not run for office before, and am doing so because of my serious concern about the future of Winston-Salem,” Joines said, “My knowledge of economic development and my broad base of support will allow me to get this city back on track.”

Cavanagh is also quick to speak of his love of Winston-Salem. “ I’m worried about what’s inside, the human spirit, because that’s what makes things great, not buildings and parking lots. Those are the trappings. The human spirit guides what people do.’”

Still, Cavanagh expresses pride in the improvements to Winston-Salem that his administration currently has underway.

The election will be held Nov. 7.