Dan Besse
Candidate for County Commissioner, Forsyth County, At-large
Background
- Occupation
- Attorney
Forsyth County's at-large commissioner since 2022 and a lawyer who works for nonprofit organizations on public health and environmental matters; he represented the Southwest Ward on the Winston-Salem City Council from 2001 to 2020.
Documented positions
Taxes & budget
Co-introduced 2026-27 budget adding school special-education moneyIn office
The $600.72 million budget he and Commissioner Tonya McDaniel introduced passed 5-2; it added $1.35 million for the school district's exceptional children program and set a 55.4-cent tax rate.
ReportForsyth commissioners approve 2026-27 budget: Which option did they choose?News coverage · Winston-Salem Journal · Jun 4, 2026 · journalnow.com
“The approved budget was introduced by commissioners Dan Besse and Tonya McDaniel as an alternative to the $599.4 million budget recommendation”
Education
Supports adequately funding Forsyth's public schools
From his 2022 at-large campaign.
ReportCandidates bring different views to at-large contest on county boardNews coverage · Winston-Salem Journal · Oct 16, 2022 · journalnow.com
“hammer on the necessity to adequately fund the public schools”
Housing
Supports county partnerships to spur affordable housing
From his 2022 at-large campaign.
ReportCandidates bring different views to at-large contest on county boardNews coverage · Winston-Salem Journal · Oct 16, 2022 · journalnow.com
“to work with the municipalities and the private sector to spur more development of affordable housing”
Economy & jobs
Voted to deny Rural Hall data center rezoningIn office
The board voted 5-2 on July 30, 2026, to deny rezoning for a proposed $3 billion data center near Rural Hall.
ReportForsyth commissioners vote down $3 billion Rural Hall data center requestNews coverage · Winston-Salem Journal · Jul 31, 2026 · journalnow.com
“Commissioners who voted to deny the rezoning - Besse, McDaniel, Richard Linville, Gray Wilson and Malishai Woodbury”
Environment & parks
Proposes exploring a six-month data center moratoriumIn office
ReportForsyth commissioners one step closer to 6-month data center moratoriumNews coverage · Winston-Salem Journal · Sep 15, 2026 · journalnow.com
“asking the county staff to write a proposal for a six-month moratorium”
Other issues in this race
Other candidates in this race addressed these topics. We found no documented position from Dan Besse on them.
- Public safetyNo documented position found.
- Government & transparencyNo documented position found.
All sources (7)
- 2026 General Election Candidate Listing (Forsyth County offices and districts)
Election filing · North Carolina State Board of Elections · s3.amazonaws.com
- 2026 General Election Candidate Listing
Election filing · North Carolina State Board of Elections · s3.amazonaws.com
- Meet Commissioner Dan Besse
Government record · Forsyth County · forsyth.cc
- Candidates bring different views to at-large contest on county board
News coverage · Winston-Salem Journal · Oct 16, 2022 · journalnow.com
- Forsyth commissioners approve 2026-27 budget: Which option did they choose?
News coverage · Winston-Salem Journal · Jun 4, 2026 · journalnow.com
- Forsyth commissioners vote down $3 billion Rural Hall data center request
News coverage · Winston-Salem Journal · Jul 31, 2026 · journalnow.com
- Forsyth commissioners one step closer to 6-month data center moratorium
News coverage · Winston-Salem Journal · Sep 15, 2026 · journalnow.com
Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.