Contessa Smith
Republican
The gist
No documented position found.
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County
County Commissioner, Forsyth County
District A
- Vote for
- 2
- Term
- 4 years
- Candidates
- 3
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
What this office does: A county commissioner is one of the members of the board that adopts the county budget, sets the property tax rate and oversees county government.
Elected by the district's voters (State Board March 3, 2026 primary precinct results).
Mali (Shai) Woodbury
DemocraticIncumbent
Educator
The gist
- Proposed adding $33.5 million for Forsyth schoolsIn office
- Supports better pay and resources for educatorsIn office
- Voted to deny Rural Hall data center rezoningIn office
In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.
More about Mali
View sources (3)
Proposed adding $33.5 million for Forsyth schools
Forsyth commissioners approve 2026-27 budget: Which option did they choose?News coverage · Winston-Salem Journal · Jun 4, 2026 · journalnow.com
“the bulk of the additional $33.5 million would go toward restoring positions that were cut last year”
Supports better pay and resources for educators
Meet Commissioner Malishai WoodburyGovernment record · Forsyth County · forsyth.cc
“I am unapologetically devoted to helping educators get the pay and resources they deserve”
Voted to deny Rural Hall data center rezoning
Forsyth 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”
Tonya McDaniel
DemocraticIncumbent
Public affairs officer
The gist
- Opposes shifting state funding shortfalls onto local taxpayers
- Co-introduced 2026-27 budget adding school special-education moneyIn office
- Voted to deny Rural Hall data center rezoningIn office
- Supports equitable county school funding for District AIn office
In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.
More about Tonya
View sources (3)
Opposes shifting state funding shortfalls onto local taxpayers
Forsyth commissioners approve 2026-27 budget: Which option did they choose?News coverage · Winston-Salem Journal · Jun 4, 2026 · journalnow.com
“asking local taxpayers to bear the full burden of state-level funding failures without a balanced discussion of sustainability”
Co-introduced 2026-27 budget adding school special-education money
Forsyth 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”
Voted to deny Rural Hall data center rezoning
Forsyth commissioners vote down $3 billion Rural Hall data center requestNews coverage · Winston-Salem Journal · Jul 31, 2026 · journalnow.com
“but I am against data centers in Rural Hall … Commissioners who voted to deny the rezoning - Besse, McDaniel, Richard Linville, Gray Wilson and Malishai Woodbury”
Supports equitable county school funding for District A
Meet Commissioner Tonya D. McDanielGovernment record · Forsyth County · forsyth.cc
“promote equity in property tax rates and county funding for the school systems within District A”
Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 3 issues covered in this race.