Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

Mayor Allen Joines received his B.S. from Appalachian State University and his M.P.A. from the University of Georgia. In 1971 he began his career in Winston-Salem as Assistant to the City Manager. Subsequent promotions were to Director of Evaluation, Public Safety Coordinator, the Director of Development and Deputy City Manager.

During his tenure he worked with more than 30 companies that relocated or expanded in Winston-Salem, creating over 6,000 new jobs.  He retired from the City of Winston-Salem in 2000 to become the President of The Winston-Salem Alliance, a non-profit development corporation created to improve economic vitality and create additional employment opportunities in Winston-Salem.  He was elected Mayor of the City of Winston-Salem in November 2001 and re-elected in 2005.

Allen has held numerous positions in professional, civic and community organizations, including the N.C. Development Association, serving as president; the Triad March of Dimes as Chairman and Vice Chairman, the Board of Directors of the Salvation Army Boys' Club and Program Chair of Leadership Winston-Salem.  He is also past Chairman of the Winston-Salem Arts Council, past President of Sertoma West, past member of the Tourism Development Authority, the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem, and a past member of the N.C. League of Municipalities Board of Directors. He served as a member of the Board and Executive Committee of the United Way, as well as the 2004 United Way Campaign Chairman.

In recognition for his efforts to bring about a racial healing and to foster a unified community, Mayor Joines has received a number of community awards.  He was presented the 2002 Winston-Salem Foundation Award in recognition of his "visionary leadership and for committing his life to the betterment of Winston-Salem."  The Winston-Salem Chronicle named him the "Man of the Year" in 2003.  The Business Journal named him one of "The Triad's Most Influential People" in 2006, 2007 and 2008. 

Governor Beverly Perdue appointed him Chairman of the State Economic Development Board in May, 2009.

When I was first elected eight years ago, I made a promise that I would dedicate myself to making our city a better place to live, and that is what I have worked hard to do.

We’ve taken some bold steps, but those steps were necessary to get our city moving forward.  We have made significant progress in rebuilding the local economy and getting the level of new private investment in our community to a rate of three per cent per year, a significant increase from when we first took office.  This increased private investment has produced new tax revenues that have allowed additional city services while keeping our tax rates low.  In fact, our tax rates and fees are the lowest among all the large North Carolina Cities.

I will continue to fight for jobs for Winston Salem.  We have developed a new economic strategy that builds on our bio-tech sector that has the very good potential to create upwards of thirty thousand new jobs in the next ten years.  This will require a significant level of collaboration and we have demonstrated that our community can do this. 

We now have an economy that is successfully transitioning to one based on knowledge industries from one that was in decline just a few short years ago.   This means that there will be good jobs for our residents, their children and grandchildren.

I will also continue to support a strong public safety initiative.  We have seen our overall crime rate drop by six percent since last year and violent crime decrease by almost 14 percent.  This is good progress, but we must do more.  A recent grant that we pursued will allow the addition of 25 new officers and three new forensic specialists. 

I look forward to our citizens electing me to lead Winston-Salem’s City Council for the next 4 years.