Winston-Salem City Council To Welcome New Member

Winston-Salem's City Council voted Monday to appoint Morticia Parmon to represent the Northeast Ward. The seat was held for decades by Dr. Vivian Burke, who died May 5.  

The Forsyth County Democratic Party's executive committee nominated Parmon to take over Burke's term at a meeting last month. Parmon is a Winston-Salem native and Army veteran. She's also the daughter of the late Earline Parmon, a former state senator.

Parmon had run in the March Democratic primary for the same seat but was defeated by Barbara Hanes Burke, the daughter-in-law of Vivian Burke. Parmon will hold the seat until December when the winner of the November general election will take the reigns. 

She'll be sworn in at the council's next meeting on June 15, which will take place at the Benton Convention Center. Council members voted to shift locations because they said the center is better suited for social distancing than council chambers. Mayor Allen Joines said the gathering won't resemble past council meetings. 

“The number of citizens allowed to attend this meeting will be limited," said Joines. "Those in attendance will be required to wear a face covering and to follow social distance measures.”

Joines advised members of the public to submit their comments in writing ahead of the meeting to avoid attending.