American Dream

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - Forsyth County commissioners can't stop the city of Winston-Salem from annexing unincorporated parts of the county, but the commissioners took a symbolic stand against involuntary annexation last night. About 20 residents of areas affected by the city's annexation attempts stood and loudly applauded after the commissioners unanimously approved a resolution calling for the discontinuation of involuntary annexation. The resolution asks the county's municipalities to employ only annexation by petition. The resolution was similar to one recently passed by Buncombe County. Gloria Whisenhunt, the chairwoman of the Forsyth County commissioners, said that her goal is to help spread the resolution to counties throughout the state. "It's certainly for Forsyth County, but I don't see the city of Winston-Salem stopping just because we ask them to," Whisenhunt said. "But if we can make it a statewide issue, then perhaps we can have an impact."
• Author James Romoser can be reached at jromoser@wsjournal.com