Vivian Joiner

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Vivian V. Joiner

Democratic Party

Winston-Salem City Council South Ward

Tenure

2024 - Present

Term ends

2028

Years in position

0

Predecessor

John Larson

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 5, 2024

Personal

Birthplace

District of Columbia

Religion

Baptist

Profession

Restaurant owner

Contact

Official website

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Vivian V. Joiner (Democratic Party) is a member of the Winston-Salem City Council in North Carolina, representing South Ward. She assumed office on December 2, 2024. Her current term ends in 2028.

Joiner (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Winston-Salem City Council to represent South Ward in North Carolina. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Joiner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Vivian V. Joiner was born in the District of Columbia. Her career experience includes working as a restaurant owner.

Elections

2024

See also: City elections in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (2024)

General election

General election for Winston-Salem City Council South Ward

Vivian V. Joiner won election in the general election for Winston-Salem City Council South Ward on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Vivian V. Joiner (D)	97.8	11,101
		Other/Write-in votes	2.2	245

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,346
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Winston-Salem City Council South Ward

Vivian V. Joiner defeated incumbent John Larson, Adrian Smith, and Carolyn Highsmith in the Democratic primary for Winston-Salem City Council South Ward on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Vivian V. Joiner	35.5	967
		John Larson	29.9	814
	Submit photo	Adrian Smith	19.7	536
		Carolyn Highsmith	14.9	407

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,724
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Joiner in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Vivian V. Joiner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Joiner's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

As a small business owner I am often tasked to find meaningful resolve to challenging problems. I believe that skill set will serve me well in the City Council.

I want to help create solutions. Solutions to find better ways to partner with each other as neighbors, police and community activist to keep our neighborhoods safe. Solutions to reduce the Food Insecurities, finding ways to bring fresh and nourishing food to areas most needed. Solutions to the lack of Affordable Housing that adds to the risk of homelessness. I will fight for equitable housing inventory of affordable housing units to truly impact the housing shortage that is affecting where and how we live daily.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• The need for an inventory of affordable housing has never been more important. We need creative solutions which include repurposing empty buildings. All of our citizens deserve to have clean, safe and reasonably priced housing.
• No one should go hungry. Food insecurity for many is a daily reality. Neighborhood food pantries helping ensure that everyone can eat.
• We most address the root causes of homelessness to end the cycle of homeless. Low- income rate housing, will slow the cause for people being displaced into being unhoused.

Community Question Featured local question

Do you think the downtown area is healthy? What is your definition of a healthy downtown? What changes, if any, would you like to make?

We have a strong growth of downtown. The last 20 years has seen a lot pf positive growth but having affordable housing for the core workforce to be able to live near the places they work is needed.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you address crime and public safety? Do you have a different stance than current city council policy?

Community help in public safety is a key point in keeping our neighborhoods safe.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you balance the needs and desires of existing business and housing communities with new development? Would you take gentrification and displacement into consideration when planning neighborhood development?

You most consider the current residents and the affects of any new development on those who will be impacted.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's current approach to public safety? Would you take any different positions?

The police department while understaffed put out a good effort in being available to citizens.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding the police department? Would you make any changes from current policy?

I support the police department.

Community Question Featured local question

What policies would you have implemented in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic? Why did you select those policies?

The city response to COVID-19 was thoughtful.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

It is my nature to feed people. To meet individuals at their point of need for basic services creates a more compassionate community.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The local representative is part of the community, they are the voice that which understand the need most and that can be very impactful

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My father was a man of high moral standard. His strength, his word, his dignity was the rich legacy he left me.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

compassionate

patient
calm
leader skills

listener

What legacy would you like to leave?

My goal to is to help those in need

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

During High School I worked for National Institutes of Health as a lab tech.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible. It is my road map. It calms, it directs, it encourages, it give me hope.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe the person that hold the office would benefit most by having a strong personal connection to the community they represent

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

The ability to understand the challenges and concerns of the people you represent is needed to address some issues best.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Judge Denise Hartsfield
NC Rep. Amber Baker

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Community Questions were submitted by the public and chosen for inclusion by a volunteer advisory board. The chosen questions were modified by staff to adhere to Ballotpedia’s neutrality standards. To learn more about Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Expansion Project, click here.

See also

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Candidate

Winston-Salem City Council South Ward

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by John Larson (D)	Winston-Salem City Council South Ward 2024-Present	Succeeded by -