Winston-Salem State senior clinches nomination in local primary

Winston-Salem State student Derwin Montgomery, won the Democratic nomination for the East Ward seat on the Winston-Salem City Council.

In the primary election Sept. 15, Montgomery,  a senior majoring in political science became the first traditional student in WSSU history be nominated for that position.

"I don't know how to describe what I feel," Montgomery said the day after the election.

According to www.fcvotes.com, Montgomery won 56.68  percent of the votes against three competitors, including 16-year incumbent Joycelyn Johnson. He received 440 votes during early voting.

"Early voting put us in a great position coming into Election Day," Montgomery said.
Montgomery said he had a unique campaign strategy.  He created a Facebook group called "The Committee to Elect Derwin Montgomery."

On campus, Montgomery campaigned with fliers, e-mails, and promotion from student organizations. He also helped register students to vote and started a carpool service to take students to the polls. Student leaders assisted him in carpooling.

"I decided to help Derwin take students to the polls," said Shaun Trotter, senior, exercise science major.

 "This was a great accomplishment not only for me, but for the social science department and the University as a whole," Montgomery said.

"The political science department, which is a part of Democracy Now, was very encouraging of my campaign."  Montgomery said that the first issues he plans to address are public safety and economic development.

"Public safety is directly related with Winston-Salem State," he said.

"We have to move from containing crime in the East Ward to eliminating crime in the East Ward. I plan to bring youthful energy and a new perspective to the council."

Montgomery said that being a college student while running for office allowed him to have access to a base of people who are usually taken for granted.

"This election showed that college students can make a difference," he said.

 Montgomery said he thinks that 75 percent of his votes were from WSSU students.   

 
Larry Little, associate professor in the department of social sciences, was the first WSSU student to serve as a city councilman in 1977.

Little was one of Montgomery's advisers throughout the campaign.

"It's a great honor to see your students do well," Little said.

"This campaign inspired me; I wanted to help him in any way I could."

Little said that, as a part of the school's motto, "Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve," Montgomery is ready to serve in his own community.

"Dr. Little was actively involved in my campaign and constantly pushed me to be the best that I could be," Montgomery said.   

"I appreciate all of his support."

 In addition to his new position, Montgomery holds several leadership roles in campus organizations including Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Followers of Christ Under Salvation, and the Student Government Association Student Senate.