Dan Besse is from Hickory, North Carolina. He attended Hickory High School, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of North Carolina School of Law. He has a bachelors degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He lives with his wife, Daisy Rodriguez, and their blended family of three children and five grandchildren in Winston-Salem. He attends the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem.

Dan Besse - Ballotpedia

Dan Besse

Dan Besse is from Hickory, North Carolina. He has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He lives with his wife, Daisy Rodriguez, and their three children and five grandchildren in Winston-Salem. He attends the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem.

Dan is an attorney. He has spent his professional career working to improve public health, a clean environment, and equitable access to affordable health care, good housing, good public education, and good job opportunities for all. He previously represented Winston-Salem for 19 years as a member of the City Council.

Board of Commissioners, North Carolina

Dan Besse is currently an at-large member of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina. He was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term. From 2001 through 2020, he represented the Southwest Ward on the Winston-Salem City Council, elected and re-elected as a Democrat for five terms. Dan Besse previously ran for the North Carolina House of Representatives District 75 in 2018 and did not win.

Dan Besse is currently an at-large member of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina. He was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term. From 2001 through 2020, he represented the Southwest Ward on the Winston-Salem City Council for five terms. Dan previously ran for the North Carolina House of Representatives District 75 in 2018 and did not win.

Supports small business growth and job creation.

- Supports small business growth and job creation.

Economy

As county commissioner, worked to establish the Smith-Reynolds Airport as a special tax district, allowing the county and city to share in increased tax revenues.

Opposed building a commercial events center in Tanglewood Park, supported locating the agricultural events center near Tobaccoville, and helped develop new parks on Highland Avenue and Belews Lake with public access facilities.

Advocated for improving salaries of essential educational support staff, such as bus drivers and teacher assistants.

- As county commissioner, worked to establish the Smith-Reynolds Airport as a special tax district, allowing the county and city to share in increased tax revenues.
- Opposed building a commercial events center in Tanglewood Park, supported locating the agricultural events center near Tobaccoville, and helped develop new parks on Highland Avenue and Belews Lake with public access facilities.
- Advocated for improving salaries of essential educational support staff, such as bus drivers and teacher assistants.

Public Services

Supports affordable housing initiatives, stating that "everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to live."

- Supports affordable housing initiatives, stating that "everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to live."

Housing & Urban Development

Supports funding community outreach programs to mentor youth and reduce gun violence.

- Supports funding community outreach programs to mentor youth and reduce gun violence.

Public Safety

Prioritizes safe streets, public transit, and expanding biking and pedestrian paths, greenways, and sidewalks.

Supports improving public transportation.

- Prioritizes safe streets, public transit, and expanding biking and pedestrian paths, greenways, and sidewalks.
- Supports improving public transportation.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Said, "We need to prioritize sustainability and ensure that our development practices do not harm our natural resources."

- Said, "We need to prioritize sustainability and ensure that our development practices do not harm our natural resources."

Energy & the Environment

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Supports regional transportation initiatives.

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.