Winston-Salem Assistant City Manager Patrice Toney to step down

Winston-Salem Assistant City Manager Patrice Toney is stepping down from her post. 

She's accepted a position as town manager for Carrboro, a community about 15 miles southwest of Durham. The town announced her selection Thursday after a nationwide search.

Toney has worked for the City of Winston-Salem since 2016, overseeing several departments including human relations, emergency management, and housing development. 

She also served as interim city manager for a period after Lee Garrity retired from the position last year. Local organizations including the Winston-Salem NAACP had advocated for Toney to permanently succeed Garrity, but the role was ultimately given to William “Pat” Pate, the former city manager of Manassas, Virginia. 

Prior to her work in Winston-Salem, Toney served as a budget and management analyst for Forsyth County. In a statement, she said she’s looking forward to “providing leadership in carrying out the progressive policies” of the town of Carrboro.