Brenda Howerton, chair of the Durham Board of County Commissioners, makes statement regarding the dismissal of Durham County Manager Wendell Davis

The statement of Brenda Howerton, chair of the Durham County Board of County Commissioners after the 3-2 vote not to renew the contract of Durham County Manager Wendell Davis 

 

I have a few words to share. I have lived through many adverse racial situations including the Jim Crow Era. This motion is perhaps one of the most racially motivated I have witnessed on this board in my 12 years of service. It is indeed a very sad day for Durham, for North Carolina and the country if board members opt to not renew the county manager’s contract. 

  

We are here because last year, the county manager, Mr. Wendell Davis, had the audacity to call to our attention to the fact that he and county staff were experiencing racial bias by Commissioner Carter, a white woman. Since that time, this board has received confirmation (by a credible source) that a number of staff have, for some time, been negatively impacted (physically, mentally and emotionally) by witnessing or personally experiencing the racial trauma inflicted on the county manager and themselves by board members. 

  

Instead of working together as a unified body to address the pathology named in the Coleman report that exists on this board under the previous leadership by receiving racial equity, ethics, and board training, a vote is being called to not renew the county manager’s contract. Mr. Davis is a top performing business professional who is highly regarded among his peers and industries across the country. 

  

This entire situation, since last year, is eerily reminiscent of the Central Park woman who called the police on a black man when he brought to her attention that she was not following the rules of the park about dogs in a certain area. The woman was angry. Instead of acknowledging her mistake and correcting it, she made a conscious decision to demonize the black man because she knew that law enforcement and public opinion tend to work in her favor as a white woman. Unfortunately, this happens every day and everywhere. Since the times of slavery, operating out of white fragility continues to be dangerous and deadly to people of color, in particular black men. People in the community see exactly what is happening very clearly and have been sounding the alarm. We have received numerous emails and calls. Community members, groups, and universities have partnered to host community meetings and forums to shine a bright light on this particular issue regarding the manager’s concern, commissioners and racism. We must not turn a deaf ear or blind eye to what is happening here in Durham and on this board that is in plain sight. Please do not further divide our community. 

  

To put it plainly, penalizing the county manager for speaking up about racial inequity places those of us who choose this path on the wrong side of history. No matter how you rationalize it. No matter how many times you use racial equity language at every meeting, your actions speak much louder than any of your words. 

 

It is wrong. It is retaliatory. It is violent. It is racist. 

  

It is important that we discuss this issue and reach decisions as a unified body. Why the rush? We have not had an opportunity as a board to: 

 

• Review the county manager’s performance appraisal. 

 

• We have not followed through on recommendations from the Coleman report. An investigation the board paid to conduct. 

 

• We have not taken the Racial Equity Task Force’s recommendations into consideration. 

 

• We have not identified board training for us to address the racial tension on this board. 

 

• Similar to the county manager’s concerns, we have not addressed county employees’ cries for help because of their perceptions that board members are racially biased against black staff. 

 

• We have not actively listened as a board to community leaders who have put their faith and trust in us to make just decisions. 

 

To our newest commissioners. Please hear me. You have been a commissioner for five months. There are so many aspects of this complex issue that you have not had an opportunity to know or explore. I know firsthand, sometimes it takes courage and fortitude to withstand pressures from many sides to do what you know is right to do. We will never please everyone, but we must always do what is just. MLK, Jr. said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” It does not bend on its own. It requires us to do our part to move toward justice. 

  

Please consider the irreparable damage a decision to not renew the manager’s contract when you may not have all the information and we as a board have not done all the work to be truly fair and equitable employers. Please consider the harm to county employees, Durham County, and the community. We are so much better than this. Durham County deserves us to bring our best selves as we carry out the duties of our office. 

  

The saddest and least mentioned part of this entire situation is about county staff who were also referenced in the manager’s letter of concern. 

 

What about them? 

 

• What actions were taken to address those concerns of affected employees under the previous board’s leadership? 

 

• What are the chances any county employee coming forward about racial trauma or oppression inflicted by commissioners? 

 

• What message is board be sending to county employees? 

 

• I will tell you; it is a loud and clear message that commissioners are accountable to no one and if we offend or are racially insensitive to county employees, you had better keep your mouths shut or you will face our wrath. 

 

• That type of toxic message to Durham County employees or anyone is completely unacceptable to me as a commissioner and human being. 

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Again, taking action about the county manager at a time when the functionality of the board is at issue, is a huge mistake. Why the rush? We must first put in the work of examining ourselves and then make a decision from a healthy place. I am imploring that we work together in unity for a just and fair resolution. Thank you. 

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