Elaine O'Neal's candidacy for mayor perceived as a referendum on what Durham is becoming

Rev-elution offers independent, Black journalism for residents of Durham, North Carolina. Carl W. Kenney II was named Serious Columnist of the Year for his work in the Durham News, a former community paper of the News & Observer. Please support Rev-elution by contributing at: Cash App, $Cmizzou, or Venmo, @Carl-Kenney-1

SEVENTY-FIVE PEOPLE STOOD in front of the Durham County Administration building on the day Elaine O’Neal filed to be placed on the ballot to become Durham’s next mayor. It was a mixed group of family members and people searching for fresh leadership.

O’Neal brings the energy of a person born and raised in Durham. She has witnessed her hometown change overnight. Her West Durham roots took her to the old Hillside High School where she was a member of the marching band. Like many Black Durhamites, she matriculated as both an undergraduate and law student at North Carolina Central University.

She remembers the Hayti district before Durham Freeway 147 displaced hundreds of black businesses to activate decades of declining Black prosperity. She remembers smelling the fumes of tobacco from The American Tobacco and Ligget Meyers Tobacco companies where Black residents made decent salaries to provide for their families.

Rev-elution interviewed 50 Durham residents regarding their perceptions after U.S. News and World Report ranked Raleigh and Durham combined the second-best place to live in America. Some people wonder if the U.S. News and World Report reflects what Durham is becoming more than what they loved most before the construction of the 27 floor One City Center – the building that symbolizes the purging of the dirty that made Durham an oasis for Black people.

Most of the people interviewed see the upcoming municipal election a referendum on what Durham is becoming. They speak nostalgic regarding the strength of Durham’s past – the Black Wall Street, the vital political machinery of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, the culture and support system of Hillside High School and the sway of Black churches and families in providing a support system for youth.

O’Neal’s candidacy is perceived to be about more than the platform of a former Superior Court Judge. It’s about removing politicians dismissive of the history and legacy of Black Durham. It’s about fixing things before it’s too late.

O’Neal is the overwhelming choice for mayor among the people interviewed. Filing for municipal election ends on August 13^th. As of the posting of this article, Jahnmaud Lane, a GOP activist and HAVC technician, is O’Neal’s only competition. People are deeply invested in electing a city council willing to press a more practical agenda.

Rev-elution identified five critical concerns among the people interviewed.

What is driving a candidate’s decision to run for office?

Residents noted a lack of trust in candidates after Nida Allam voted in solidarity with Wendy Jacobs and Heidi Carter not to extend the contract of former Durham County Manager Wendell Davis. Many Black residents question the motives of Leonardo Williams, candidate for City Council Ward III. They also question Marion Teniade Johnson’s ties with Mayor Pro Tem Jillian Johnson. Johnson, who hasn’t filed as of posting this article but has a campaign website, is challenging incumbent DeDreanna Freeman for City Council Ward I. Waldo Fenner, a political novice who is critical of Durham Housing Authority Director Anthony Scott, and Libertarian Elizabeth Takla, have filed for Ward I. Lane, a Black man, can expect stiff criticism for his support of Donald Trump.  Lane is the host of Mind of Jamal. His Twitter account was suspended due to inappropriate content. As of this posting, Ward II City Council member Mark-Anthony Middleton has not filed, and he has no challengers.

Do you know what the job involves?

It is vital that candidates for public office understand the role and function of the city council comparative to other elected offices. Takla misses the mark on her campaign website in mentioning public education funding as part of her platform.  Education is an important issue, but doesn’t fall within the jurisdiction of the city council.

How well do you know Durham?

It’s a complicated question due to the vast difference between what Durham used to be and what it is becoming. For some, Durham is a testing ground for progressive models. C.J. Davis, a highly qualified and effective police chief, left Durham to lead the Memphis Police Department. She departed during tense conversations regarding police funding and an increase in homicides. Many respondents shared concerns of Durham politicians making decisions devoid of real conversations with the people most impacted.

Finally, what are the real issues?

The next city council has layers of unfinished business. Respondents listed a few:

·         What are the next steps following the McDougald Terrace debacle? $9,066,649 was spent to transfer hundreds of residents of the Durham public housing units to hotels after carbon monoxide leaks were discovered. A portion of the $95 million housing bond approved by 76 percent of Durham voters will go toward building new public housing. How will this impact the goals originally identified when voters were presented the housing bond?

·         What can and will the city council do to curtail increases in rent?

·         What are the plans to finally fulfill the promise of revitalizing the Hayti Business district after urban removal displaced more than 100 Black-owned businesses?

·         Who will the city council select as Durham’s next Chief of Police? Will the city council function in collaboration with the new chief, or will they micromanage in ways that make it difficult for the next chief to lead?

Good luck voters. There’s a lot to digest in preparation of the October 5^th primary election