COMMENTARY - Members of the Durham Board of County Commissioners vote to settle a false termination lawsuit filed by former Durham County Manager Wendell Davis.
Commissioners Brenda
Howerton, Nimasheenda Burns and Wendy Jacobs agree to settle while Heidi Carter
opposed not taking the case to trial. Commissioner Nida Allam failed to vote
due to her absence.
On May 13, 2021,
commissioners passed the motion to let Davis’s contract expire in a 3-2 vote.
The vote followed a dysfunctional relationship between Davis and white members
of the board.
Davis wrote a
letter alleging a “pattern of racist behavior” against Commissioner Heidi
Carter in February 2020. The complaint claimed incidents of racism and microaggressions
toward him and other Black Durham County employees.
“You work for the
board. When we tell you to do something, you better grin and bear it,” Davis
claims Carter once told him.
Carter accused Davis
of fabricating his claim of racism to influence the outcome of the election.
Proponents of increased spending for public education rallied in support of not
extending Davis’s contract, while supporters of Davis called for equity and
inclusion training to improve race relations.
The vote to settle
ends what could have cost the county more in legal fees with a strong
possibility of losing the case. It’s not an admission of wrongdoing. It puts an
end to a chaotic period in recent Durham history.
Members of the board
fought. Brenda Howerton replaced Wendy Jacobs as chair of the board. The
leadership change helped heal wounds caused by the decision not to extend the
managers contract. It is a crucial step among other courage steps by members of
the board.
The board announced
the appointment of Dr. Kimberly J. Sowell as the new County Manager on February
28, 2022. A year later, her faith in the best of Durham helps us forget the
worst of Durham.
In settling this
lawsuit, the commissioners help us move forward with a will to transcend the
mistakes and misperceptions before and after Davis’s last day as county
manager.
Lawsuits are given
to prove right and wrong. When it comes to matters related to race, it’s impossible
to resolve why Black men and women are treated with disdain. Some Black people
believe white members of the board of commissioner allowed their bias to impact
a crucial decision. Some white people believe Davis deserved to be replaced for
reasons beyond the color of his skin.
Letting it go is
the beginning of healing. Forfeiting the desire to be proven right makes it
possible for people to hear and nurture the hearts of people on the other side
of an assumed legitimate opinion.
The commissioners
voted to end the madness.
Let’s not call it
a mistake.
Let’s call it a
lesson learned.
Let’s learn from
that lesson.
