(Members of the Durham Board of County Commissioners: Brenda Howerton, Nida Alam, Nimasheena Burns, Heidi Carter and Wendy Jacobs)
The best way to describe Howerton’s work is heroic.
Howerton, along with former chair Wendy Jacobs, resuscitated the life back into
county government after the exit of former County Manager Wendell Davis. Together,
they teamed up to rekindle confidence when the brutal back and forth reminded
residents of stories involving the Hatfield and McCoy feud near the Kentucky
side of Tug Fork.
Many residents forget the massive tug in the soul of local
harmony after Davis accused a member of the board of acts and statements viewed
as racist. Residents may remember the disgusting conduct that pitted members of
the board against many Black citizens weary of the motives leading to the
decision to end a Black man’s career in county government.
People reasoned Davis had to go for not being progressive
enough for Durham. A member of the board of education derided his upscale attire.
A member of the city council blasted that Black man for spewing a racist trope
to degrade Davis.
Howerton stood alone in support of former County Attorney
Lowell Siler’s recommendation to employ the services of The Robert Bobb Group,
a minority-owned national consulting firm, to help Durham County wiggle out of
the mess created by members of the board. Nimasheenda Burns, the other Black
woman on the board, sided with those critics and her colleagues on the
commission incensed by Bobbs time as an appointed Emergency Financial Manager of
the Detroit Public Schools between 2009-2011.
Siler seemed humiliated during the virtual meeting questioning
both his leadership and judgement. That moment ended Siler’s public service as
county attorney after a stroke. Siler died on Sept. 8.
The board never received the type of consulting recommended
by Siler, The International City/County Management Association and the
independent investigator hired by the county to consider the actions of both Davis
and a member of the board.
Durham County endured the impact of Covid-19. The board
faced challenges after members of the Durham County employees racial equity
core committee made demands of the board following the end of Davis’s contract.
Members of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE)
cohort outlined a strategy that includes: (1) board members attending racial
equity training, (2) improved interpersonal relationships on the board, (3)
request that the board “employ racial equity tools to its future decision
making processes and future moves to add a racial equity directive as a high
level, guiding principle to each of County Government’s five strategic plan
goal areas, in order to avoid disparate impacts among not only its managers,
but its employees and citizens”, and (4) request that the board engage in an
open town hall to address inequity and race relations in Durham and in Durham County
Government.”
Durham had to replace its county manager during a time of
extreme hostility. Members of the board faced the lingering effects related to
the loss of their competent and popular county attorney. The board faced
challenges from a community divided on the budget for public education.
Howerton provided strong and consistent leadership. Jacobs
relinquished her role as board chair to support Howerton in ways that model
unity. Both deserve recognition for shifting the culture within both county
government and in Durham County.
We’ve come a long way since the last election. As residents
consider the slate of candidates who will file for office over the next 30
days, keep your eyes on who the commissioner selects as the chair.
I seriously recommend staying on track. The Durham
locomotive is headed in the right direction thanks to Howerton and Jacobs.
All in favor say Aye
