Filing has now closed for the upcoming Durham City mayor and council ward seat elections. With four of seven council votes in the balance, the future of Durham is at stake in this election.
After fifteen years as mayor, Bill Bell has announced his intention to retire. Who will fill his shoes? Seven candidates filed for office. Among them, Farad Ali, Steve Schewel, and Pierce Freelon are well known, but Tracy Drinker, Shea Ramirez, and Sylvester Williams should not be discounted. Mike Johnson also filed but since has informed PA PAC that he will drop from the race. From the remaining six, who will PA PAC endorse?
In Ward 1, long-time incumbent Cora Cole-McFadden will face challengers DeDreana Freeman, John Tarrantino, and Brian Callaway. Eddie Davis is not seeking reelection to the Ward 2 seat and his absence has attracted a host of hopefuls. LeVon Barnes, DeAnna Hall, Robert Fluet, Mark Anthony Middleton, Dolly Carlene Reaves, and John Rooks, Jr., have filed to replace him. In Ward 3, incumbent Don Moffitt will face challengers Vernetta Alston, Lenny Kovalick, and Shelia Huggins. PA PAC members face some tough decisions choosing from among these candidates.
At the PAC’s candidate mixer at Motorco on July 25th, seventeen of the twenty-one mayor and council candidates mingle with more than 200 PA members and non-members alike.
PAC has sent its 2017 city council questionnaire to all the candidates. Already responses have been returned. As soon as all the candidates have submitted their responses, PAC will publish them here.
PA PAC’s job, is to identify the best candidate for each seat and get him or her elected. This will be no easy job, but PAC is up to the challenge. Every candidate has been invited to interview with PAC’s interview committee and the committee will report its findings and recommendations to the full PA membership at the PAC endorsement meeting at 6:30 p.m. on August 29th at the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 4907 Garrett Road. PA PAC endorsement decisions are made by PA members after listening to reports and debating the merits of the candidates. Every member will get to speak. It is an open and democratic process that has served PA and Durham well. When PA PAC endorses and supports the best candidates, they win!
PA PAC’s success depends on its members. Every member should attend the endorsement meeting. Members who have not renewed for 2017 should do so now! Join or renew online. Members should donate generously to the PAC, their PAC. Click on the DONATE button and follow the instructions. Members must volunteer to help canvass and work the polls. To volunteer, hit the VOLUNTEER button on this site.
For more information about PA PAC and its endorsement process, see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section of this website.