On Monday, March 8, the People’s Alliance Board of Directors issued a statement regarding our vision for Durham’s city and county managers. These roles have tremendous influence in Durham’s governance. With City Manager Tom Bonfield retiring last year and County Manager Wendell Davis’ contract due to expire in June, we called for our elected city and county officials to consider this an opportunity to affirm that city and county staff leadership align with our progressive values.

We know politics in Durham has been especially toxic and divisive the past year. Unsurprisingly, the response to this statement has ranged from strong echoes of support to condemnation.

It is a time of transition in Durham. We are in the midst of a search for a new City Manager due to the retirement of Tom Bonfield. Meanwhile, County Manager Wendell Davis’ contract expires in June of this year. We are thankful for their years of service to our community. As our progressive governing boards chart our community’s future, the People’s Alliance encourages our local elected officials to remember these important qualities as they search for our community’s new leaders:

Over recent months, People's Alliance action team members have worked together with the PA Board of Directors and community partners to create a set of budget recommendations for Durham City and Durham County's coming fiscal year. Our members work towards our vision of a just, equitable, and inclusive community where all people thrive in several interconnected areas — economic justice, education, housing, environmental justice, and race equity. These funding priorities offer a way for the city and county to address multiple issues at once as part of a just COVID-19 recovery.