WHY I AM RUNNING
I am running to improve the lives of individuals and families who are struggling throughout Durham County. I hear from people all across Durham that even during this period of unprecedented growth and prosperity too many of our residents are being left behind.
My candidacy represents new energy, and I am ready to work for the future of Durham County for all of us. Together we can work to ensure Durham families have expanded access to preschool for our children, adequate funding for Durham Public Schools, affordable housing, social services for the most vulnerable among us, and safety for all communities across the county. Lastly, we can provide jobs at a living wage for our residents.
ISSUES
The job of County Commissioner is about the needs and aspirations of the people of Durham County. If elected, I promise to stay laser focused on our issues and to support budgetary priorities that improve the quality of life for all Durham County residents.
EDUCATION
I believe parents should have access to expanded preschool for their children, and while there is work to be done to strengthen K-12 education, I am committed to adequately funding Durham Public Schools. As a parent, I understand the importance of early childhood education for the development of children and easing the burden of childcare expenses on families. My experiences as a social worker and social work educator also inform the importance of early childhood development and the educational needs of families. I have raised three children here in Durham who are the product of Durham Public Schools and the NC School of Science and Math. All three have received quality education that has propelled them to either college, trade school, or successful entry into the workforce. I want that same opportunity to be afforded to all children across Durham County.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Public safety is an issue that affects all of us in Durham County, and it is still a priority for our residents. Public safety is also a critical component of the overall health of Durham County. There is a public safety issue around gun violence that public officials refuse to talk about, and I will work to have the Durham County budget reflect the need for safe streets across the county. We will get there together!
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Affordable housing continues to be a priority that we say we value, but it is increasingly difficult to square our stated values with the realities across Durham County. First, affordable housing provisions in projects should be a shared commitment across the county. The unintended consequence of not spreading affordable housing around the county is twofold. First, present development is displacing residents from their communities. Second, we are creating other communities that are being segregated on the basis of race and class. Providing affordable housing options should not move us back to practices of the past. Development projects that include good-faith affordable housing provisions across the county would help solve this problem so that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past. There is much work to be done because even if housing is affordable, it is still not attainable for many residents.
JOBS THAT PAY A LIVING WAGE
Great companies of the future want to be located in the Research Triangle Park because of Durham’s progressive social attitudes and the infrastructure to provide opportunities for success, as well as a diverse lifestyle for their employees.
Google and Fujifilm have committed to bringing 5,000 new jobs to the area. These high-tech jobs require specialized knowledge and skills and will go a long way in supporting the local economy. However, we must also continue to bring jobs to Durham that will allow ordinary working-class people to have jobs that pay a living wage with benefits and the dignity that these jobs provide. We cannot afford to leave anyone behind in the local economy.
VETERANS
Our government must live up to the promises made to veterans. Durham is home to hundreds of veterans and retirees, and the work of ensuring that veterans receive the benefits they deserve begins at the Durham County Veterans Service Office.