Durham mayoral race narrows down to Leonardo Williams, Mike Woodard for general election

The Durham mayoral race is down to two candidates for next month's general election.

Current City Council Member Leonardo Williams and current state Sen. Mike Woodard, D-Durham, will square off on Nov. 7.

Williams or Woodard will replace outgoing Mayor Elaine O'Neal, who announced in June she would not run for reelection.

With 98% of the precincts reporting, Williams got 12,082 votes (51.3%) and Woodard received 6,843 votes (29%).

WRAL News asked Williams and Woodard about their plans.

"We've got to make sure that we're leading a culture that's embracing all of the resources we have available," Williams said. "Our kids have to be so involved, so engaged or working that you're too bored to get in trouble.

"My goal is to be the drum major of this culture change, this course correction."

Woodard mentioned staffing issues within the Durham Police Department.

"Short term, we've got to make sure that our police department is fully staffed," Woodard said. "We've got 106 vacancies in the police department right now."

Another issue on the minds of Bull City residents is housing.

Woodard points to the possibility of utilizing public lands in the city and county.

"We passed a $95 million bond referendum a few years ago," Woodard said. "Making sure we are delivering on the housing we promised in that bond."

Woodard mentioned the possibility of the city to work with county government and private developers to develop affordable housing.

WRAL News asked Williams about his plans about affordable housing if he were to become mayor.

"I'm one of the leading representatives in Durham on transportation," Williams said. "We have to identify our transit corridors, diversify the housing options that are actually available to be built along those corridors, and that'll allow us to be able to increase our supply."

Current City Council member DeDreana Freeman got the third-most votes with 3,321 (14.1%). She's been a member of the Durham City Council since 2017 and also serves as a nonprofit director.

Here were the other candidates vying to replace O'Neal:

• Charlitta Burruss is a community advocate and pastor, who has received a Neighbor Spotlight Award.

• Sylvester Williams is a retired financial analyst and a pastor.

• Marshall Williams Junior is a current sales leader. His campaign website says he's sat on multiple City boards.

• Jontae Dunston's Facebook page describes his campaign as one for citizen's mayor, with a focus on respecting others.

• According to his LinkedIn profile, Nick Pettiford is a graduate of North Carolina Central, and a regional marketing manager.

Williams has been on a Durham City Council member since 2021. He's a former teacher and now a local business owner.

Woodard served on the Durham City Council from 2005 to 2012.