County manager says Durham commissioner biased against minorities

"I will not tolerate disparate treatment of my staff, myself or anyone else carrying out the public's work," Davis wrote in the three-page letter. "For some, but not so obvious, reasons, you have taken several opportunities to make disparaging remarks about me. I am now concerned that it is due to an inherent bias that you harbor not merely towards me, but people of color in general."

Carter said Wednesday that she was shocked by the letter's "false accusations and baseless claims" and denied any racial animus toward Davis or anyone else.

"I raised a legitimate concern about the slowness of the progress in addressing our school district’s urgent capital needs. I’ve always been an advocate for our public school system," she said. "It’s very difficult when there have been a bevy of unfalsifiable claims lobbied against you, and I’m just trying to remember that I do this work for the people of Durham and, in particular, our children."

"It goes without saying that all white people in the US carry with them racial prejudice against people of color and the experience of living with white privilege. I do not mean to suggest that Heidi is immune from this. I do not believe, however, that any racial bias that she may hold is the cause for her strained relationship with the County Manager," Johnson, who is black, posted on Facebook. "These accusations are unfair and damaging to our politics. When we allow dedicated, smart and effective public servants to be dragged through the proverbial mud based on unfalsifiable allegations, or even their simple desire to continue to do the work of public service, it cheapens the real, devastating impact of racism and white supremacy on communities of color."

Davis stood by his accusation on Wednesday.

"I have been sort of putting up with this stress for the last, really, three years – ever since Mrs. Carter has been on this board," he said. "It’s really a function of just expecting to be respected. I won’t be disrespected. I don’t want any of my staff to be disrespected."

He cited both in the letter and again on Wednesday a comment he said Carter made shortly after she was elected, telling him that he works for the Board of Commissioners and that he should "grin and bear it" when the board tells him to do something.

"As an African-American male in American society, to me, that has some very strong meanings. It harkens back to a time of the atebellum South. It essentially says to me that I have a place," he said.

Carter said she doesn't remember making the comment.

Johnson and others have questioned the timing of the letter, noting that Carter is running for re-election this year and that early voting in the primary is underway. Whoever sits on the Board of Commissioners next year will decide whether Davis' contract is renewed.

Davis called the suggestion that his complaint was politically motivated "laughable."

"This isn’t about a contract. It’s essentially about human decency," he said.

Carter said she wasn't so sure.

"I, of course, noted when I received the letter that it was addressed to me, but the language seemed like it was intended more for the public, and seemed to be an attempt to influence the outcome of the election," she said.

"I honestly care less about [re-election] than I do just, you know, defending my honor and what I know is true," she added.