‘It’s time for a new day.’ Durham elects new mayor, council members

City Council member Leo Williams coasted to victory over state legislator Mike Woodard on Tuesday, taking nearly two-thirds of the vote in the race for mayor.

“I think we just won,” Williams whispered on a rooftop overlooking City Hall shortly before 9:30 p.m. after watching the votes trickle in for two hours.

With all 61 precincts reporting, Williams drew 63.5% of the vote, or 24,141 votes, according to unofficial results. Woodard, who serves in the North Carolina Senate, drew 36.2% of the vote, or 13,759 votes. Williams will succeed Mayor Elaine O’Neal who decided not to seek reelection to a second term.

Voters also elected three council members. Nate Baker led with the most votes, followed by incumbent Javiera Caballero and Carl Rist. Incumbent Monique Holsey-Hyman, who was cleared in September of extortion allegations after months of controversy, came in fifth out of six candidates.

Williams, 42, a former Durham Public Schools teacher who now owns restaurants with his wife, was in the midst of his thank-you speech when Woodard called to concede.

“This race was tough, but it was tough because of the climate in which we are doing politics in Durham,” said Williams, who was elected to the council two years ago.

“It’s time for a new day,” he said.

Family and supporters waited for Williams to conduct TV interviews and offered him an endless supply of hugs, congratulations and handshakes.

“He’s been nervous all day,” Zweli Williams said of her husband. “But I think the people have spoken.”

Williams finished first in the city’s non-partisan primary last month with 51% of the vote. Woodard finished second, with 29% of the vote. The top two finishers in the primary advanced to the general election.

Woodard, 64, was on the Durham City Council for seven years before becoming a state senator 10 years ago. He previously told The News & Observer that he would run for re-election to his Senate seat next year if he didn’t win mayor.

‘A different kind of politics’

Baker, who repeated his first-place primary finish in the race, celebrated at a brewery across downtown enjoying beer and pizza.

“I think we’re coming out of this with a mandate,” said Baker, a member of the Durham Planning Commission. “I think the people of Durham are ready for a different kind of politics.”

Baker said the vision Durham residents have asked for is one that “advances the material interests of working class people and doesn’t elevate the needs and desires of powerful real estate developers.”

After Rist and Caballero gave victory speeches at the People’s Alliance celebration at a downtown restaurant, they went to congratulate Williams in person. Their families and former Mayor Steve Schewel walked alongside them.

Caballero, who won her second four-year term, sat down with The News & Observer after congratulating Williams and saying hello to Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton.

“I’m excited to work with folks who are collaborative and ready to dig into the big work,” she said.

Voters’ top priorities this year involved affordability and development, she said.

“We have some really big issues to tackle. I’m excited to get to work,” she said.

Rist, who will be a new face on the council, said the top issues voters shared with him were housing and safety.

“I’ve learned a lot about Durham, even though I’ve been here 30-plus years and been really involved,” he said. He thinks the newly re-structured council shares a willingness to work together. “Ultimately it comes back to building a sense of trust among the members of City Council, so we can keep eyes on the big issues and not the small petty stuff,” he said.

Election results

With all 61 precincts reporting, here are unofficial results.

Mayor

• Leonardo Williams: 63.48% (24,141)

• Mike Woodard: 36.18% (13,759)

City Council (at-large, 3 seats)

• Nate Baker: 22.57% (23,788)

• Javiera Caballero: 22.03% (23,216) (incumbent)

• Carl Rist: 20.73% (21,852)

• Khalilah Karim: 15.14% (15,962)

• Monique Holsey-Hyman: 10.96% (11,550) (incumbent)

• Shelia Ann Huggins: 8.21% (8,658)

The Durham County Board of Elections reported that 25,814 people voted on Election Day with 12,598 during early voting, putting turnout around 18.5%. Full tallies will be reported later.