Vote 411 Questionnaire

Campaign Philosophy

Our campaign is built on a simple, urgent truth: Durham is made for more.

We believe leadership must be bold, visionary, and rooted in the people. This movement is not powered by personalities or politics-as-usual. It is powered by presence—quiet, consistent, and courageous—and by the collective wisdom of those who live, learn, work, worship, serve, play, and invest in our city.

Our philosophy is grounded in three principles:

1. Everyone Means Everyone.
   When we say everyone, we do not mean some. We mean the residents too often left out, the young people charting new paths, the seniors who built this city, the workers who keep it running, and the returning citizens whose leadership and discipline we must honor. Our vision is expansive, inclusive, and unapologetically for all.

2. Development Without Displacement.
   We reject the false choice between progress and preservation. Economic development must no longer be a story of extraction. It must be a story of equity—where growth uplifts legacy, where new opportunities respect cultural memory, and where housing and business thrive without erasing belonging.

3. Co-Creation is Power.
   Durham’s strength lies in its people. We do not govern for the people—we govern with them. Every voice has a place in shaping our shared future. Our philosophy is rooted in dialogue, accountability, and shared ownership of what comes next.

This campaign is a call to action and a charge to courage. It is the belief that vision, courage, and results must rise together. It is the conviction that Durham can be a city where resilience is built into our environment, safety is built on trust, housing anchors stability, opportunity fuels creativity, and leadership lights the way forward.

Above all, we hold to this guiding truth: Durham is H.O.P.E. A city where healing, ownership, people, and environment are honored as the foundation of our shared future.

We are not waiting for permission. We are not running on politics. We are committed to building a better Durham—for everyone. A Durham where everyone belongs and no one is left behind.

Durham is H.O.P.E. We are made for more. We are ready to rise.

What experience and skills make you the best candidate for this office?

I bring a unique blend of vision, execution, and deep roots in Durham. As an educator, entrepreneur, and community leader, I have built initiatives that connect people, expand opportunity, and deliver real results. My leadership is bold, action-oriented, and grounded in listening, co-creation, and accountability. I understand how to move complex plans into motion, having overseen programs, grants, and teams that required both fiscal responsibility and innovative solutions. I also carry forward the legacy of public service modeled by my father, former Mayor William V. “Bill” Bell, while standing firmly on my own two feet with a vision for Durham’s future. I am prepared to lead from day one with clarity, courage, and commitment to building a better Durham—for everyone.

Identify your top three (3) issues that you wish to address during your tenure in office and rank them in order of priority.

1. Housing & Healing – Durham must protect legacy residents, redefine affordability, and expand diverse housing opportunities while anchoring stability and dignity for those most at risk.

2. People’s Safety & People’s Trust – True safety requires prevention, accountability, and trust. We will reduce gun violence, expand crisis response, and strengthen community-led solutions.

3. Opportunity & Ownership – Economic growth must uplift Durham’s people. I will cut red tape for small businesses, support the creative economy, and ensure development creates local wealth, not displacement.

While these are my top three, they are inseparable from education and environment—because every learner and every neighborhood must have what they need to grow.

How will you address the top issue once you are in office?

Housing is the foundation of stability, dignity, and opportunity. As Mayor, I will protect legacy residents by committing to no net loss of deeply affordable homes, creating a preservation fund for older properties, and giving tenants and mission-driven buyers first-look rights. I will expand diverse housing opportunities through community land trusts, co-ops, and paths to ownership, while pushing state leaders for tools like local rent stabilization. I will ensure public land is used for public good, and that development uplifts people—not displaces them. Housing in Durham must anchor belonging, not speculation.

Additional Comments

I am running to restore vision and renew courage in this city. Durham is at a crossroads, and we cannot afford small thinking or politics as usual. My leadership is rooted in listening, co-creation, and bold action that delivers results. I believe in development without displacement, safety built on trust, housing that anchors belonging, and opportunity that creates wealth for our people—not just for investors. I stand on the legacy of those who came before me, while carrying a vision that is my own: a Durham where everyone belongs and no one is left behind. We are committed to building a better Durham—for everyone. This is not just a campaign. It is a movement. Durham is H.O.P.E. We are made for more. We are ready to rise—and when we do, we will light up the sky.