DURHAM, N.C. — After a crowded primary race, Leo Williams and Mike Woodard are the two final contenders in Durham’s mayoral election. It’s one of the most closely watched local elections in North Carolina this year.
Woodard and Williams are both familiar names in Bull City politics. Williams, a Durham restaurateur, currently represents Ward 3 on the city council. Woodard has represented Durham in the North Carolina Senate since 2012 and before that was a member of the city council.
Election Day for hundreds of towns and cities across North Carolina is Tuesday. Early voting ends Saturday.
“Our economy is so interesting, diverse, just like our people,” Woodard said. “Durham’s going to grow, it’s going to continue to grow.”
“I would like to, at least, be a small part of helping foster that growth in a positive way, but also at the same time, helping Durham maintain its character as being such a great place to work and live and raise a family,” he said.
Both candidates pointed to growth as an important issue for Durham’s next mayor in interviews with Spectrum News 1 Thursday.
“I’m pro-growth but we want to do it responsibly,” Williams said. “We need more housing.”
“Right now we’re lacking vision, we’re lacking function, we’re missing opportunities,” he said. “You have to be able to enhance our community to make it a beacon of hope.”
Williams, who has served on city council since 2021, said his experience as a small business owner gives him a unique perspective on how to lead Durham. He’s also a former teacher.
“We have to shape policy to better shape the needs of our small businesses,” Williams said. “You have to understand how the economy works and I’m actually a part of that.”
He said he wants to continue the work he’s started to support small businesses in Durham.
Woodard points to his years of experience as a political leader and track record of helping people in Durham.
“Constituent service is the critical part of the job. I mean, that's why I run. It's why anybody who's running should want to do the job,”Woodard said. “We can go through policies and statutes and ordinances and budgets all day long, but in the end, it's being with your people, understanding what they're going through when they face challenges.”
“I knew exactly who in the Department of Labor to call to get the elevators inspected the next day. How to go to our housing finance agency to get their inspectors out here and investigate what's going on with the work and why they're behind,” Woodard said.
“And I thought it was a good time for me to put all of those things together and serve in the mayor's role at a very critical time for our city,” he said.
In the Oct. 10 primary, Williams won more than 50% of the ballot, with more than 12,000 votes. Woodard trailed with 6,900 votes, about 29%, according to results from the State Board of Elections. Turnout for the primary was about 10.6%.
Polls will be open Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters will be required to show a photo ID or fill out an ID exception form.