Durham County Board of Commissioners: Fredrick A. Davis

Name as it appears on the ballot: Fredrick A. Davis

Age: 67

Party affiliation: Democratic

Campaign website:  www.facebook.com/CommitteetoElectFredrickADavis

Occupation & employer: Retired Pastor of First Calvary Baptist Church, Durham, N.C. (2023)

1) In your view, what are the most important issues currently facing Durham County? If elected, what would be your top three priorities?

My top three priorities are stabilizing taxes in Durham County, enhancing public school education and creating affordable housing solutions. 

Stabilizing taxes would allow Durham citizens to use their income and financial resources to provide for their basic needs and the needs of their families. Inflation has caused stress on individuals as costs from living expenses to food have increased. We must ensure our citizens can afford to live in our city and county.  

Education is a priority because providing a high-quality education to children and youth in Durham allows our children and youth to thrive later in life. We must offer our teachers a fair salary, enabling us to recruit and retain top educators in our county.

Durham continues to have challenges regarding the inventory and offering of affordable housing. As new homes and planned communities are constructed throughout the city and county, we must ensure current Durham citizens and individuals looking to relocate here have options that fit their varying budgets.

2) Durham Public Schools has been roiled by issues relating to salary increases for about 1,300 classified staff members. What is the county’s role in ensuring these staff members are paid according to their work experience and to the recommendations of a 2023 pay study commissioned by DPS? How can the county work more closely with the school board to ensure a situation like this doesn’t occur again?

I served on the 1992 Merger Committee for the Durham Public School System. I also served on the Durham Public School Board from 2006 to 2014. The Board of Education is a self-governing body that sets Policies and Procedures that DPS Administrators (superintendent and staff) are guided by. The Board of County Commissioners is the ultimate body for funding that guides the resources needed for DPS to function as an elite school system.

We need to explore some percentage of taxation to lift salaries for Durham Public School employees to equitable salary ranges and wages. I can support worker’s rights.  I also believe in evaluating all members of the DPS team according to their outlined goals and job responsibilities.

3) Voters passed a $423.5 million school construction bond in 2022, but due to rising construction costs, that money is running out quickly. Should Durham put another education bond before voters? What is the most sustainable way to address new construction and renovation of existing school facilities as Durham continues to grow?

Durham County continues to grow as international companies establish regional or national offices or headquarters. Our increasing population and the unmet needs of long-time Durham County residents, especially those living in marginalized and low-wealth communities, have compounded the urgency of repairing, renovating, and constructing new schools. 

Schools in Durham County must be first-class facilities for all students to have high-quality learning environments. Thus, the construction of new schools has to be a priority. In today’s construction environment, cost overruns are inevitable and should be factored into the budgeting process.

4) Although it owns a significant amount of property in Durham and has a $12 billion endowment, Duke for the most part doesn’t pay taxes to the city or county. Some private universities, such as Yale, contribute millions of dollars to the towns in which they are located. Should county (and city) leaders consider asking Duke to contribute payments to the city/county for housing or other initiatives in lieu of paying taxes?

I would like to explore the possibility of having Duke University contribute to Durham’s tax base. Our community has grown rapidly and contributions in the form of taxes from all individuals, businesses and non-for-profit entities in Durham are fair and equitable as we all need to invest in the present and future success of Durham.

Further research and evaluation of such actions should be done community wide. Our partnership with all of our institutions should be considered as tax base through fair and equitable evaluations.

5) What is your vision for growth and development throughout Durham? How can the county balance growth while also ensuring gentrification doesn’t push long term residents out? 

I support the prioritization of smart, balanced growth in Durham County. This strategic growth includes incorporating environmental sustainability into planned developments. There would need to be a shared vision for growth that reflects the community’s needs and values.

My vision for growth and development in Durham is to establish policies that will develop economically distressed areas of Durham County while ensuring affordable housing and supporting resources, such as stores that offer nutritious food options, are part of these communities.  Additionally, we must establish appropriate guidelines for development in rural areas and townships within the County so residents who have been part of Durham’s community can still afford to live and work in their hometown.

6) What should the county government be doing to further housing affordability? What additional steps can the county take to assist those living in substandard public housing? What should the county be doing to support people who are not in control of their own housing (including renters, the unhoused, and those whose homes are owned by banks) as costs of living skyrocket?

Durham County should be innovative and open to exploring non-traditional programs that could reduce inequity and inequality in our communities by partnering with organizations that represent and reflect marginalized communities. If elected as a Durham County Commissioner, I believe a work group should be appointed to partner with the Commissioners in assessing programs, such as community development venture capital and community investment trusts. 

Additionally, as citizens and caretakers of humanity, I believe that it is essential for permanently supportive housing to be developed and funded throughout Durham County’s budget. I would advocate for individuals who return to our communities; they should be given a second chance, primarily related to housing and employment. I would work to leverage local, state and federal resources to provide supportive funding for such projects.

7) What do you envision as the future of mass transit in Durham? What initiatives would you like to support? What do you believe to be a viable next step?

An accessible and affordable public transit plan and system are overdue for Durham County and the Triangle Region of North Carolina because of the area’s rapid growth. The principal components of an effective plan need to include a robust system that offers timely connections to major employment areas, Durham’s two universities and one community college, cultural attractions, retail locations and the central transit station. Other components are affordable fares and a scalable system for future development and expansion. A comprehensive transit system would include expanded bus service and light rail. County government would need to work closely with Congressional leadership to secure additional funding.   

8) What can the county do to address violent crime? What are the preventative steps the county can or should take with regard to mental health? What programs are in place elsewhere in the country that you would like to see implemented here?

We have to address the safety and security of Durham citizens and visitors. No person should feel their safety is threatened, whether at school, home, a business, a house of worship, another venue, or a city street. We must work with the Durham Police Department to develop actionable solutions to the most prevalent crimes in neighborhoods across the city, especially Districts 2, 3, and 4. Community policing, proactive anti-crime strategies and innovative community-led and supported initiatives should be explored and provided with appropriate funding allocations. 

Durham County must increase resources and investments in social services. Throughout my life, I have been committed to actively prioritizing advocacy and action that addresses the needs of marginalized, low-wealth communities and communities of color.  In particular, we have to elevate funding for mental health services for Durham County. I recognize Durham County’s slow reunification rate and believe it can change with increased help from community partnerships and additional staffing. I would also recommend establishing a workgroup that partners with the Commissioners to assess programs, such as community development venture capital and community investment trusts, aimed at reducing inequity and inequality.

9) Economic inequality rose significantly in Durham County over the past decade. How can county commissioners address this problem and ensure that the county’s prosperity is more equitable going forward?

My vision for growth and development in Durham is to establish policies that will develop economically distressed areas of Durham County while ensuring affordable housing and supporting resources, such as stores that offer nutritious food options, are part of these communities.  Additionally, we must establish appropriate guidelines for development in rural areas and townships within the County so residents who have been part of Durham’s community can still afford to live and work in their hometown.

One initiative I would propose is for Durham County to leverage and expand its partnerships and work with the Durham Workforce Development Board and Work First Employment Services to enhance employment services for Durham residents.

10) Are there any issues not included in this questionnaire that you would like to address?

As a candidate for the office of Durham County Commissioner, my tagline is “For the People of Durham.” My strategy and the number one priority for my campaign is focusing on listening to and connecting with the citizens of Durham. I am a community leader committed to sharing the priorities that I believe will create a more equitable Durham that continues to thrive. These priorities are: governmental transparency and accountability; safe, affordable housing and thriving neighborhoods; youth-focused educational and economic initiatives; and expanded employment opportunities.

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