Durham County Board of Commissioners: Jovonia Lewis

Name as it appears on the ballot: Jovonia Lewis 

Age: 48 

Party affiliation: Democrat 

Campaign website: JovoniaForDurham.com 

Occupation & employer: Executive Director, Empowered Parents in Community (EPiC)

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

Supporting public schools is my number one priority. We want to make sure our schools are fully funded, and we want to make sure our workers are paid fairly. It is extremely painful not to be able to speak freely during this open investigation, but my heart and support is with the DPS employees right now. It’s also painful because Durham isn’t in a bubble; we are contending with antagonistic, harmful efforts at the state-level from Republicans who seek to take away funding from public schools through a voucher program that props up wealthy families and private schools. Likewise, our state superintendent of education–who should be our number one cheerleader!– has become the face of the School Choice movement. Durham is left to its own devices– half the pain we are dealing with is because of delays in or lack of funding and budget from the state. I recently wrote an op-ed detailing this context and how it is screwing over our schools; we are being asked to cover the gaps and it’s really hard. Not to mention the Leando Plan will be heard by the North Carolina Supreme Court this month! 

But schools aren’t in a bubble either. Systems intersect and overlap, and so my priorities are likewise expansive. Ultimately, I want Durhamites to be able to stay in their homes; I want children to grow up safely, get a high quality public education (including universal access to high quality Pre-K), and then pursue a career they thrive in. This means that my focus is on balancing economic growth and development to ensure we are reducing gentrification and supporting efforts to decrease homelessness. Durham is a beautiful city with a rich and complex history. If elected, my priorities would be (1) funding and supporting schools (including strong early childhood education), (2) equitable economic growth (so workers also thrive!) which includes ensuring a living wage that actually matches the cost of living in Durham, as well as supporting guaranteed basic income efforts (DCo Thrives); and (3) safe, affordable housing, so that people can afford to stay in their homes and, ultimately, live AND work in the city of Durham. 

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? 

Let me just say first that supporting public schools should be the priority of all commissioners. Full stop. 

In addressing what the county’s role is in ensuring these staff members are paid according to their work experience and to the recommendations of the 2023 pay study, the BOCC should be enforcing a transparent conversation with the school board to ensure that staff are paid according to their work experience (avoid any solution that involves a reduction in steps; we’ve been pressured to accept a reduction, and I acknowledge that pressure is real! But ultimately after hearing from workers, I know we cannot go backwards.). The ultimate responsibility for ensuring staff are paid sits on the Board of Education; however, the Board of Commissioners should support efforts to pay workers fairly. It is possible that the Board will have to raise taxes based on many county needs. In 2023 the BOCC issued a 3-cent property tax increase (however, we must do more to distribute the property tax burden with greater equity and fairness). When the BOE investigation is completed, we will have more information about what happened and where accountability should sit and how to avoid this in the future. It is my hope we’re able to take our time to devise a solution on how to get this money to our workers and use money from the fund balance to cover the gaps through February. But after the investigation, we will be able to be more concrete. 

In the meantime, I can say more generally that in terms of how the county can work more closely with the school board to ensure a situation like this doesn’t occur again, we do indeed need a structure for future negotiations, and it seems like the BOCC should support a transparent meet and confer structure with equity measures built in could be a positive step forward; maybe with an MOU that gets revisited annually. I believe there is precedent for this in “right to work” states like North Carolina, which suggest such arrangements can lead to positive outcomes for both the union and the district overall. We are going to have to rebuild trust, which doesn’t happen overnight. It will include transparency, and figuring out what a seat at the table looks like for workers. There’s been a lot of mistrust around open vs closed meetings, and other mechanisms utilized by BOE in solving this; I think building trust would include addressing how trust was burned in this process and come to a common agreement on what it should look like (again, this could go in the MOU mentioned above). The county votes annually to approve the DPS budget and that means that DPS needs to be accountable to the Board of County Commissioners. It seems reasonable that Commissioners could: 

1. Insist on practices and policies around financial decisions to be shared with the Board of County Commissioners. 

2. Allow the comptroller time to give the school board a budget analysis that is shared transparently with the County Manager and county finance team. 

3. Have, in the joint BOE and BOCC meeting, an open discussion about DPS finances, and add language to the joint MOU about the policy and practices that can assure transparency and accountability from the finances of budget and payroll to reassure that DPS finances are in order and they have policy that requires a checks and balance without leaving it within the administrators preview. 

And for the record, I understand why and support what the union is doing. I am a parent of three sons in Durham Public Schools, and I know their success in our schools is built in part by the same workers fighting for justice right now. I am grateful to those myriad DPS employees, and I will fight for them, too. North Carolina may be antagonistic to unions, but Durham shouldn’t be, and we should embrace the efforts of workers fighting for justice. Commissioners should, in turn, ensure that Durham is worker-friendly and supportive of union work. 

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? 

Our school construction and student school assignment planning process is long overdue for an update that truly supports the growing needs of our youth and community. Because of the large capital improvement projects that have to be prioritized, we need intentional processes to guide us when more immediate or emergency needs surface. Additionally, inflation for the cost of goods and materials continues to adversely impact school construction, which further highlights the need for more intentional and collaborative planning. The district’s 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan details the need for new schools and renovations to existing schools to ensure that our learning environments meet the needs of our students and community. It will be nearly impossible to meet all of these needs without funding Leandro, diverse funding strategies, and collaborations. 

As issues have developed from this project such as escalating cost and there is a need for more money, then it may be necessary to have a subsequent referendum to complete the project. As I would propose a bond referendum to finish the project, I would also be aware of our current debt obligation as we are going forward. Ultimately, we likely need to get on a regular bond schedule to make our goals a reality; this will help ensure our students have access to the high quality learning environments they deserve! 

Additionally, as Durham continues to grow, we should request that DPS does a comprehensive land usage strategy plan with the city-county planning department. We need to include the Durham Public Schools operations department leadership with the joint city-county planning department. There has been an exclusion of the school system as a part of the city-county joint comprehensive plan which does not give a complete, efficient view of Durham needs as a whole.We need to leverage all publicly owned land (city, county, DPS, DHA) to support the construction and renovation of existing school facilities and create affordable and workforce housing together. 

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? 

Duke has a lifetime tax exemption in Durham. As I’ve observed from the Duke Office of Durham Community Affairs and other initiatives, they have invested a lot into Durham over the years, but I am not aware of what that contribution is in comparison to Yale. The relationship began with partnerships in neighborhoods and schools to now include workforce development, community health, civic engagement, fundraising, and grantmaking, according to the Duke Office Community Affairs website. Some specific initiatives that I am aware of have included the food coop, the health center, and the merger and acquisition of Durham Regional Hospital. As Duke has acquired research space downtown, it has supported the revitalization that we see in the building. When companies like Google were coming into Durham, they abandoned some space to make it available to them. I would be curious to assess the goodwill offered by Duke through partnership across the years in comparison to housing contributions and ongoing partnerships across schools, workforce, and community health. 

We need to focus on critical partners and negotiate with Duke as a vital community partner. Most recently, they have partnered with DPS and Durham Tech to begin a Health and Science Early College to support workforce development. As they have been in partnership, I believe that we should have on-going conversation for the vision of Durham and the impact that they can support our housing initiatives as well. I will continue to advocate for Ddurham’s greatest needs such as housing and having the conversation with Duke about contributing to the city/county development prioritizing affordable housing. 

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? 

Gentrification is a common and controversial topic and it is important that we are operating from the same understanding in definition. As neighborhoods grow, new businesses situate in our community, and new houses are built, it is important to understand that those who have lived, loved and called Durham home for many generations, are rightfully afraid that the change will take away its history and leave current residents behind, particularly our low-income and fixed-income residents. There is also concern that the development of older neighborhoods that had traditionally been disinvested is going to be improved as a means to push out current residents. Finally, it’s important to realize that taxes seem to be what pushes people out, but it is really gentrification, not being welcoming or feeling like one belongs, pushes people out. 

There are also numerous other considerations. We need an improved transit system that connects people to both educational institutions like Duke University and NCCU, as well as to good paying jobs; I am an advocate for an equitable transit-oriented land use plan. 

What is most important is for a county commissioner to understand the people in their community and their concerns. It will be important to reassure the residents of the commissioners values as development is occurring and regularly connect with the residents to ensure continued communication and relationship building occurs to address fears and unintended consequences. We must focus on the comprehensive development plan with strategies to impact economic growth and attract businesses to Durham while maintaining our values of supporting local businesses who will support our community are key to economic growth and job creation. Further, our workers–including our young people and people living with disabilities– should thrive and be able to work in the city they live in, and live in the city they work in. A true living wage that matches cost of living is just the beginning–high quality jobs where employees have access to benefits is critical. I will be an advocate for ensuring that businesses (and residents) pay their fair share via progressive tax policies; it’s a critical tool for making sure we have the resources and public services we need. 

In a comprehensive plan, I want to include areas for access and removing barriers for minority businesses owners and ensure a comprehensive plan that fully develops neighborhoods that have been disinvested as a priority. Also, as neighborhoods change, I want to place value and importance on our storytellers, cultural brokers, and artists who can tell the history of our community through the arts. I want to ensure the pilgrimage tours continue and visual cues exist that keep Durham’s history apparent. 

My priorities in economic growth included both economic equity and workforce development. I will review policy and practices with a racial equity lens for both growth and workforce development. To ensure it doesn’t push long term residents out, we need to build more affordable, liveable, sustainable, mixed-use neighborhoods that address every aspect for our citizens from workforce, to our seniors, to living. We also need to prioritize funding for the tax relief program and the guaranteed income program. Supporting a tax assistance grant program for our low income, long time homeowners; investing in Durham Community Land Trust; stopping displacement of tenants with the Eviction Diversion Program; expanding permanent supportive housing options (like Coming Home) are some important ways to address this.Finally, regular conversations in those communities are a must as well; input is critical and I hope to integrate more community feedback in efforts like the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to ensure we prioritize resident needs We have to address the realities of growth, the fear, preserving our history, and growing well together. 

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? 

My vision is affordable housing for all in Durham. Residents of all incomes should be able to live (and thrive!) in the Bull City– and that includes the right to safe, affordable homes. There are several programs that I will continue to support (and hope even to see expand, such as tax assistance to help lower-income homeowners stay in their homes). I will be an advocate for new homes for our low-income renters and buyers. I know I am in good company fighting for these things– we have so many in our community leading for progressive change around these critical issues, including People Alliance, Sunrise Durham, and the Coalition for Affordable Housing and Transit. 

We need to stop evictions and hold landlords accountable to tenant rights; advocate new homes for low-income renters and home buyers; expand tax assistance to help lower-income homeowners stay in their homes. I will be a fighter for progressive issues on the commission–as I’ve shown on the School Board and through my nonprofit– and ultimately, we want a Durham that takes care of its current residents while building a strong foundation for future generations; that means access to services and resources that Durham residents need to thrive. 

We need to leverage land ownership to encourage public private partnership to develop more mixed use communities. We need communities that include supportive housing and resources onsite for the residents. Permanently supportive housing (PSH) is all encompassing to help people re-integrate inclusive of seniors, veterans, those with mental illness, substance abuse, chronic homelessness, unhoused youth, immigrant populations, and justice involved. It is important for commissioners to make an effort to be helpful and prioritize budget needs to support our most vulnerable residents. Community reentry should support wraparound services within these communities and include housing, food, cultural integrations, language services, health concerns, etc. As a community care advocate with experience related to health and human services, I approach this topic with compassion, collaboration, and creative solutions to find a way to support our most vulnerable residents. Supporting efforts to give residents hope and stability is critical, especially if we want to address systemic issues like jobs, homelessness, recidivism, health, etc. These are intersecting systems that deserve support to address. 

We have to make sure we are responsive to resident needs; we need to make sure we address when affordable housing expires, so we can avoid it converting to market rate.We need to support programs such as guaranteed income to support those to be able to leave substandard public housing while holding the city and federal government accountable for deplorable living conditions. I am a fighter for human rights and dignity and I will continue to fight as a county commissioner. 

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? 

I believe that our county must have transportation equity at the foundation of its transit plan, meaning that everyone can navigate the county, regardless of income. We must expand transportation options to be available to all residents! My vision for a new public transit plan for Durham County would help shift us away from being so automobile-dependent. The average Durham resident drives at least 20,000 miles per year, forcing us to spend thousands per year on transportation, and increasing our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, many of us have no choice but to use a car to get where we need to go. A new plan should reduce Durham’s dependence on cars, by emphasizing public transportation. Ultimately, we need a high quality regional bus rapid transit system that connects to jobs, housing, and services. We need a plan to increase electric vehicles in public fleets. Additionally, I would like to improve bus stop accessibility as well as paratransit. I support a Green New Deal for Durham, and although it would touch so many of the arenas shared in this questionnaire, it feels especially important to mention while talking about transportation. 

Further, while Bike Durham’s Vision Zero has mostly advocated at the city level, I believe it offers the county commission a critically different approach to thinking about our transportation system: improving our roadway environment to reduce speeding and fatalities; meaningful cross-disciplinary collaboration; addressing safety mobility. Currently, Durham County does not have a sidewalk maintenance or construction program (the City of Durham maintains sidewalks within city limits), which may be a possible area of growth. I believe we can have safe and accessible transit options in a more pedestrian-friendly, bikeable Durham. While also holding the tension that several residents have complained about the bike lanes. It is important to share the value of safety in residential areas, the desire for more usage as we further develop and increase bike lanes; and we decrease barriers of access to biking and increase availability of motorized bikes. We also need to be clear that a blanket approach isn’t good for every community, and community input is valued as plans develop and unfold. 

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? 

Each death and act of violence is traumatic for our community. I have seen this firsthand as a mental health counselor, and through my nonprofit, EPIC, where we’ve worked with DPS students coping with gun violence and trauma. 

Community safety programs like HEART and diversion programs like our Mental Health Court are vital for keeping people with mental health needs out of our justice system and directly connected to the care they need. I am deeply interested in diversion programs, restorative programs, and reducing harm for our youth. My experience with public safety and mental health highlights my commitment: 

● As the Chair of DCABP Education committee, I collaborated with the People’s Alliance Education committee to improve the MOU (memorandum of understanding) with the sheriff’s office to increase safety while reducing harm. 

● As a school board member, I brought elected officials, including the sheriff to community conversations and strategies to increase public safety, including modifying the MOU 

● As the school board liaison to the Safety and Wellness Taskforce (SWTF), I shared data from the Sheriff’s office with the SWTF and shared support of their recommendations. 

Based on my values and records, I emphatically support an increase for the HEART program to support evidenced based evaluation and then have a comprehensive study to determine how to scale it across the county and into the schools. 

I am interested in supporting and implementing recommendations from the Community Safety and Wellness Task Force, which issued its report in October 2023. One of its recommendations is to revise the SRO Program, and I imagine HEART (and similar tools/programs) would be an effective complement to this revision. Youth mental health and safety has been a cornerstone of my leadership on the school board: I have been involved in the School Mental health Improvement Plan, and in May, my nonprofit hosted a workshop teaching parents and community members how to support the mental health needs of teens, including important mental health resources. 

Community violence stems from a complexity of issues; on the City of Durham’s Racial Equity Task Force, we made recommendations to address these with an equity lens. This is why I am committed to supporting families: supporting children from birth, making sure our youth have access to high quality education and jobs, making sure health care is available, keeping people in their homes. Wraparound services are critical. Violence doesn’t occur out of nowhere; we need to address the root causes. 

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? 

As the county and city government has worked on plans for economic growth, usually in silos, we need to extend that conversation to our business community. We need to ensure our values of equity and closing the wealth gap are shared with the business leaders coming to the table with the city and county economic development departments. As well as our nonprofits who have been leading work and seminars of racial inequity need a seat of influence in a comprehensive plan for county prosperity and what the communities they are rooted in have advocated for. Ultimately, I would work towards creating a taskforce and advisory group specific for economic growth in Durham. 

While considering who is at the planning table, it will be important to bring along the diversity, equity and inclusion departments to facilitate discussion around power sharing and equity as the group sets forth its task for bringing recommendations to the county to ensure prosperity and equity. Data should be used and disaggregated to make decisions that impact those with the greatest needs. When the recommendations are received, we need to make room for consistent follow through with indicators for success through regular meetings with the county commissioners and the economic advisory board. 

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

Durham has a history of protecting the diversity in our community and this also aligns with my values. However, at times it feels that the county government has been neutral, and possibly waiting for specific direction when it comes to protecting and promoting diversity. Specifically, as it relates to diversity and equity, we should give the county’s Director of Equitable Wellbeing the time needed to introduce equity throughout the fabric of county government in each department. As we engage the community, we need to collaborate with the LGBTQIA+ Center in Durham, those closest to the impact of discrimination and inequities to hear their concerns and shape policy to protect our community. As a county commissioner, we should constantly reaffirm our commitment to equality by affirming, recognizing, and being inclusive in our programs and policies, including for those who need translation services. We should also look to build relationships and show acceptance and understanding through practices as simple as pronouns in our communications. As I have given guidance to our Durham Public School administrators, we need to make sure our policies have gender neutral terms, and that we are doing more to include and support our immigrant and non-English speaking communities. We really need to be honest with ourselves as we are about those who work for us and those receiving services that we are not causing harm but are being inclusive and equal.

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