When Leonardo Williams became Durham’s mayor last month, he left his Ward Three seat vacant until 2025. Per the city’s charter, the council must make a good faith effort to fill the seat within 60 days of the vacancy. If the six sitting council members can’t reach a consensus, the seat will be up for a special election in 2024. 

As of Thursday morning, only three applications had been posted to the city’s website. By the time the application period closed at 5 p.m. the same day, the total had jumped to 14.

Here’s the upcoming schedule for filling the seat, per the city’s website:

  • January 4: City Council identifies finalists during regularly-scheduled Work Session.
  • January 8: City Council interviews finalists at a special meeting 
  • January 10: Public comment period during a special meeting
  • January 16: City Council makes its final selection
  • Week of January 22: Oath of office in City Hall Council Chambers.

The applicants include a recent city council candidate, a former city council member, a head chef, a Duke undergraduate student, and a married couple. Here are some short applicant introductions based on their applications. In the era of George Santos, it feels important to note that INDY has not independently verified the identities or claims of the applicants. 

  • Aalayah Sanders is the communications manager for the Durham Housing Authority. “I wholeheartedly believe that as much as sitting on this council is a direct way to be a catalyst to change, I also know I will learn and be changed from serving my community.”
  • Aaron Louv is the head chef of NanaSteak. His focus as a city council member would be to “promote development and business while maintaining affordable housing and equitable access to opportunity”.
  • Alexander Williams works in HR for ECU Health. “This allowed me to establish and foster relationships with community members and faculty/staff at the institutions I worked with.” 
  • Amanda Borer is a health services director at Duke Health. “The people of Durham deserve to be represented by people willing to do the work and put in the time, effort, and to collaborate in their best interests.” 
  • Carolyn Daye is a former project manager and analyst. “I love Durham thru the good and not so good times. I am so proud to see Durharm’s growth and would like to help continue this growth while encouraging equality for all of Durham citizens.”
  • Chastan Swain is a law and policy advisor for the state of North Carolina. “While I believe Durham is one of the best cities in the nation, there are continued challenges with public transit and affordable housing availability and access, responsible growth and development,” 
  • Chelsea Cook is an attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina. “I have had the privilege to form relationships with Durhamites who are experiencing housing crises and have become intimately familiar with not only their economic hardships but also their joys and dreams for the future.” 
  • Jacqueline Wagstaff is a former city council member and Durham school board member. She most recently ran for council in 2019. “My 40+ years of community service puts me in a unique position to serve and help.”
  • Jonathan Espitia is a community safety EMT for the city of Durham. “From working-class upbringing on Long Island to Yale graduate, I understand the needs of various communities.”
  • Larry Ernest Lawton is the owner of a consulting firm. “Being a servant of the people has been a part of my everyday life. I ask you to tell me what better way to say this is what all my civic practice is for.” 
  • Scot MacIver is a civil engineer and current member of Durham’s planning commission. “I have not been the most vocal commissioner, but I have taken the role seriously and understand the direction we provide plays a vital role in the changes the city will make over the coming decades,”
  • Sergio Henderson works in education studies. “Based on my qualifications and experiences I feel like I have what it takes ready to take on the big task,” 
  • Shelia Ann Huggins is an attorney at her own law firm. She ran for an at-large city council seat this year, dropping out after coming in fifth in the October primary. “Given the many challenges facing us, I believe that my experience, education, and commitment would be of great value in helping our residents, businesses, and our community.” 
  • Zoe Tishaev is a political science undergraduate at Duke and current chair of a cyclist infrastructure advocacy group there. “Duke is nothing without the city of Durham, and it’s time that Duke utilizes its resources to uplift the community in a meaningful and visible way.” 

Two of the applicants, Amanda Borer and Alexander Williams are married. 


“Alex [Williams] and I share a deep commitment to our community and both believe that serving on the council is a meaningful way to contribute to its betterment,” Borer told INDY via text. “While we recognize it may be unusual for us both to have applied for the Council position, our motivations are rooted in this shared passion for making Durham a better place and a desire to give back to a city we love.”

Reach Reporter Chase Pellegrini de Paur at [email protected]. Comment on this story at [email protected].

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Chase Pellegrini de Paur is a reporter for INDY, covering politics, education, and the delightful characters who make the Triangle special. He joined the staff in 2023 and previously wrote for The Ninth Street Journal.