Durham Committee Request A.G. Investigate Racial Bias By Durham Co. Commissioners

Durham, NC – In a letter dated today (May 4, 2020), Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People (DCABP) Chairman Omar Beasley is requesting that the NC Attorney General serve as an independent oversight agency in the investigation of Durham County Commissioners’ discriminatory actions. The request is a direct result of the community’s concerns that ‘severe allegations of racial bias’ made by County Manager Wendell Davis and lack of faith that a fair investigation will be conducted.

Durham County Manager Wendell Davis sent a letter to Durham County Commissioner Heidi Carter, dated February 11, 2020, to ‘express his disappointment with her public attack of him during the February 3, 2020 Board of County Commissioners’ work session.’ Davis expressed that as County Manager, ‘he would not tolerate disparate treatment of his staff, himself or anyone else carrying out the public’s work.’ (Read the letter below) 

At the regularly scheduled Durham County Board of Commissioners meeting on February 27, 2020, more than 150 Durham residents attended to express their concerns and request an independent investigation into Davis’ accusations of racial bias. In the letter, Beasley states the events at the meeting ‘were disheartening for many citizens’ because ‘rather than genuinely hearing the concerns presented by the community regarding the inequitable treatment of county employees and offering a plausible solution to the grievances which were expressed, the concerns of the constituents were cavalierly disregarded by the Chair of the Durham County Board of Commissioners Wendy Jacobs.’ Beasley writes that also during the meeting, Commissioner Jacobs made several comments that ‘were racially and culturally insensitive.’

Two months later, at the April 27th open session virtual meeting, Commissioner Jacobs announced that the Board will be opening an investigation into whether or not County Manager Wendell Davis acted inappropriately in regards to his letter that was available to the public. This was contrary to any concerns raised by the community or any concerns raised in any prior public meetings involving this issue.

Commissioner Brenda Howerton, according to Durham Committee Chairman Beasley’s letter, was unaware of any such investigation and she expressed concerns that discussions or meetings which all board members were not notified or included may be in violation of the Open Meeting Laws.

The public announcement of an investigation of the County Manager, a Durham County Government employee, by Commissioner Jacobs is also a violation of the Privacy of Employee Personnel Records mandate. The community witnessed Commissioner Howerton, during the virtual meeting, attempt to communicate the community’s concerns and her being verbally attacked with name-calling by Chairwoman Jacobs.

As a result of the commentary offered by Board Chair Jacobs and the failure to maintain professional decorum on the action claims by the County Manager, Beasley states that ‘we as a community have wholeheartedly lost faith in this Board of Commissioners to conduct a fair, just and impartial investigation.’

Beasley is requesting that NC Attorney General Josh Stein serves as an independent oversight agency to ensure a fair and just investigation, verify the legality of events which occurred at the February and April meetings, and investigate possible open meeting and personnel law violations.

“We will rely on your expertise to ensure a fair process and that we are holding elected officials accountable,” Beasley states in the letter to Stein. (Read Full Letter: DCABP LETTER TO AG)

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