At Democratic National Convention, Durham Mayor Pitches Harris As Best For Entrepreneurs
CHICAGO—On Thursday, August 22, the final night of the Democratic National Convention, a mayor from North Carolina took the stage. He shared the story of his journey to open a restaurant and praised the Democratic party for supporting small-business entrepreneurs.
Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams said, “Several years ago, my wife Zweli and I started cooking for our community. We drove to schools and doctor’s offices just to give out a few samples. But you know it takes capital to chase the dream.”
In an apparent reference to former president and current Republican nominee Donald Trump, Williams said, “I guess not everybody can have a multi-million dollar loan from their father.”
In 2008, when Barack Obama was president and Joe Biden was vice president, Williams drained his savings to launch the restaurant Zweli’s Kitchen. He told delegates that it is billed as the first restaurant in the U.S. to offer authentic Zimbabwean food.
“The Biden-Harris administration helped make that reality; they helped make that dream come true for entrepreneurs like us,” Williams said.
The mayor said that the restaurant now has three locations thanks to small-business grants.
“We employ nearly 30 employees with a living wage,” said Williams. “But we are not alone. Under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, more than a half million business applications have been filed in North Carolina.”
According to Williams, Harris is striving to establish an “opportunity economy” for entrepreneurs.
“She will support risk takers and problem solvers who want to do their part and take their piece of the American dream,” the mayor said.
He thanked other entrepreneurs who have thrived under the Biden administration’s “historic support” for small businesses.
“Kamala Harris knows entrepreneurs like me,” Williams said. “She knows we are the backbone of our communities. When they succeed, we all succeed.”
Williams, a former school teacher and administrator, was elected to the Durham City Council in December 2021. He assumed the role of mayor in December 2023, according to his official biography.
Maybe he’s spending too much time at his restaurants to do anything about the rising crime in Durham , like all other Blue cities