Charlitta Burruss, candidate for mayor in Durham, NC

Seven candidates are running for Durham mayor after incumbent Steve Schewel decided not to seek a third term.

Early voting in the non-partisan Oct 5 primary begins Sept. 16 and runs through Oct. 2. The top two finishers will face each other in the Nov. 2 general election.

To find polling places and full details on early voting, visit www.dcovotes.com or contact the Board of Elections at 919-560-0700 or elections@dconc.gov

Name: Charlitta Burruss

Age: 62

Residence: Edgemont Elms Townhomes 301 S. Elm St., #1A, Durham NC 27701

Occupation: Minister, Community Leader

Education: Bachelor of Science Social Work

Political or civic experience: Candidate for mayor in 2007, Monroe NC. Assistant Deputy Judge for the presidential election for the Board of Elections, Suffolk, Va. Residential Council President for Calvert Place Townhomes for which I received the Neighborhood Spotlight Award in 2018. For the past three years I have volunteered for Triangle Non-Profit Volunteer Leadership Center, feeding families for Thanksgiving. Every election I have worked the election precincts wherever assigned. In 2019 I ran for Durham City Council at large seat. I formed a Residential Council at Edgemont Elms where I am the vice president. This year I was elected chairperson of Alliance CFAC-Durham. Former assistant chair of NECD, member of NAMI and NAACP and asked to serve on the Residential Advisory Board of Durham Housing Authority.

Campaign website: NA

What is the city doing right, and wrong, on gun violence?

There is no right or wrong to gun violence; any time a life is taken is wrong. To some talking about defunding officers and hiring more social workers or CIT Workers is wrong if we already have a lack of officers who will protect the workers when they go to a person’s home who is dealing with a mental health crisis. We already have officers that are underpaid and leaving, going to other cities getting higher pay. Durham pfficers pay starts at $38,511. First, all that needs to be raised and second, we are seeking a new police chief, Why go out of the city when you have veteran officers more then qualified to be the city of Durham chief. Morale and Trust for all have to be rebuilt. Carrying a gun isn’t bad; it’s who has them and what they are doing with them. Store owners must take responsibility for who they sell guns to, and background checks need to speed up. All are responsible for the community in which we all live.

If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year in office?

Partnerships with all agencies and better communication so that the community is well aware of what is going on. Better networking strategies and problem solving so we can talk about affordable housing, crime and education. None of this can be done until we first start having real, truthful conversations. Making sure everyone, including the disabled, blind and deaf have access to all that is going on in this city.

What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to city governance?

My unique skills are outreach and communication and not just staying in an office but reaching out and getting out among the people to hear from the ones that I will be serving so we can begin to admit the wrongs and try to make things right. I realize I can’t solve everything but, I am willing to try.

This story was originally published September 14, 2021 at 7:02 PM with the headline "Charlitta Burruss, candidate for mayor in Durham, NC."