Rebecca Harvard Barnes, candidate for mayor in Durham, NC

Seven candidates are running for Durham mayor after 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: Rebecca Harvard Barnes

Age: 51

Residence: 2504 Chapel Hill Road, Durham, NC 27707

Occupation: Minister

Education: BA Psychology, St. Andrews Presbyterian College; PBS, Education Administration, NCSU; MDiv (not complete) at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte, NC

Political or civic experience: Board member of Durham Congregations in Action; Volunteer with: HFHD, Urban Ministries, Iglesia Emmanuel Food Pantry, NC Diaper Bank, Welcome Baby, PORCH, Durham Rescue Mission, Meals on Wheels, Housing for New Hope, Keep Durham Beautiful, SEEDS, TLC, Book Harvest, Volunteer Center of Durham, HFHI, Religious Coalition for a Non Violent Durham, StepUp Durham, Open Table Ministry,DurhamCares, Church World Service, The Scrap Exchange, Durham Center for Senior Life, The Pauli Murray Project, Partners for Youth and Durham Public Schools

Campaign website: rebeccaharvardbarnes.com

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

The past 18 months has seen a surge in gun violence in the Bull City. The city of Durham has been doing many things well in addressing violence in our streets, however there is room for improvement. Thinking and responding creatively about the root causes of violence (ie. poverty) and addressing these issues is crucial.

With the search for the next chief of police nearing its end, public engagement in that process will be helpful in developing community trust in this system. Funding to continue to train our police officers, and other community leaders, in racial equity, appropriate domestic violence response and crisis intervention is necessary. The Durham Police Department now has a Crisis Intervention Team who are first responders to issues identified as requiring mental health expertise. This program needs more funding.

Advocating for the state and federal government to regulate gun control is another important aspect of addressing violence and is a great way to engage the youth of Durham.

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

Climate Control (specifically, working with the Durham County Transit Plan to address the needs of affordable, sustainable and with lower emissions AND continued development and implementation of a Green New Durham)

Affordable housing (specifically having the Affordable Housing Implementation Committee issue reports to clearly communicate to the citizens of Durham what is happening with the 2019, $95 million affordable housing bond that Durham voted YES on

Violent Crime/Public Safety (specifically adding additional funding for the Community Services Division of the Police Department)

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

I have dedicated my entire adult life working with young people, stewarding them toward helping us all make the world a better place to live. As a student life Instructor at the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics, as the minister to youth and their families at First Presbyterian Church, as the Youth United and Community Relations Manager with Habitat for Humanity of Durham, as a longtime volunteer in our community and supporter of local municipal governance and faith leadership in Durham and now, at another Presbyterian Church in Durham as their Christian educator.

I believe everyone’s voice needs to be heard and that equity and inclusion should be extended to and nurtured among all members of our community. I do not delude myself in thinking that I am likely to be the next person sitting in the mayor’s seat of our Durham City Council meetings after the November election, but I do know that I could be a conduit to Durham’s citizens letting them know what is currently happening in the city of Durham, what needs to happen in the city of Durham and what each individual of our community’s personal engagement can look like!! It’s time to start.

▪ To be like Laura who organizes her peers to stand up and advocate for the state and federal government to mandate GUN control so she’s not afraid in school of potential gun violence

▪ To be like Marcia who cares for the families of the victims of gun violence

▪ To be like Maryn who outwardly speaks to the equal rights of everyone in our LGBTQ+ community

▪ To be like Betsy and Tom who are screaming at the top of their lungs for policy makers to mandate emission control so that we don’t kill our planet, and ourselves

▪ To be like the North Street Neighborhood community who share their homes with people who have disabilities.

▪ To be like the Durham Geezers who are religiously building affordable housing with Habitat for Humanity

▪ To be like Heather who dedicates her free time to the Big Brother, Big Sister of the Triangle

▪ To be like Talitha who, against all odds, recently got her first paying job at Frankie’s Fun Park because she is trying to set herself up for success

▪ To be like each of you … doing your part as a civic-minded person reading this article.

We all have to start now. It’s time to #do something. Why not do something, today!? #together4durham

This story was originally published September 14, 2021 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Rebecca Harvard Barnes, candidate for mayor in Durham, NC."