Mark-Anthony Middleton, candidate for Durham City Council, Ward 2

Mark-Anthony Middleton, who is seeking a second City Council term, is among the three candidates running for Durham’s Ward 2 council seat.

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: Mark-Anthony Middleton

Age: 53

Residence: Durham

Occupation: Minister, Radio Talk Show Host, Durham City Council member

Education: North Carolina A&T State University; Duke University School of Divinity

Political or civic experience: Member of the leadership apparatus of Durham Congregations, Associations, and Neighborhoods (CAN); Member of the Board of Directors North Carolina League of Municipalities; Life Member NAACP; Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.

Campaign website:

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

I am grateful that the council took up and funded my recommendation to expand the county’s violence interrupter initiative as a non-policing approach to addressing gun violence. However, I think an opportunity was missed in not taking advantage of an opportunity to test gun shot detection technology at no cost. In a demonstrably pilot-friendly city there are some community members that have felt the sting of paternalism and condescension when it comes to self determination in their own communities.

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

I intend to ask the next mayor and council to treat gunfire in our city as if we are in a de facto state of emergency, and to bring all tools to bear on the problem. I will continue to push for Durham’s participation in and bolstering of the Guaranteed Income pilot slated to commence this fall. The successful funding and implementation of the projects linked to our Affordable Housing Bond, and larger strategic affordable housing plan will also be of great importance to me.

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

My experience as an organizer has served me well in navigating the waters of formulating and articulating policy.

The challenges of overcoming a fear to “speak up” due to a childhood speech impediment compels me to use any platform at my disposal to advocate for more voices to be heard. One of the things I noticed about my classmates who read aloud when called on, or who spoke up during class discussions was that “good things” happened for them. There were residual benefits to their voices being heard such as participation in student government, roles in school productions, special assignments, and recognition from teachers.

As an elected official I am constantly vigilant against policies and actions that would bully people into silence, or even unintentionally mute or diminish voices. That is the beginning of the process of withholding the good things to which their citizenship and residency entitle them.

This story was originally published September 14, 2021 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Mark-Anthony Middleton, candidate for Durham City Council, Ward 2."