Durham mayor race | Durham City Council member DeDreana Freeman to run for mayor of the Bull City

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — DeDreana Freeman, a Durham city council member, announced she is running for mayor.

“I am proudly running to represent the people of Durham, a city I’ve grown to love and my family calls home,” Freeman said.

Last week, North Carolina State Sen. Mike Woodard announced his plans to run for Durham mayor. Woodard has previously served on the city council in Durham.

The candidate filing period closes at noon Friday.

“As Durham’s mayor, I would engage in more dialogue and guide efforts toward ‘working families’ and populations of youth and seniors who don’t get a fair shake,” Freeman said. “I hope that the people will continue to have faith this coming November. Their support of me as mayor would be tremendous in fueling efforts that have just begun.”

Freeman, who represents Ward 1 on the city council, also serves as the Director of Partnership Development for CornerSquare Community Capital, a subsidiary of the North Carolina Rural Center.

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Durham Mayor Elaine O’Neal dropped the news in June that she would not seek re-election.

The mayor released a statement on June 23 saying she is leaving her role to focus her attention on the family.

“Serving the people and the city I love dearly as Mayor has been an honor. My love for Durham and its citizens has never wavered, and it never will. However, at this time in my life, my attention has shifted to prioritizing my family. Therefore, I will not seek another term,” she said.

O’Neal took office in 2021 replacing former Durham Mayor Steve Schewel.

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