I'm running for Durham's Board of County Commissioners. Many important decisions concerning the local economy, education, and environmental protections take place in county government, and I believe I can make a strong and positive contribution.

I have lived in Durham and taught at Duke for 16 years, while my two daughters have attended Durham public schools: Easley, Carrington, DSA, and Northern. I'm involved in helping preserve Durham's green spaces through service on the Open Space and Trails Commission, promoting economic growth through the Farmland Preservation Board, and working towards social justice through the People's Alliance and the Democratic Party. I am ready to serve as County Commissioner.

We all have work to do: Our community needs jobs, we need security and justice for all Durham residents, and we must preserve our water sources and environment for the future. We CAN have it all! I will work toward economic security that will make future Durham ever greater: Continue the recovery of our increasingly vibrant downtown to provide jobs for those who need them most, rehabilitate housing in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, and concentrate development within the present urban growth boundary. Intense development in our critical watersheds far from the folks needing jobs simply makes no sense.

Education is our best engine for economic development. Fifty years from now, today's preschoolers will be our community's leaders. We have a moral obligation to develop the confidence, skills, and opportunities young people need to succeed in life. That obligation begins with providing them the best education possible, and continues by providing new small business opportunities, not by giving preferential treatment to established corporations.

We must include all citizens in Durham's sustainable prosperity. My research shows that the lower the income of a neighborhood, the fewer the trees, the higher the mid-summer temperatures, the worse the air quality, and the poorer the health of the residents. I will work to see that all of Durham's areas get equal access to county programs, and any extra attention needed to make up for past neglect. As a county commissioner I will work to break down the walls that county departments build around their focused interests, and I'll help them work together on the issues that face us. For example, a comprehensive stormwater management plan could foster parks and educational wetlands instead of barren holding ponds, but this will require work across several city and county departments. Changing these practices will take time, but I'm in it for the long haul.

Transparency in our local government is essential to achieving these goals. Solving local problems depends on people with different views coming together for civil and open dialogue. These conversations take time and sustained commitments, and depend on a mutual respect that can only prosper in a transparent process. I will uphold that transparency.

Please support my campaign by contributing $50, $100, or any amount, by clicking on the DONATE button. In the Democratic primary for Durham's Board of County Commissioners, please cast one of your five votes for Will Wilson. I will uphold progressive values for Durham.