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WHO WE ARE
We are local business owners, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, lawyers, real estate professionals, and we are all longtime residents of this fantastic city. Our mission is to facilitate the growth of Durham in a thoughtful and safe way, by focusing our support on local businesses, our first responders, and the livelihood of the children of Durham.
WHAT IS THE FRIENDS OF DURHAM?
FOD is a political action committee with no official party affiliation. The Friends of Durham is represented by members from all parties and we advocate for candidates in local elections.
The philosophy of the Friends of Durham is to make Durham a safe, friendly and prosperous place for everyone. Through our interview process and deliberation among our diverse committee, we select candidates during each election cycle who align with and best support our values.
We focus our energy and support exclusively on local issues, primarily those issues that fall under the control of the City Council, the County Commission and the School Board. We also focus on local offices like the sheriff, district attorney, clerk of court, and judgeships.
We work to make the local governments representative of all of Durham's citizens and more responsive to the welfare of the local people and local businesses, rather than a mainstream political agenda.
Our core issues are Safety, Education, and a strong local Economy.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Dan Jewell, Chair - Dan has served on the Friends of Durham Steering Committee since 2007. He has been practicing as a Land Use Planning consultant in Durham since 1985 and has been an owner/partner in local Durham professional design firms since 1988. Originally from Gary, Indiana , he is an alumnus of Purdue University. Over his 40-year tenure in local Durham organizations he has served on numerous (and founded several) non-profit and 501c)(6) boards and commissions, Council and Commissioner-appointed steering committees and task forces, and has been active in local advocacy for housing, land use and economic investment issues. Dan’s primary passion is working to make sure that every Durham citizen can benefit from the astonishing growth and investment that has been happening in our community over these past several decades.
Wendell Bullard, Immediate Past Chair - Wendell is a licensed real estate broker and is the managing broker at Bullard Properties, LLC, in Durham. He has experience in commercial brokerage, land, and residential sales. Bullard is a past President of the Durham Regional Association of REALTORS® and the North Carolina Association of REALTORS® and is a past REALTOR® of the Year in both organizations. He also served as a NAR® Director and REALTOR® Party Liaison for Community Engagement. Wendell Bullard was appointed to the Commission by Governor Cooper in 2018
, Vice Chair -
David Smith, Secretary - David is a Durham native and past chair of the Friends (1995-1998 and 2006-2013). He has served on numerous boards and commissions for the city, county, school board and state. He was chair when the council was reduced from 13 to 7 members and worked with Ken Spaulding Chair of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People to work with the community to put aside racial differences. He is a commercial real estate appraiser.
Liz Morey, Treasurer
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The Friends of Durham is a political action committee. We are required to collect certain information for campaign reporting requirements. By clicking on the “Donate Once/Donate Monthly” button, you confirm that the following statements are true and accurate to the best of your knowledge: I am not a foreign national who lacks permanent residence in the United States. This contribution is made from my own funds, and not those of another. I am at least eighteen years old. North Carolina Contribution maximum contribution for individuals and PACs is $5,400 per candidate per election. Corporations and labor organizations are prohibited from donating. State law requires that we collect and report name, address, occupation, and employer of each contributor. Contributions from foreign nationals are prohibited by law. Donations are not deductible as charitable donations for federal or state income tax purposes.
