List of mayors of Durham, North Carolina

The Mayor of Durham is the chief executive of the government of the city of Durham, North Carolina. The current mayor is Leonardo Williams, who assumed office in 2023.

The first mayor of Durham was tobacco merchant J. W. Cheek who was elected in 1869, although the position was originally known as "magistrate of police" up until 1871, when the title was changed to "mayor" during the tenure of W. J. H. Durham.[1] Mayoral elections were held yearly until 1895, when they were changed to be held every other year.

# Portrait Name Term in office Length of Service Party affiliation Previous office
1 J. W. Cheek August 1869

May 1, 1871
~1 year, 260 days
2 W. J. H. Durham May 1, 1871

September 18, 1871
141 days
Acting R. F. Morris September 18, 1871

May 16, 1872
242 days
3 E. J. Parrish May 16, 1872

May 6, 1873
355 days
Acting Julian Carr
(1845 – 1924; aged 78)
May 6, 1873

May 17, 1873
11 days
4 W. J. H. Durham 1873

1877
4 years Mayor of Durham, North Carolina
(1871)
5 Doctor Claiborn Parrish
(1807 – 1883; aged 76)
1877

1880
3 years
6 Isaac Newton Link
(Unknown – 1895)
1880

1881
1 year
7 Doctor Claiborn Parrish
(1807 – 1883; aged 76)
1881

1882
1 year Mayor of Durham, North Carolina
(1877–1880)
8 Edward Carney Hackney
(1856 – 1903; aged 46)
May 2, 1882

May 8, 1883
1 year, 6 days
9 Doctor Claiborn Parrish
(1807 – 1883; aged 76)
May 8, 1883

July 1883
(Died in office)
~ 2 months Mayor of Durham, North Carolina
(1881–1882)
Acting W. T. Lipscomb August 7, 1883

May 6, 1884
273 days
10 J. F. Freeland May 6, 1884

May 8, 1888
4 years, 2 days
11 W. J. Christian May 8, 1888

May 6, 1890
1 year, 363 days
12 M. A. Angier May 6, 1890

May 3, 1893
2 years, 363 days
13 T. L. Peay May 3, 1893

May 8, 1894
1 years, 5 days
14 Isaac Newton Link
(Unknown – 1895)
May 8, 1894

January 5, 1895
(Died in office)
242 days Mayor of Durham, North Carolina
(1880–1881)
Acting J. W. Carlton January 5, 1895

May 7, 1895
122 days
15 T. L Peay May 7, 1895

May 1897
2 years Mayor of Durham, North Carolina
(1893–1894)
16 Moses Ellis McCown
(1849 – 1925; aged 75)
unknown

1903
17 J. F. Freeland 1903

1905
2 years Mayor of Durham, North Carolina
(1884–1888)
18 Paul Cameron Graham 1905

1909
4 years
19 W. J. Griswold 1909

1911
2 years Durham City Council
(1905 – 1907)
20 Willis J. Brogden 1911

1915
4 years
21 Benjamin S. Skinner 1915

1917
2 years Durham City Council
(1913 – 1915)
22 M. E. Newsom 1917

1921
4 years Durham City Council
(1913 – 1917)
23 John Moore Manning
(1857 – 1933; aged ~76)
1921

1931
10 years Durham City Council
(1919 – 1921)
24 Delos Sorrell 1931

1933
2 years
25 William Frederick Carr
(1881 – 1956; aged 75)
1933

1949
16 years Durham City Council
(1917 – 1933)
26 Dan Edwards
(1914 – 2001; aged 87)
1949

1951
2 years North Carolina Representative from Durham County
(1947–1949)
27 Emanuel J. Evans
(1907 – 1997; aged 89)
1951

1963
12 years   Democratic
28 Wense Grabarek
(1919 – 2019; aged 100)
1963

1971
8 years   Democratic Durham City Council
(1957–1961)
29 James Hawkins
(1925 – 2010; aged 85)
1971

1975
4 years Durham City Council
(1959–1967)
30 Wade Cavin
(1916 – 1997; aged 81)
1975

1979
4 years Durham City Council
(1969–1975)
31 Harry E. Rodenhizer, Jr
(1927 – 2007; aged 80)
1979

1981
2 years   Republican Durham Public School Board
32 Charles Markham
(1938 – 2010; aged 83)
1981

1985
4 years
33 Wib Gulley
(born 1948; aged 73)
1985

1989
4 years   Democratic Durham Board of Adjustment
(1983–1985)
34 Chester L. Jenkins
(c. 1938 – 2009; aged ~71)
1989

1991
2 years   Democratic Durham City Council
(1981–1989)
35 Harry E. Rodenhizer, Jr
(1927 – 2007; aged 80)
1991

1993
2 years   Republican Mayor of Durham, North Carolina
(1979–1981)
36 Sylvia Kerckhoff
(born 1926; aged 95)
1993

1997
4 years Durham City Council
37 Nick Tennyson
(born 1950; aged 71)
1997

2001
4 years   Republican
38 Bill Bell
(born in 1941; aged 80)
2001

December 5, 2017[2]
16 years   Democratic Durham County Board of Commissioners
(1996–2000)[3]
39 Steve Schewel
(born in 1951; aged 70)[4]
December 5, 2017[2]

December 6, 2021
4 years   Democratic[5] Durham City Council
(2011–2017)[4]
40 Elaine O'Neal December 6, 2021

December 4, 2023

2 Years   Democratic North Carolina Superior Court

(2011-2018)

41
Leonardo Williams December 4, 2023 Democratic Durham City Council

(2021-2023)

References

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  1. ^ "J. W. Cheek, First Mayor of Durham". Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  2. ^ a b "With a Message of Inclusivity, Steve Schewel Sworn in as Durham Mayor". Independent Weekly. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  3. ^ "Office of the Mayor". Durham, North Carolina. Archived from the original on 2014-07-02. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  4. ^ a b "Meet Steve". Stevefordurham.com. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  5. ^ "Steve Schewel". Independent Weekly. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
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