Durham County swears in five commissioners, names Nida Alam chair and Mike Lee vice chair; board approves official bonds and 2025 meeting schedule

Durham County held a swearing-in and organizational meeting in which five county commissioners were sworn into office, the board elected a chair and vice chair, and the board approved statutorily required public-official bonds and its 2025 meeting calendar.

The board administered oaths to Sharon A. Davis as register of deeds and to county commissioners Nida Alam, Michelle L. Burton, Wendy Jacobs, Michael Darnell Lee and Stephen J. Valentine. Judges and magistrates from the local bench administered the oaths during the ceremonial portion of the meeting. Following the swearing-in, commissioners nominated and voted on leadership and then moved to routine business.

The nominations and votes selected Nida Alam as chair and Dr. Michael (Mike) Lee as vice chair. The clerk conducted a roll call on the chair nomination; recorded votes during that roll call were in the affirmative and the nomination was approved. The board then approved, by voice vote, the statutorily required bonds for certain county officers and the board's 2025 meeting schedule.

County Attorney Larissa Williamson opened the session by explaining that, under North Carolina statute, the board convenes annually to swear in newly elected officials and to select the chair and vice chair. The ceremonial oaths were administered by a series of judges: Chief District Court Judge Clayton Jones, Associate Justice Lisonbee Riggs of the North Carolina Supreme Court (appearing for the board's oath), and Superior Court Judge Shamika Reinhart, among others. Sharon A. Davis was sworn in as register of deeds; judges administered the oath and congratulated the newly sworn official.

After the oath ceremonies, the board moved to organizational actions. A nomination was made for Nida Alam to serve as chair. The clerk called the roll for that nomination; commissioners recorded affirmative votes and Alam was elected chair by the board. The board also nominated and voted to appoint Dr. Michael Darnell Lee as vice chair; the motion carried.

Attorney Curtis Massey presented the annual, statutorily required public-official bonds and explained the amounts recommended and the statutory context. The recommended bond amounts presented at the meeting were: $1,000,000 for the county's chief financial officer, $25,000 for the sheriff (described at the meeting as the statutory maximum), $50,000 for the register of deeds (described at the meeting as the statutory maximum), and $250,000 for the tax administrator. The board first suspended the rules to take up the bond approvals and then voted to accept and approve the recommended bonds; the county will file the bonds with the register of deeds and the clerk of court as required.

The board also approved its 2025 meeting schedule after a brief procedural motion to suspend the rules. A voice vote approved the calendar as presented.

The meeting included several ceremonial and personal remarks from commissioners reflecting gratitude to supporters, family and community groups; remarks emphasized a commitment to public service and collaboration. Commissioners noted priorities including education, workforce development and public health; one commissioner also spoke about a recent personal health diagnosis and encouraged routine screenings.

The board adjourned after approving the agenda items; a reception followed in the lobby.

Votes at a glance - Chair: Nomination and approval of Nida Alam as chair of the Durham County Board of County Commissioners; outcome: approved by roll call (recorded as affirmative by the commissioners present). - Vice Chair: Nomination and approval of Dr. Michael Darnell Lee as vice chair; outcome: approved by the board. - Public-official bonds: Motion to accept and approve the recommended statutory bonds (CFO $1,000,000; sheriff $25,000; register of deeds $50,000; tax administrator $250,000); outcome: approved by voice vote. - 2025 meeting schedule: Motion to approve the 2025 Board of County Commissioners meeting schedule; outcome: approved by voice vote.

The meeting combined ceremonial oath-taking and the board's required organizational votes. No ordinance, contract award, budget adoption, or land-use item was taken up during this meeting.

Ending The board adjourned and hosted a reception in the lobby. Formal records of the bond approvals will be filed with the register of deeds and the clerk of court as required by statute.