Durham County honors Gov. Roy Cooper for pandemic leadership and Medicaid expansion advocacy

The Durham County Board of Commissioners read and adopted a ceremonial resolution recognizing Governor Roy Cooper’s service to North Carolina and Durham County, citing his pandemic leadership, support for Medicaid expansion and investments in education and housing. The resolution was read aloud at the meeting and recorded as signed "This the September 2024."

"Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Durham County Board of Commissioners does hereby recognize and honor Governor Roy Cooper for his outstanding service," read a commissioner during the presentation of the resolution. The board recorded the text and signed the resolution for presentation to the governor.

Commissioners offered brief remarks after the reading. Commissioner Jacobs thanked the event organizers and linked the governor’s policy priorities to local health equity work, noting research presented at a recent Durham forum: "1 out of every 65 people now, having dementia," she said, calling attention to racial disparities and the role of social determinants of health. Commissioner Carter praised the governor’s use of veto power on recent state legislation affecting public education, saying the veto protected the year declared for public schools.

The proclamation text, as read to the board, highlighted the governor’s actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, his advocacy for Medicaid expansion and investments in education and housing that the county said benefited Durham residents. The board recorded the resolution as adopted and signed in September 2024.