After a surprise appointment in December, William Bowman “Bo” Ferguson was officially sworn in as the new Durham city manager at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Ferguson, who previously served as a deputy city manager overseeing emergency services, thanked the city council and his city staff colleagues for “making this organization the gem and the leader that it is in the United States.” He stood up at the dais with his wife and two children, who Ferguson says have spent many Monday nights without him because of the council’s meeting schedule, but remained supportive of his work.
“They have endured as many of your families do. Not only have they always been really supportive, but I’m proud to have two really curious kids who are really interested in what we do here and have lots of suggestions on how to make Durham better,” Ferguson said, garnering laughs from the audience.
Mayor Leonardo Williams called for a vote on Ferguson’s appointment at the tailend of the December 16 city council meeting, the last of the year. Although there was concern around the hiring process for the new city manager, the city council had few questions about Ferguson’s bonafides. Given the timing– December 16 was former manager Wanda Page’s final meeting –Ferguson chose not to speak the night he was appointed and instead joined in the chorus of celebratory remarks for Page. But on Monday, he shared his enthusiasm for taking on the top leadership role.
“It is a joy to live in this city. It is a joy to be associated with this city,” Ferguson said. “Even in the hard times, which we all deal with all the time, there is such satisfaction in knowing that we’re working with so many people who are trying to make things better and do things right.”
Nate Baker, one of the council members who raised concerns about the hiring process at the December meeting, said that Ferguson offers a mix of institutional knowledge and experience from his time leading other communities that will bring fresh ideas to the city.
“There’s always this tension when you hire someone of institutional knowledge or bring someone from the outside who might have new ideas, and we have the privilege of having someone with both,” Baker said.
Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton, who was first elected in 2017, has presided over the hiring of Durham’s last two city managers: Page and Ferguson. Middleton said he was as satisfied with hiring Wanda Page as he was with Ferguson.
“It was a long and hard conclave but alas, we have a manager, and the white smoke has gone out,” Middleton said.
“He not only possesses institutional knowledge, he possesses knowledge of the values of Durham,” Middleton continued. “He not only knows the nuts and bolts of how to run a government, he knows the heart of the city.”
City council members also took the opportunity to celebrate another civil servant, former Mayor William V. “Bill” Bell, whose tenure Williams called “a textbook of public service and integrity and calm, steady-handed leadership.” Bell served over 40 years as a Durham public official, overseeing much of the early revitalization of downtown following the decline of the tobacco industry and the hollowing out of Durham’s city center.
Council member DeDreana Freeman called for others in the Durham community to take inspiration from Bell and get more involved in shaping the city’s future.
“That type of service to our community is a gem to have,” Freeman said. “With the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, it’s really weighing on my spirit that the leadership our country needs is lacking. I want to put a big push out there for folks to get engaged and stay engaged, whether you’re serving in elected office or not, boards, committees, commissions, they all need your leadership.”
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