SoDu Morning Brief: Durham Election: What Primary Results Really Mean + Events, School Eats

🌤️ South Durham Weather: Oct. 13 Forecast – Cloudy Start, Cool Night Ahead

Looking for the latest weather update for South Durham, NC? Here's your hyperlocal SoDu forecast:

Today: Expect mostly cloudy skies with a high near 71°F today in South Durham, NC.

Tonight: Clearer skies and cooler temps with a low around 53°F.

Neighborhood News Guy's Note: Primary Results Don't Mean Done Deal

I've seen folks speculating that the outcomes of last week's municipal primary election are solid indicators of what we can expect in the general election.

But I'm here to tell you: All the primary did was cull the herd, and it did that with pretty meager voter turnout - 12.03% of eligible voters cast ballots. That's about 25,500 people out of 211,598.

The primary leaves us with the following races:

Durham Mayor

• Incumbent Leonardo Williams.
• Anjanee Bell.

Durham City Council Ward I

• Incumbent DeDreana Freeman.
• Matt Kopac.

Durham City Council Ward II

• Incumbent Mark-Anthony Middleton.
• Shanetta Burris.

Durham City Council Ward III

• Incumbent Chelsea Cook.
• Diana Medoff.

Williams, Kopac, Burris, and Cook led in their respective races. And while it's possible they might sway voters who cast ballots for other candidates, it seems just as likely to me that such gains might be offset or even overwhelmed thanks to higher voter turnout in the general election.

But if past elections are any indication, maybe my hunch is off base.

In 2017, 13.47% voted in the primary. Steve Schewel led Farad Ali in the mayoral race, and went on to win the general election. DeDreana Freeman led the Ward I contest back then, and took the seat in November. Mark-Anthony Middleton won the Ward II primary and prevailed in the general. Only 18.84% of Durham voters participated in the 2017 general election. (By comparison, in 2024's general election - a presidential election year - nearly 73% of voters cast ballots in Durham.)

This time around, Mayor Williams finished strong against Bell in the primary, while Freeman and Middleton trailed their opponents.

Early voting starts Thursday at four locations in and around South Durham, including the Board of Elections office at 3825 S. Roxboro St., Ste. 101; South Regional Library at 4505 S. Alston Ave.; NCCU Turner Law Building at 640 Nelson St.; and East Regional Library at 211 Lick Creek Ln.

How do you think this ends for the incumbents? Let me know with a reply to this newsletter.

Wes Platt
Neighborhood News Guy
wes.platt@southpointaccess.news

Greek Food Draws Durham Crowd Despite Gray, Rainy Weekend

Visitors from around South Durham and Chapel Hill braved misting rain and chillier temperatures to pick up orders of pastitsio and baklava from A Taste of Greece, the fall food fest held Oct. 11-12 at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church off NC Highway 751.

🏈 Triangle Rivalry Challenge: Cheer Local, Give Local

Support South Durham news while repping your favorite team - Duke 💙, UNC 💙, NC State ❤️, or NCCU 🦅.

Every dollar donated via ko-fi.com/southpointaccess adds points to your team’s score as we race to raise $4,000 for neighborhood journalism by Dec. 31.

🧭 Cheer for your team. Invest in your community.

🥪 Durham Public Schools Lunch Menus – Oct. 13, 2025

🍎 Elementary School Lunch Menu

Entrée Options:

• Hot dog on a bun
• Cheese-filled breadsticks with marinara (V)

Sides:

• Cole slaw
• Barbecue baked beans
• Spiced apples

📚 Middle School Lunch Menu

Entrée Options:

• Hot dog on a bun
• Cheese-filled breadsticks with marinara (V)

Sides:

• Cole slaw
• Barbecue baked beans
• Spiced apples

🎓 High School Lunch Menu

Entrée Options:

• Regular or spicy chicken sandwich
• Cheese-filled breadsticks with marinara (V)

Sides:

• Sweet potato waffle fries
• Steamed corn
• Spiced apples

📌 All student meals are free. Menus include choice of milk, fresh fruit, and 100% juice. Items subject to change. Get the full week of menus here.

🎟️ Events in South Durham – Oct. 13

5-6 p.m. - Make It Monday - Filipino Crafts!
Durham County Library - 4505 S. Alston Ave.
October is Filipino American Heritage Month. To celebrate, we're making a paper Sarimanok, a legendary bird in Filipino mythology, and painting colorful Vinta boats. Register here.

5-6 p.m. - Tweens & Teens: Fall Painting on Canvas
Durham County Library – 211 Lick Creek Ln.
Try your hand at pre-drawn canvas painting or free style painting on blank canvas!  Snacks are included.

6-7 p.m. – Supa Dupa Fly: Missy Elliott's Black Feminist Worldmaking
Durham County Library - 300 N. Roxboro St.
Enjoy live country and southern rock from The Back Roads while sipping local brews at this relaxed RTP taproom. Free entry, food trucks on-site.

7-9 p.m. – Mystery Movie Monday
Regal Brier Creek - 8611 Brier Creek Pkwy.
On certain Mondays at 7 p.m., participating Regal Cinemas host early screenings of movies for $5. The mystery movie this week is rated R and lasts for one hour and 55 minutes. Regal Crown Club members get a small popcorn and soda combo for $9.

📅 More local happenings on the SoDu Events Calendar.

Have something to share? Email wes.platt@southpointaccess.news.

🚗 Need a Traffic Update?

Check our Southpoint Access Live Traffic Map for real-time road conditions across Fayetteville Road, NC Highway 55, and I-40.

Avoid delays and plan your route smarter!

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