Durham City Council selects 4 finalists for vacant seat. Here’s who made the cut.

The Durham City Council has narrowed down the list of 21 applicants seeking to fill an at-large seat to four candidates.

The council announced their top picks to fill the vacancy during their Thursday work session. They are:

▪ Nate Baker, a Durham native and urban planner who has served on the city’s planning commission since 2018.

▪ Nicole Diggs, a North Carolina Central University graduate who currently serves on the city’s Affordable Housing Implementation Committee.

▪ Monique Holsey-Hyman, who serves on Durham’s Citizen Advisory Committee and the County Commissioners Social Services Board.

▪ Henry McKoy Jr., a professor at NCCU’s School of Business and community leader who is active on the Hayti Reborn initiative.

The at-large seat was previously held by Charlie Reece, who resigned in early March for his family’s move to Europe. The term runs through December 2023.

The council is made up of seven members, including the mayor and three council members representing specific wards, serving two-year terms. The three at-large council members serve four-year terms.

The council will interview the finalists during a special meeting in City Hall on Monday, May 2 at 4 p.m.

A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 3 at 6 p.m. Candidates may invite a total of 10 speakers to voice their support virtually or in-person.

The appointed candidate will be sworn in Thursday, May 5 at the start of the council’s work session.

This story was originally published April 21, 2022 at 3:14 PM.