Four finalists selected for interviews to fill vacant Durham City Council seat

Amanda Borer, Chelsea Cook, Shelia Huggins and Shastan Swain are vying to fill the vacant Ward 3 seat.

At Thursday's City Council work session, council members anonymously voted with the parameters that any applicant with four or more votes would move on.

Borer received four votes. Borer's application says she is currently the Administrative Director for Neurosciences at Duke University Health System. In her application, she lists economic development, public safety, and land use and development as her top three priorities for Durham over the next five years.

Huggins received five votes. Huggins placed fifth in the most recent Durham primary, but then dropped out of the general election race. She is currently an attorney. Her application lists job accessibility, equitable development, and poverty as her top issues to address in Durham.

Cook received four votes. Cook's application says she has been an attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina's Durham Eviction Diversion Program for the past four years. She lists her top three priorities as affordable housing, a living wage, and beautification of all neighborhoods in Durham.

Swain received four votes. His application says he is a law and policy advisor for the state. He lists his top three priorities as fostering responsible growth, improving access to open space, and more affordable housing.

Current city council members will interview the finalists at a special meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8.

On Wednesday, Jan. 10, the city council will conduct a public comment period.

Council members will make their final selection at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16.