Leonardo Williams is an American politician, restaurateur, and former educator. He has served as the mayor of

Durham, North Carolina Durham ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Durham County, North Carolina, Durham County. Small portions of the city limits extend into Orange County, North Carolina, Orange County and Wake County, North Carol ...

since December 4, 2023. Prior to his term as mayor, Williams was a member of the Durham City Council. He and his wife own multiple restaurants in Durham including the first full-service

Zimbabwean Demographic features of the population of Zimbabwe include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Population The population of Zimbabwe ...

restaurant in the United States.

Early life and education

Williams grew up in

Halifax County, North Carolina Halifax County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,622. Its county seat is Halifax. Halifax County is part of the Roanoke Rapids, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is ...

. His mother, Yolanda Bailey, served on the board of the North Carolina Teachers Association, the predecessor to the North Carolina Association of Educators. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in music education and education psychology and a master's degree in educational leadership from

North Carolina Central University North Carolina Central University (NCCU or NC Central) is a Public university, public Historically black colleges and universities, historically black university in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by James E. Shepard in affiliati ...

. While a student at Central, Williams served as the North Carolina Central Eagles drum major.https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/leo-williams-mayor-durham/

Career

Politics

Williams served on the board of the Durham Association of Educators from 2008 to 2010. Although he described himself as a committed Democrat, he registered as an

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

during his time on the board so that

Republicans Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

would "pick up iscalls." Williams represented Ward 3 as a member of the Durham City Council from 2021 to 2023. According to a story published by ''

Indy Week ''Indy Week'', formerly known as the ''Independent Weekly'' and originally the ''North Carolina Independent'', is a tabloid-format alternative weekly newspaper published in Durham, North Carolina, United States, and distributed throughout the Re ...

'', Williams and Mayor Elaine O'Neal were both allegedly punched by Councilwoman DeDreana Freeman on March 23, 2023, when trying to restrain her during an argument between Freeman and Mayor Pro Tempore Mark-Anthony Middleton in the council chambers. In 2023, he won the 2023 Durham mayoral election and was installed as the Mayor of Durham on December 4, 2023. He is one of the youngest mayor's in Durham's history. He received endorsements from the People’s Alliance, the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, and Friends of Durham PACs.

Education and business

Williams worked as a school teacher and school administrator.https://www.durhamnc.gov/1329/About-the-Mayor He also served as the band director at Southern High School. He was twice recognized by Durham Public Schools as teacher of the year and was recognized by ''

Triangle Business Journal American City Business Journals, Inc. (ACBJ) is an American newspaper publisher based in Charlotte, North Carolina. ACBJ publishes ''The Business Journals'', which contains local business news for 44 markets in the United States with each market ...

'' as one of their "40 under 40" for innovative practices in education. Williams and his wife opened Zweli's in 2018, a

Zimbabwe file:Zimbabwe, relief map.jpg, upright=1.22, Zimbabwe, relief map Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Bots ...

an restaurant in Durham named after his wife. The restaurant is the first full-service Zimbabwean restaurant in the United States. The couple later opened Ekhaya in the American Tobacco Campus in 2022, serving Bantu-inspired tapas. Williams also served as a member of Durham's city council for Ward 3. Williams was sworn in as mayor on December 4, 2023.

Personal life

Williams is married to Zwelibanzi Moyo Williams, a chef whom he met in college. He is the stepfather of her son, Izaiah.

References

External links

* Living people 21st-century African-American businesspeople 21st-century African-American politicians 21st-century mayors of places in North Carolina African-American city council members in North Carolina African-American mayors in North Carolina African-American schoolteachers American restaurateurs Mayors of Durham, North Carolina Durham, North Carolina, city council members North Carolina Central University alumni North Carolina Democrats Schoolteachers from North Carolina Year of birth missing (living people) {{NorthCarolina-politician-stub