Durham City Manager Wanda Page has announced her retirement after 36 years of service, effective December 31.
“I believe now is the right moment to begin the transition of passing the torch to new leadership and allow fresh perspectives to shape the future of our beloved city,” Page said.
Page joined the city in 1987 as a senior staff accountant and served in multiple positions before being named deputy city manager in 2006. She was named interim city manager following the departure of former City Manager Tom Bonfield, and then appointed unanimously by City Council as city manager in March 2021.
“City Council members realized how fortunate the city is to already have someone who essentially has been preparing for this position for all of her 30-year career,” former Mayor Steve Schewel said at the time. “Wanda is a consummate professional, with vast experience, rock-solid judgment, and a deep knowledge of local government and our community. Furthermore, she has earned the respect and support of the organization and community as a trusted leader, not just over the past six months, but during her entire tenure in city government.”
In a statement today, Page expressed her gratitude for the support and guidance of Mayor Leonardo Williams and City Council members.
“Their dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to the well-being of our community have been the backbone of our success,” she said.
“We’ve enjoyed the luxuries of having the best in the nation,” Williams said in a message to The 9th Street Journal. “We will now enjoy the benefits of her legacy. Durham is and will remain in great hands. I know this because Wanda Page is the most calculated and skillful municipal official I’ve ever known.”
Page is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She later earned a master’s degree in business administration from North Carolina Central University.
Articles in The 10th Street Journal are generated by AI and reviewed by human editors.