CARRBORO, NC -- In a historic meeting at Town Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, Barbara Foushee was sworn in as the first Black woman mayor.
Mayor Barbara Foushee took the oath of office with U.S. Congresswoman Valerie Foushee, and stood beside her husband, Braxton Foushee, who was the first Black member of the Carrboro Town Council elected in 1969.
Town Hall was packed with the overflow viewing room and hallways filled to capacity as members of the public who were not in the Council Chamber watched on remote screens or their cell phones. Also taking their oaths of office were Council Members Catherine Fray, who was sworn into office by former Mayor Lydia Lavelle; Eliazar Posada, who was sworn in by District Court Judge Joal Broun, and Jason Merrill, who was sworn in by Interim Town Clerk Wendy Welch.
“The magnitude of this moment is not lost on me, as I am the first Black woman to serve this community and the second Black person to hold this office,” Mayor Foushee said.
The late Robert Drakeford served as mayor from 1977 to 1983 after serving as alderman for the Town of Carrboro.
“My service to this community in any capacity has never been about me," Mayor Foushee said. "Bringing others along and having more voices at the table have always been at the center of my service.”
Also notable for firsts among elected officials in North Carolina -- Eliazar Posada is the first openly gay Latino to serve, and Catherine Fray is the first nonbinary person to be elected to public office.
Meeting Recap
Meeting agendas and updates are issued from the Town Clerk’s Office. To receive these by email or text, sign up for Carrboro Town News at https://www.carrboronc.gov/list.aspx ;
Civic involvement is a valued tradition in our community. Reach the Town Council with your ideas, views, and questions at Council@carrboronc.gov
The Council held an organizational meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 5, and took the following actions on the agenda posted at https://carrboro.legistar.com/ ;
- Held oaths of offices for Mayor Barbara Foushee, Council Member Eliazar Posada, Council Member Catherine Fray and Council Member Jason Merrill.
- Received resolutions of appreciation for outgoing Mayor Damon Seils, Council Member Susan Romaine and Council Member Sammy Slade.
- Approved the Abstract of Votes Cast at the November 7, 2023 election.
- Adopted the 2024 Meeting Calendar.
- Made committee assignments for 2024.
- Called a Special Election for November 2024 to fill the Council member seat vacant by the election of Mayor Barbara Foushee.
Watch the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/live/ClZFWQoSnGY?si=m3bxuVrS8vo8tdMA ;
Coming Up
The Carrboro Town Council meeting agendas will be posted for 2024 with agendas available at https://carrboro.legistar.com/ ;
The Town Council meets at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or can view the livestream YouTube.com/CarrboroNC OR at https://carrboro.legistar.com/ OR Cable TV 18 (in Carrboro).
Town Council
The Town Council, which is the legislative and policy-making body for Carrboro, comprises Mayor Barbara Foushee, Mayor Pro Danny Nowell, Council Member Catherine Fray, Council Member Jason Merrill, Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell and Council Member Eliazar Posada. More information is available at https://www.carrboronc.gov/248/Town-Council
For More Information
For more information or photos, contact Communication and Engagement Director Catherine Lazorko at communications@carrboronc.gov Photos on this page are available for downloading. Please credit Jonathan Drake/Town of Carrboro, NC.
