Bowens and Everett-Perry Join “In Touch with Durham County” Show for September Episode
Durham, N.C. – The September 2026 episode of the “In Touch with Durham County” show produced by the Durham County Public Information Office has premiered, with discussions on what voters can expect with the upcoming November 3 General Election before a discussion on how the County is building a talent pipeline and driving a culture of excellence across Durham County government.
In our latest episode, host Deborah Craig-Ray, Durham County Chief Communications Officer, welcomes Derek L. Bowens, Director of Elections for Durham County, and Kathy Everett-Perry, Durham County’s Chief Employment Officer and Chief Employment Counsel.
Watch it on our YouTube channel here.
Each episode is focused on important conversations with our Durham County Government staff, elected officials, and community partners to keep residents informed about the latest happenings, programs, and services. The show is available to watch on the DCo YouTube channel (subscribe here), as well as on the Durham County Government website and the Durham Television Network.
The episode begins with a conversation with Bowens, who leads the Durham County Board of Elections, a team that, alongside Durham County Information Services and Technology, recently received a National Association of Counties (NACo) award for developing the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) Ballot Distribution Tool. Bowens discusses recent changes from the North Carolina General Assembly on the 2026 General Election, including three state ballot measures and three state candidates for U.S. Senate, North Carolina Supreme Court, and the U.S. Congress, as well as several local elections, including District Attorney, Clerk of Superior Court, Sheriff and Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor. He reminds voters that Early Voting in Durham runs from Thursday, October 15, through Saturday, October 31, with the Statewide General Election on Tuesday, November 3.
Everett-Perry, who has served Durham County Government for more than 20 years, is the Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Employment Counsel for the Human Resources Department. She discusses how to continuously engage a high-performing organization of nearly 2,000 local government employees. With numerous departments earning state and national awards and honors, Everett-Perry highlights how her unit provides training, coaching resources, and opportunities to sharpen their skills within their respective disciplines. Everett-Perry explains that with new career paths opening across Durham County, and with the County’s strong commitment to and recognition for supporting employees’ health and overall well-being, it continues to be an appealing place for professional growth.
We hope you explore this month’s show!
About “In Touch with Durham County”
The “In Touch with Durham County” show is a regular program that provides governmental programming and access to your local government and provides timely, ongoing coverage of Durham County Government. The show airs on the Durham Television Network (DTN). DTN is available on Spectrum (channel 8 and 1302), and AT&T U-verse channel 99. Residents may also download the BoxCast app, available for Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV and search for “City of Durham” to find content available on demand.
To view past editions of the “In Touch with Durham County” show, visit the DCo YouTube Channel here.
For more information on the Durham County Public Information Office, visit the PIO website, call 919-560-0000 or email publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov.