Voters have re-elected Durham Mayor Bill Bell to his sixth term and have also voted in favor of two tax referenda, which will raise Durham County sales tax to 7.50 percent, according to Durham County.
Polls are now closed and about 98 percent of voting precincts have reported.
Bell defeated challenger Rev. Sylvester Williams, pastor of the Durham Christian Center, with 81.92 percent of the vote. Williams received 17.96 percent and .51 percent of votes were write-ins.
The public transportation sales and use tax—half-cent sales tax increase whose revenue will go toward improvements to public transportation— was approved with 59.95 percent voting in favor.
A quarter-cent sales and use tax increase for public education also passed. The vote was 56.63 percent in favor.
The three at-large seats on Durham City Council have also been decided. Incumbents Eugene Brown and Diane Catotti were re-elected. Steve Schewel took the third seat with about 25 percent of the vote.
updated at 12:30 a.m. Nov. 9
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