Wendy is originally from New Jersey. She earned her bachelor's degree from Duke University. Wendy and her husband have 3 children.

Wendy is the project manager for Unique Places, a real estate and land management company. She has previously worked as an elementary school teacher.

Wendy Jacobs currently serves as a Durham County Commissioner. She was first elected in 2012 and is serving her third term. Wendy was chair of the board from 2016 to 2020 and vice chair from 2020 to 2023.

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As a County Commissioner, brought Durham into the national Familiar Faces Initiative to coordinate wrap-around supports for community members with complex health and behavioral needs.

As a County Commissioner, brought Durham into the Familiar Faces Initiative to "coordinate wrap-around supports for community members with complex health and behavioral needs."

- As a County Commissioner, brought Durham into the Familiar Faces Initiative to "coordinate wrap-around supports for community members with complex health and behavioral needs."

Public Services

As a Durham County Commissioner, raised wages and secured paid family leave for all full-time staff.

As County Commissioner, supported raising wages and securing paid family leave for all full-time staff.

As a County Commissioner, worked with community partners to create the BULLS Initiative, connecting young Durham residents to local biotech and life sciences jobs.

- As County Commissioner, supported raising wages and securing paid family leave for all full-time staff.
- As a County Commissioner, worked with community partners to create the BULLS Initiative, connecting young Durham residents to local biotech and life sciences jobs.

Economy

Supports increased funding for public schools and ensuring access to high-quality, affordable pre-K for every child.

As a County Commissioner, increased funding to Durham Public Schools by $34 million over three years to address state funding shortfalls. Ensured raises for classified staff, certified staff, and teachers.

As County Commissioner, increased funding to Durham Public Schools by $34 million over three years to address state funding shortfalls.

Supports full financial backing for DPS and proposes a County-wide literacy initiative to ensure all third graders read at grade level.

Plans to create a countywide literacy initiative to ensure all third graders read at grade level.

Supports funded programs that provide new parents with practical tools and emotional support, such as Welcome Baby, Durham Connects, and Reach Out and Read.

Supports funding programs that provide new parents with tools and emotional support, such as Welcome Baby, Durham Connects, and Reach Out and Read.

- Supports increased funding for public schools and ensuring access to high-quality, affordable pre-K for every child.
- As County Commissioner, increased funding to Durham Public Schools by $34 million over three years to address state funding shortfalls.
- Plans to create a countywide literacy initiative to ensure all third graders read at grade level.
- Supports funding programs that provide new parents with tools and emotional support, such as Welcome Baby, Durham Connects, and Reach Out and Read.

Education

As a public official, funded new investments in harm reduction for substance users, including peer support specialists, safe syringes, and testing strips.

Supports addressing systemic injustices by investing in resources for people affected by substance use, mental illness, and the justice system.

Believes in addressing systemic injustices by investing in community-based, evidence-based, and trauma-informed resources for those involved in substance use, mental illness, and the criminal justice system.

Plans to expand HEART, Durham’s crisis response program, into the County in 2024 by collaborating with the Community Safety Department and Sheriff Birkhead.

Supports expanding funding for harm reduction and substance use treatment.

As a public official, funded nearly $500,000 in community-based mental health services for justice-involved individuals with serious mental illness.

- Supports addressing systemic injustices by investing in resources for people affected by substance use, mental illness, and the justice system.
- Plans to expand HEART, Durham’s crisis response program, into the County in 2024 by collaborating with the Community Safety Department and Sheriff Birkhead.
- Supports expanding funding for harm reduction and substance use treatment.

Public Safety

Supports creating a joint City-County rental assistance fund to help residents at risk of eviction.

Supports using publicly-controlled land to build affordable housing for public school educators, first responders, and City/County employees.

Supports using publicly-controlled land to build affordable housing for public school educators, first responders, and city/county employees.

Supports prioritizing affordable housing near public transit while protecting open spaces, water, and farmland.

As a County Commissioner, worked with various stakeholders to create the Low Income Homeowner Relief Program to assist low-income homeowners with property tax bills.

As County Commissioner, worked with various organizations to create the Low Income Homeowner Relief Program, which assists low-income homeowners with property tax bills.

As a County Commissioner, championed the development of 300 new affordable housing units on County-owned land. Supports increasing affordable housing options to address homelessness and housing needs.

As County Commissioner, supported the development of 300 new affordable housing units on county-owned land. 

Supports revising the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to ensure everyone in Durham has access to affordable housing, schools, parks, and shopping.

Supports revising the Unified Development Ordinance to ensure everyone in Durham has access to affordable housing, schools, parks, and shopping.

Supports creating a day shelter for residents experiencing homelessness by collaborating with the City, a local nonprofit, and community partners.

Supports creating a day shelter for residents experiencing homelessness by collaborating with the City, nonprofits, and community partners.

- Supports creating a joint City-County rental assistance fund to help residents at risk of eviction.
- Supports using publicly-controlled land to build affordable housing for public school educators, first responders, and city/county employees.
- Supports prioritizing affordable housing near public transit while protecting open spaces, water, and farmland.
- As County Commissioner, worked with various organizations to create the Low Income Homeowner Relief Program, which assists low-income homeowners with property tax bills.
- As County Commissioner, supported the development of 300 new affordable housing units on county-owned land. 
- Supports revising the Unified Development Ordinance to ensure everyone in Durham has access to affordable housing, schools, parks, and shopping.
- Supports creating a day shelter for residents experiencing homelessness by collaborating with the City, nonprofits, and community partners.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports implementing the County transit plan, including renovating Durham’s bus station, building new bus shelters, planning for Bus Rapid Transit, and advancing regional passenger rail.

Plans to implement county transit plan, including renovating Durham’s bus station, building new bus shelters, planning for Bus Rapid Transit, and advancing regional passenger rail.

Believes in creating a sustainable, navigable, and resilient community. As a member and former chair of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO, supports informed investment in streets and sidewalks.

Said, "I’m committed to creating a sustainable community that’s easy to navigate and resilient in the face of climate change."

As a County Commissioner, supported and approved a $1 billion investment in local transit, focusing on faster, more reliable buses, and improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

As County Commissioner, supported and approved a $1 billion investment in local transit, focusing on faster, more reliable buses, and improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

Supports creating a community with excellent public transit, bike- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and resilience against climate change.

Supports creating new bike trails to connect communities, including the North Durham Rail Trail and the Triangle Bikeways Trail.

- Plans to implement county transit plan, including renovating Durham’s bus station, building new bus shelters, planning for Bus Rapid Transit, and advancing regional passenger rail.
- Said, "I’m committed to creating a sustainable community that’s easy to navigate and resilient in the face of climate change."
- As County Commissioner, supported and approved a $1 billion investment in local transit, focusing on faster, more reliable buses, and improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
- Supports creating new bike trails to connect communities, including the North Durham Rail Trail and the Triangle Bikeways Trail.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Wendy Jacobs

Wendy Jacobs grew up in a supportive family in New Jersey and was grounded in her Jewish faith tradition. She attended Duke University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1983, and also studied in China. Wendy later obtained her Teaching Certification from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1987. She is a parent and has lived in Durham for over 40 years.

Wendy Jacobs is a member of the Durham County Board of Commissioners, having served as Chair from 2016 to 2020 and Vice Chair from 2020 to 2023. She has worked as a project manager and administrative assistant at Unique Places, a real estate and land management company. Jacobs also has a background in education, having obtained a Teaching Certification from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1987.

Wendy Jacobs has served on the Durham County Board of Commissioners, holding the position of Chair from 2016 to 2020 and Vice Chair from 2020 to 2023. She is currently running for re-election. Additionally, Jacobs is a member of the Board of Visitors for North Carolina Central University.

Believes in the power of community organizing to create public spaces and improve neighborhoods. As a County Commissioner candidate, aimed to make thoughtful decisions about housing and the environment.

Supports affordable housing, accessible public transit, great schools, job opportunities, and community-based services to address systemic injustices.

Believes public funding for education is crucial and its lack disproportionately affects low-income, Black, and Latino/e children. Supports public education, evidenced by her commitment as her children attended DPS.

Believes in a "cradle to career" approach, supporting equitable healthcare for pregnant people, high-quality pre-K, fully-funded public schools, and job opportunities for young people.

As a County Commissioner, ensured universal access to high-quality pre-K in Durham by subsidizing fees, equitable salaries for teachers, and professional development.

As a County Commissioner, championed Durham’s largest bond ($550 million) for critical investments in DPS and Durham Tech buildings, including new elementary and high schools.

Supports funding master's pay for DPS staff to improve recruitment and retention.

Believes all Durham residents deserve excellent K-12 schools and college opportunities. As a County Commissioner, funded historic investments in education.

As a County Commissioner, championed the Durham Stepping Up Initiative to connect people with mental health needs to care and reduce their contact with the justice system.

As a County Commissioner, led a $6.5 million partnership with Housing for New Hope to create 120 units of permanent supportive housing for mental health and substance use support.

As a County Commissioner, co-led the creation of the City/County Eviction Diversion Program to keep renters in their homes and quickly roll out rental assistance during the COVID pandemic.

Supports the creation of Durham’s new Comprehensive Plan to guide the development of safe, thriving neighborhoods for the next 20 years.

As an MPO leader, led the creation of the 2045 transit plan prioritizing multi-modal transit options like buses, biking, and walking.

The candidate's website says, "Member, CAMPO and DCHCMPO Joint Regional Rail Subcommittee"

The candidate's website says, "Board Member, Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (Chair 2020-2021, Vice Chair 2018-2019)"

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.