Attorney for Nifong
I've known Mike Nifong for more than 20 years, opposing him in cases ranging from death penalty murder to traffic violations. He is tough, fair, and skillful, epitomizing an attorney seeking justice for victims and the community. He is not vindictive or petty, nor does he view himself as an "agent of the Almighty," qualities found in other prosecutors. He has never deceived me. His "failing" is that he is not political, rejecting courses of action that might benefit him personally or professionally, concentrating solely on his duty to bring cases to a jury for their decision. It is ironic that he is vilified for alleged political motives and refusing to deal out the Duke lacrosse case with defense attorneys. The accused have excellent defense counsel, including Wade Smith and Bill Cotter, perhaps the finest defense attorney team I have ever seen. They are working for their clients as Nifong is working for the alleged victim and the community. The matter is for a jury to decide. Our duty is to vote. The choices are the name of a man who allowed a petition to put him on the ballot while stating he will not serve: a blank line for a good man with no prosecutorial experience: or a good man who has served for 28 years as a prosecutor, has represented us and victims in thousands of cases, and who has made the DA's office the most effective it has ever been. Join me in supporting Mike Nifong.
TOM EAGEN
Durham
October 10, 2006
http://www.heraldsun.com/opinion/hsletters/
http://www.newsobserver.com/1185/story/496840.html
Race draws outside money
Benjamin Niolet, Staff Writer
DURHAM - The election for district attorney is just under a month away and out-of-town cash, donated by those interested in the Duke University lacrosse case, will be a factor.
The parents of two unindicted lacrosse players gave a total of $5,000 to a political action committee working to register voters, mostly on Duke's campus. District Attorney Mike Nifong, a committee urging voters to pick anyone but Nifong and a write-in candidate have all received money from out of state.
Normally, North Carolina elections for district attorney are quiet affairs that draw little interest outside the county courthouse. But the election in Durham is different because of the extensive interest in the rape case against three Duke University lacrosse players, and specifically Nifong's handling of it.
"It's not surprising that people who have strong feelings about the way in which the DA has handled this case, positive or negative, would want to give money," said Jeffrey Elliot, a professor of political science at N.C. Central University.
Nifong won the Democratic nomination in May. Soon after, as criticism grew against Nifong and his case, two petition drives collected signatures to add candidates to the ballot. County Commissioner Lewis Cheek was successful but said he would not accept the job, which would mean if Cheek were elected, the governor would appoint someone to fill the job until a special election in 2008.
Nifong also faces a challenge from write-in candidate Steve Monks.
Nifong said in an interview that the Durham district attorney is responsible for an office that handles more than 50,000 new defendants every year and that his opposition, which only entered the race in response to criticism over the lacrosse case, is intent on making the race about one case.
"It's kind of hard for them to say credibly that this is about anything other than the Duke lacrosse case no matter what name you give it. Whether you call it 'Students for an Ethical Durham' or you call it 'People Out to Change the District Attorney's Office Because They Don't Appreciate Duke Students Getting Indicted,' " Nifong said. "You have people from outside Durham who are seeking to influence the district attorney's election here because of their disapproval of a single case, based on a less-than-complete exposition of what went on."
Nifong said all the facts of the case will be revealed only at the trial.
The next round of campaign contribution reports is due at the end of the month. But a report for Nifong's campaign filed in July shows that he has received money from donors who live in Raleigh, Virginia and California. The out-of-town money represents a small percentage of the $35,800 the campaign collected from April through June.
Beth Brewer, spokeswoman for the Committee to Recall Nifong-Vote Cheek, an organization working to have Cheek elected, said the group has received out-of-state cash contributions, many from lawyers.
"They're most apt to have stayed in touch with the lacrosse case, and they are speaking their minds," she said.
Registration effort
Ethical Durham is a political action committee that registered with the county Board of Elections Sept. 27. The group has worked to register voters, particularly on Duke's campus. Its treasurer is a Duke graduate and a paralegal for Bob Ekstrand, a Durham lawyer who throughout the lacrosse investigation has represented as many as 40 members of the lacrosse team.
On Oct. 6, the organization filed a report showing two contributions from out of state made by parents of unindicted lacrosse players. Michael Catalino of Webster, N.Y., said he and his wife donated $4,000 to the group because they wanted to help Duke students realize that nearly all of them could register to vote.
"We felt pretty strongly that that was a good cause," Catalino said. "I think we have a connection to Duke and Durham through the university and my son."
Monks said in an interview that he has received some money from out of state but would like more.
"I have to admit I did step up efforts to secure money from the Duke community," Monks said.
Staff writer Benjamin Niolet can be reached at 956-2404 or bniolet@newsobserver.com.