Committee switches support to Nifong
BY BRIANNE DOPART : The Herald-Sun
Oct 21, 2006 : 10:34 pm ET
DURHAM -- The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People switched its allegiance to Assistant District Attorney Mike Nifong in the November election.
The DA's race has probably been the year's most-watched political contest due to the controversial prosecution of white members of the Duke University lacrosse team on allegations they raped a black exotic dancer.
The Committee had previously endorsed Keith Bishop, who came in third in the May primary behind Nifong and former Assistant District Attorney Freda Black.
Nifong, a Democrat, faces City Councilman Lewis Cheek, whose name is on the ballot, but says he won't serve if elected; as well as Steve Monks, chairman of the Durham County Republican Party, who is running as a write-in candidate.
According to spokeswoman Lavonia Allison, quality-of-life issues were on the minds of the Committee when it made its endorsements. Also, by pushing the Committee's members to vote strictly Democratic, Allison said the group hoped to elect officials concerned with "the least among us as well as the most."
The Committee, which will hold a civil rights-themed mass political rally at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church at 1007 S. Roxboro St. at 6 p.m. today, voted on endorsements put forth by its political committee Saturday morning, Allison said.
In the legislative races, the Committee endorsed incumbent David Price for the U.S. House 4th District race.
The group endorsed all of the unopposed candidates seeking House District seats with the exception of W.A. "Winkie" Wilkins.
Larry Hall won an endorsement for state House District 29, Paul Leubke for District 30, H.M. "Mickey" Michaux for District 31, Bob Atwater for state Senate District 18 and Jeanne Lucas for Senate District 20.
The Committee endorsed unopposed incumbents Worth Hill and Archie Smith for Sheriff and Clerk of Court respectively.
In the nonpartisan races, the group chose almost exclusively incumbent candidates. Sarah Parker received the group's endorsement for State Supreme Court Chief Justice, while Patricia Timmons-Goodson, Mark Martin, Robert Hunter and Linda Stephens won endorsements for State Supreme Court Associate Justice.
Anita Smith, Tracy Hicks Barley, Elaine Bushfan, Craig Brown and Marcia Morey picked up the Committee's endorsements for District 14 District Court judgeships.
Only candidates who appeared in person for interviews with the committee were endorsed, regardless of whether they were running unopposed, Allison said. This year only six candidates didn't schedule interviews, she said.
Individuals looking to meet candidates endorsed by the Committee should attend this evening's rally, Allison said.
Joe Leonard, the executive director and chief operating officer of the Black Leadership Forum, Inc. is scheduled to be keynote speaker. Leonard, who spent four years serving as D.C. Bureau Chief for Rainbow/PUSH Washington, will speak on the rally's theme: "Civil Rights, Social Justice, Education: Action Now."
http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-780778.html
I have my doubts about the election.
I hear they are registering voters at NCCU.
Lots of voters.