Candidates for DA reach homestretch
With election near, money, endorsements become focus
Shreya Rao, The Chronicle, 10/26/06
With fewer than 15 days until the hotly contested district attorney election, Charlotte Woods,
co-chair of The Committee to Elect Steve Monks, spent Tuesday evening in the emergency
room getting some much needed rest, she said.
"I've been putting in 120-hour weeks," Woods said, adding that she is suffering from carpal
tunnel syndrome from posting too many campaign signs.
In the Nov. 7 election, District Attorney Mike Nifong faces County Commissioner Lewis Cheek
and Steve Monks, chair of the Durham County Republican Party and an official write-in candidate.
To date, Woods estimates that Monks' campaign has raised close to $20,000, all of which has
been collected from private donors.
"We don't have the big money the old boys have," she said, noting that all members of the
Monks campaign team are volunteers.
Woods speculated, however, that "individual wealthy Republicans" may help boost campaign
funding, allowing Monks to advertise on television and radio in the future as well.
Cheek, who said he would decline the office if he collected the most votes, is not campaigning
but will continue to make public appearances to encourage voters to "do what they think is right."
"Voters need to reach decisions for themselves," he said. "Let that be reflected in the way they vote."
Though Cheek said he is not affiliated with the group, he noted that Recall Nifong-Vote Cheek
has been organizing events and advertisements to endorse his candidacy.
Nevertheless, Cheek said he plans on voting for himself come election day. Cheek added that
because the write-in candidate's name appears nowhere on the ballot, Monks is at a severe disadvantage.
"Our number-one focus is getting out the name," Woods said. "We've got to educate [voters] as to
who Steve Monks is, why he's running and how you get him elected."
Woods said Monks has been advertising in newspapers and speaking to community members
at various events, including local churches.
Representatives from Nifong's campaign office were unavailable for comment.
Michael Gillespie, acting chair of the Department of Political Science and director of the
Gerst Program in Political, Economic and Humanistic Studies, said money alone may
not be the most important factor in predicting the outcome of the election.
"Durham elections are typically decided by endorsements," he said.
Gillespie added that it was significant that the Durham Committee on the Affairs
of Black People endorsed Nifong.
"The general goal of local campaigns is to get the core constituency out," he said.
"If most students go out and vote, it will make a big difference because usually they don't."
Though some students said they have not had time to consider the positions of the candidates,
they plan to do more research before they vote.
Others noted the strong presence of anti-Nifong campaigning.
"Everything is anti-Nifong," said junior Dan Vincent, pointing to wristbands supporting the
lacrosse team worn by many students and anti-Nifong Facebook groups.
* Vote at the one-stop stations now, and you don't have to wait in line on election Tuesday.