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Excellent stuff, LB! Thank you.

Nifong will take this case the distance. Victoria Peterson and Kim Brummell, a frequent H-S letter to editor writer, will see to it.

(No link-archives)

Citizens' group to support Nifong
Organization aims to counterbalance criticism of DA
Herald-Sun, The (Durham, NC)
August 28, 2006
Author: JOHN STEVENSON jstevenson@heraldsun.com; 419-6643
Estimated printed pages: 3

Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong, who faces a write-in rival on the November ballot as well as an effort to recall him from office, now has a group on his side.
A "Citizens for Mike Nifong Committee" has formed, aimed largely at counterbalancing a torrent of criticism Nifong has weathered over his handling of the controversial Duke University lacrosse case.

The new group was organized by Kim Brummell, a corporate security officer and writer, and community activist Victoria Peterson. Their goal is to keep Nifong in office when the November general election rolls around.

The chief prosecutor faces competition from Steve Monks, chairman of the local Republican Party who is running as an unaffiliated write-in candidate.

In addition, a group of voters calling itself the "Committee to Recall Nifong -- Vote Cheek" recently was formed to oust the district attorney.

That organization is urging people to vote for Lewis Cheek, a county commissioner who has said he would not serve even if elected.

Still, his name will be on the November ballot because about 10,000 voters petitioned the Board of Elections to have it placed there.

If Cheek won the district attorney election, the governor would have to appoint someone to serve in his place.

Nifong has worked in the Durham District Attorney's Office for roughly 28 years. He received a gubernatorial appointment to head the agency last year after his predecessor, Jim Hardin Jr., became a judge.

In an interview last week, Nifong said he was pleased about the "Citizens for Mike Nifong Committee." But he said he had nothing to do with forming it.

"They came to me and told me what they had done," Nifong said of Brummell and Peterson. "I was very pleased. It made me feel good."

Nifong conceded he has received an avalanche of criticism over the lacrosse case, in which Collin Finnerty, Reade Seligmann and David Evans are accused of sexually assaulting an exotic dancer during an off-campus party at 610 N. Buchanan Blvd. in mid-March.

But Nifong insisted that the negative attention was not the full story.

"The great majority of the feedback I receive is very positive," Nifong said. "All of the sentiment in Durham is not to remove me from office. There are people who feel very strongly that I should remain. That's encouraging. It's a very positive response, and I'm grateful for it."

Brummell said 51 people as of last week had expressed possible interest in joining the effort to keep Nifong in office. The group will hold an organizational meeting Thursday.

Brummell said she was aware that many people have called for dismissal of the lacrosse case, citing an apparent lack of incriminating DNA evidence and various purported inconsistencies and contradictions in the accuser's version of events.

But Brummell said such questions should be left to a jury.

"We feel Mike Nifong is the best person to handle the lacrosse case and other cases as well," she said. "If Mike Nifong was to lose the election, there would be a slimmer chance of this [lacrosse] case going to trial. Mr. Nifong has proved his loyalty to the case. We feel the case should go to trial. It should be decided by a jury and not by the court of public opinion."

Peterson agreed.

"I do not want this case thrown out or dismissed," she said. "I believe Mr. Nifong will take it all the way to the end."

Peterson said she believed Nifong also was best qualified to handle all of Durham's other criminal cases, too.

"Mr. Nifong has almost 30 years of experience here in Durham County," Peterson added. "You have a man who knows what he is doing. ... Steve Monks is too new. He doesn't have the history. He's only been in Durham a few years. You have to know the land to be district attorney."

(snip)

More on Peterson here:

http://johninnorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2006/08/duke-lacrosse-nifong-campaign-disaster.html