As the election cycle moves closer to the October 6 primary, the Durham Committee's endorsements just over ten days ago continue to reverberate in the local body politic.
The most intriguing thing to come from this weekend: independent reports from the field that campaigners for Ward 1 challenger Donald Hughes were also handing out materials for the campaign of Ward 2 challenger Sylvester Williams.
The reports created buzz among some local political watchers about whether Williams, passed over for the Durham Committee endorsement in favor of political long-timer Howard Clement, was making up for the lack of the DCABP's nod by teaming up in some way with Hughes, who's been running a very well-organized campaign against two-termer Cora Cole-McFadden.
It also raised the obvious questions about the strength of support for Clement among Committee leadership, particularly after DCABP powerhouse Lavonia Allison
emphasized the "extremely close" vote in the Clement-Williams endorsement race, and after a commenter (who appears from their username to be the well-connected Lois Murphy) noted in the comments
While there may have been only ten Political Committee members who were eligible to vote present at the endorsement [Cole-McFadden received four of ten votes, a point "lmurphy" was responding to --BCR], their recommendation to endorse Donald Hughes represents the majority of members of the Committee, spoke volumes, and sent a very strong message to present and future candidates, which is no more business as usual. Therefore, Cora Cole-McFadden should not take the recommendation lightly. Just last election season, Joe Bowser was the top vote getter in the race for Durham County Board of Commissioners. He received only one endorsement, which was from the Committee.
And although the Clement-Williams race wasn't mentioned here, the cry of "no more business as usual" epitomizes what some have seen as an increasing activism on the part of the Committee -- perhaps buoyed by a self-assessment of power after last year's unusual election cycle.
Which led some to speculate: is Hughes' well-oiled, social media-friendly campaign reaching out to support a challenger who apparently reflected the will of at least a good number of Committee members?
Reached by email Sunday night, Hughes demurred on the notion of a formal linkage of cross-endorsement in the campaigns.
"There are, without a doubt, Hughes supporters that are also Williams supporters and vice versa. There are also Hughes supporters that happen to be Clement supporters," Hughes said.
"I have no authority, nor is it my desire, to tell any of my supporters which candidates they can or cannot support in the other races," he continued.
Hughes also said that the Committee didn't involve itself in the "day-to-day operations" of campaigns besides their get-out-the-vote efforts and endorsement slates, and that Committee chair Allison, from his experience, "has given my campaign the same level of support as Councilman Clement's campaign in the days since the endorsement meeting."
One BCR source noted that a Hughes campaign volunteer provided both flyers for both the Williams and Hughes campaigns at a community event on Saturday, a move that's come on the heel of what's been described as personal warmth between the two candidates at public events.
A second source had independently described collaboration between the campaign's volunteer bases and resources.
.....
Whether or not the campaigns are formally collaborating, Williams appeared to readily come to Hughes' defense in an email missive to local activist Frank Hyman that's been making the rounds -- especially after Williams cc'ed most of the local media and political establishment on the story.
Hyman opined in a Saturday column for The Durham News that the election's outcome is "a foregone conclusion," since none of the challengers had experience on City or County-appointed government boards.
Describing these boards as the "appointed vineyards of Durham civic life" and saying that time spent on them is part of building coalitions and relationships that help candidates win, Hyman was pessimistic on any challenger winning without that background.
Williams took strong exception to Hyman's argument, claiming that his time on the East End Connector ad hoc committee and a youth services advisory board were relevant examples of that kind of service -- and blasting the Hyman-linked People's Alliance in the process.
The candidate apparently "grilled" by the PA, we'd assume for his stand-up support for the 751 assemblage development during Board of County Commissioners meetings this spring? Donald Hughes.
To buttress my position that they are not well informed, one candidate for city council was grilled for the majority of his interview time on Jordan Lake because of environmental concerns. During my interview session with the PA, I made them aware of environmental issues related to the East End Connector (remember, I am on the Ad-Hoc Committee). They were not aware and seemed dismissive in my attempt to make them aware of environmental issues facing other parts of Durham.
Another important point that I think you and the PA miss. My position as Pastor of a local church forces me to deal with all kinds of people. They are white, black, Hispanic and usually poor. Not a single question was asked by PA about the collaborative effort when Hurricane Katrina hit, my service for Meals On Wheels where once again we serve all races of people, or my time serving as a chair for United Way.
Christ Jesus, the Son of the Living God, commands us to love our neighbors and our enemies. It is an insult to me as a Pastor to say that I have not reached out to others through civic duties, regardless of race.
