[Duke Lacrosse] Anyone-but-Nifong drive takes shape
- From: "Michael Snyder" <msnyder@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 22:39:56 -0700
This is a few weeks old, but I missed it, so you may have too...
http://www.newsobserver.com/145/story/469318.html
Anyone-but-Nifong drive takes shape
Benjamin Niolet, Staff Writer
DURHAM - A committee formed Wednesday will raise money to have anyone but
Mike Nifong appointed the next district attorney, and a lawyer announced
that he will wage a write-in candidacy for the job.
Earlier this week, Nifong, who has been under harsh criticism over his
handling of rape charges against three Duke University lacrosse players,
sent a letter to supporters asking for a "substantial contribution" to help
him run "an aggressive, highly visible campaign."
District attorney elections typically feature a long-serving incumbent who
quietly cruises to a win. But the activity Wednesday foretells a busy
campaign season that will have three efforts aggressively raising money and
battling over the events leading up to one criminal case in a county that
handles more than 50,000 new cases a year.
Durham Board of Elections officials on Wednesday certified 100 signatures
for lawyer and county Republican Party Chairman Steve Monks. A blank line
over the words "(write in)" will appear on the November ballot for his name.
Nifong had all but locked up the job after he beat two lawyers in the
Democratic primary in May. But criticism over his handling of the lacrosse
case, particularly his statements to reporters before anyone was indicted,
led to a successful petition drive to have county Commissioner Lewis Cheek
added to the ballot as an independent candidate. Cheek then announced that
he would not run, nor would he accept the job -- although he would vote for
himself. If Cheek were to win and turn down the job, the governor would
appoint the next district attorney.
Nifong was on vacation and could not be reached.
On Wednesday, a Durham resident organized a political action committee
called "Committee to Recall Nifong--Vote Cheek." The treasurer of the group,
Thomas Muellenbach, listed a telephone number that was busy Wednesday
afternoon. A spokeswoman for the group, Beth Brewer of Durham, declined to
comment.
According to the group's initial filing, it had not raised any money.
Monks said in an interview that he is encouraging people to consider voting
for him before they cast their vote for Cheek and therefore anyone but
Nifong.
"There are some people who will be irritated because they feel my candidacy
may neutralize their efforts to get rid of Mike," Monks said. "The
frustration that I have is the folks that I hear who are all supporters of
this alternative don't know me and I don't know them."
Monks' name will be the only write-in that election officials will count,
Elections Director Mike Ashe said. Before the election, officials will
devise a list of close spellings of Monks' name that will still count.
Judges at the precinct will check the write-in votes against that list, and
the elections board will later certify the results.
Staff writer Benjamin Niolet can be reached at 956-2404 or
bniolet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
.
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