[Durham INC] Ward Redistricting

[Darius Mercedes Little]

This is not an issue at all and I was hoping nobody would email about the matter (we almost made it!).

For the record: Dick, you have a right to address any matter you wish, so I'm moreso mocking the "issue," not your desiring discussion on the matter.

My position (which I will publicly state to the City Council when I pull the item):

1.  The City Staff made a proposal which was fair and frankly, even-keeled;

2.  Woodcroft is not the first neighborhood that would be partially divided (recently, a couple neighborhoods in Precinct 34 were split -1/2 now voting at the Ivy House on Fayetteville Rd, while the other 1/2 vote at Pearsontown). No neighborhoods made a stink about the matter;

3. The City Council has shown an inclination to stick with City Staff on most proposals.  On the very few occasions when I've witnessed the Council not going along with a staff recommendation it was due to (a) a high propensity for some legal liability which would likely result in the City being culpable for some type-of administrative negligence, or (b) an extremely convincing, broad-based, public outcry.  

I'm with Pro Tem McFadden on this one: I'm involved in a LOT of organizations in Durham and besides the Herald Sun report, I've heard NOTHING about the matter.  And the few people who've discussed it today wondered what was the big deal and decried the Statewide Redistricting as what the community should be bemoaning, not the moving of 2-precincts for City Ward purposes.

I'd note: I saw very few people from Durham at the Statewide Redistricting Hearings (I attended and spoke at every meeting, whether local, or in Raleigh), so I'd hope that people don't try to stir-up this non-issue.

4. We have "at large" seats for a reason;

5. Any overturning of City Staff's recommendation should be based on a well-explained, and easily revealed, combination of both 3(a) and 3(b).  I do not see that happening;

6. Any individual citizen's desire to run for elective office should not be so important, that it results in the local media using such as a foundation to affect Council decision-making;

7. I ran against Howard Clement, the longest-continuous-serving elected official in Durham.  Mr. Clement, post election, has become a great friend and mentor.  He is a good man and if it was inappropriate for me, in 2009 to address what I deemed to be concerns as to his running another term, it is vastly inappropriate now, for the media, or anyone else, to disrespect Mr. Clement's service by openly discussing alleged health deficiencies, potential successors and discussing his stability.  

The media attempted to castrate me for making what appeared to me to be obvious observations, so I don't want to see them now discussing Mr. Clement's health, or meeting attendance.  

8.  If Mr. Kalkhof wants to run for City Council, I'd encourage him to be a leader and challenge Mike Woodard.

Everyone else has to pay their dues - I don't see why he should receive any governmental support in lodging his campaign.

And again, this is nothing against Kalkhof (I like the guy for the most part), I'm just stating the rules of Durham Politics: if you think you have something to offer the City Council, you run, no matter where you live, or who the incumbent may be.

Running against Howard Clement was the best thing in my life - it opened many doors for me, including with Mr. Clement himself.  

I'd encourage all future candidates to run because it's in your heart, not based upon who you might be running against.  Durham is no place for the feint of heart.

Your INC Brother,

Darius







--------------------------

Darius M. Little
Executive Business Consultant  and
Strategic Marketing Analyst

(web) www.linkedin.com/in/dariuslittle
 
Manta Business Profile/Report: 
http://www.manta.com/c/mtlwj1m/little-s-business-consulting

 
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." [Matt 21:22]

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Ford <rbford at aim.com>
Sender: inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:35:34 
To: <inc-list at durhaminc.org>
Subject: [Durham INC] Ward Redistricting

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