[Durham INC] New from the Rev-elution
Carl Kenney
revcwkii at hotmail.com
Fri May 18 07:47:31 EDT 2012
Given the other options, the point I attempted to make is a need to allow the process to play out. Placing Foster on the board prior to the election leaves voters feeling his winning is a done deal. As true as that may be, it's not done until the fat man sings. My recommendation of Daniels is based on her experience in county government - something that Wilson lacks. If the objective is to move forward with both feet on the ground, it seems logical to select a person with that experience. This is not an "anybody but Foster" campaign. The real issue is, why Foster now. This is a bad situation created out of a selfish act on the part of Bowser. It is all rooted in a politically hostile environment stirred by systems that eats their young while building high fences to protect their territory. My suggestion is simple. Back off the politics long enough to make this simple decision. This is not a popularity contest. It's about what is best for Durham. Foster lacks county government experience. He will get his turn. That is if the primary vote holds firm. Until then, pause. Relax and look at the bigger picture. Who is most capable of jumping into this massive fire for six months. Daniels makes sense. Love her or not, it's the most logical decision to make.
Dr. Carl W. Kenney II15 Ocean Ct.Durham, NC 27704(919) 530-0582
Pastor of Compassion Ministries of Durham
Author of the novels Preacha' Man and Backslide (Trafford Publishing)Freelance columnist with The Durham News (www.thedurhamnews.com)Blogger at Rev-elution.blogspot.com
"Beyond the door of pain is the vision of a new day. Open that door" Carl W. Kenney II from the soon to be released novel Rolling the Stones
CC: revcwkii at hotmail.com; inc-list at rtpnet.org
From: kjj1bg at yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [Durham INC] New from the Rev-elution
Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 20:30:22 -0400
To: mmr121570 at yahoo.com
I agree with Melissa. If by some strange fluke Foster didn't survive the November election, which I can't imagine, then he would only serve 6 months. This is exactly the same outcome as if any of the alternates Kenney mentions were appointed. None of the alternatives were elected by voters in the recent primary, while Foster came in second. It baffles me, all this agonizing to find what seems to be an "anybody but Foster" candidate. It smells very fishy to me.
Sent from my iPhone. Take typos and autocorrect errors lightly please.
On May 17, 2012, at 5:44 PM, Melissa Rooney <mmr121570 at yahoo.com> wrote:
If there is issue with Foster taking Bowser's interim commissioner position, then Wendy Jacobs is the next voter's choice. If that upsets anyone, then Will Wilson should be next in line -- if the commissioners are to do what their Durham constituents clearly want.
Melissa
From: Carl Kenney <revcwkii at hotmail.com>
To: inc-list at durhaminc.org
Sent:
Thursday, 17 May 2012 3:17 PM
Subject: [Durham INC] New from the Rev-elution
Anita Daniels deserves the nod to replace Joe Bowser on the Board of County Commissioners
It’s only six months. Right? Selecting someone to complete
the term vacated by Joe Bowser is no big deal. Right? Members of the Durham Board of County
Commissioners can easily make that decision. Right?
Hold on, wait a minute.
This is Durham, NC, and there is no such thing as an easy decision. The last time members of the Board of County
Commissioner were stuck with the same task they ended up picking Pam Karriker, a
supporter of Amendment One. Her short
stint on the board is a reminder that not everyone living in Durham has tolerance
oozing from their bones.
Karriker, along with
her four comrades, have been stuck with the charge of replacing Joe Bowser
after he was taken to the wood shed and given an old fashion beat down during
the primary. Old Joe’s feelings were so hurt
that he decided to take his toys and go home.
Picking a person to serve a six month term is a thorny task
when placed within the context of Durham’s old school political culture. The most heartbreaking part of how things get
done in Durham is how virtually everything is tied to an antiquated system that
fails to serve the average Jane and Joe citizen. Those squeaky wheels get all of the
attention, and, at the end of the day, what is best is often compromised to
satisfy the interest of someone holding the perception of power.
That’s why the best person to replace Bowser – for six
months – may get overlooked. That person
is Anita Daniels.
This six month term of duty is tied to a system that demands
being fed bits of morsels from the table of power. On that table are old names that represent,
in the minds of those holding power, the essence of credibility. Only a few are allowed to sit at the
table. It’s a system that feeds on its
own while frustrating the growth within footsteps of actualization.
The characters at the table are few. Fred Foster, Jr., who placed near the top among
those receiving votes in the primary election, is the favorite among Bill Bell
and others who have chimed in on Bowser’s replacement. Foster’s showing during the primary, combined
with Wendy Jacob’s willingness to bow out of taking office early, is why it
will be difficult for Commissioners to pass on his taking office.
Hold my mule. That
may be politically advantageous, but Daniels is the one for the job. Why?
I take serious issue with Foster taking office prior to relinquishing
his role as President of the Durham NAACP.
There is nothing within the guidelines of the NAACP or with the Board of
County Commissioners that negate his right to hold both offices; however, serving
in both capacities reflect a lack of sensitivity to the potential of serious
conflicts of interest. The work of the
NAACP will be compromised by having a President who can’t speak on behalf of
the organization due to his role as a member of the Board of County Commissioners.
There is also the matter of the November election. It appears that Omar Beasley will be placed
on the ballot along with the five Democrats who survived the primary. Although Foster was on top of the heap among
those who collected votes, the will of the people is still in question, and we
can’t assume that Foster will survive in November. By appointing Foster before the November
election, Foster is granted footing over
others who remain in the competition.
Phil Cousins, chair of the Durham Committee on the Affairs
of Black People, is a favorite among many.
Cousins is capable of entering the work with both feet on the ground due
to having served as a County Commissioner.
He brings knowledge that will make for a smooth transition. The problem with Cousins is his current role
as Chair of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People. Although the Durham Committee’s Political
Committee is not chaired by Cousins, serving the Board of County Commissioners
would be a major conflict of interest due to the November election. Not to mention that Cousins has a tough task
in convincing people that Lavonia Allison isn’t pulling the strings of the
organization.
Another option would be to seek the service of another
former commissioner. The most likely choice
would be Maryann Black, who currently serves on the staff at Duke
Medicine. Becky Heron, who resigned from
the board last year, is another possibility, but don’t hold your breath.
The other option would be to select from the list of those
who lost during the primary. There are
two who stand out: Anita Daniels and Elaine Hyman. Both have experience in
county government as department heads.
Daniels, in addition to her experience as an executive with the United
Way, has worked in city government.
Daniels gets the nod over Hyman due to her strong showing
during the primary. Although it’s only
six months, those at the table are passing on the one waving to get their
attention.
In my opinion, it's the best move to make. But, who am I? I'm not at the freaking table.
Dr. Carl W. Kenney II15 Ocean Ct.Durham, NC 27704(919) 530-0582
Pastor of Compassion Ministries of Durham
Author of the novels Preacha' Man and Backslide (Trafford Publishing)Freelance columnist with The Durham News (www.thedurhamnews.com)Blogger at Rev-elution.blogspot.com
"Beyond the door of pain is the vision of a new day. Open that door" Carl W. Kenney II from the soon to be released novel Rolling the Stones
From: revcwkii at hotmail.com
To:
christinebbd at yahoo.com; inc-list at durhaminc.org
Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 19:14:54 +0000
Subject: Re: [Durham INC] SWCD should be at the table wrt Trinity Park Fitness Center site plan(s)
I love that Mike came to the defense of city staff. Class act!
Dr. Carl W. Kenney II15 Ocean Ct.Durham, NC 27704(919) 530-0582
Pastor of Compassion Ministries of Durham
Author of the novels Preacha' Man and Backslide (Trafford Publishing)Freelance columnist with The Durham News (www.thedurhamnews.com)Blogger at Rev-elution.blogspot.com
"Beyond the door of pain is the vision of a new day. Open that door" Carl W. Kenney II from the soon to be released novel Rolling the Stones
Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 12:10:05 -0700
From:
christinebbd at yahoo.com
To: inc-list at durhaminc.org
Subject: Re: [Durham INC] SWCD should be at the table wrt Trinity Park Fitness Center site plan(s)
Hi Mike, When I read Melissa's comment, I read it in the full context, and she was not saying our city staff would do a second rate job. The way I understood it to read, she said 'reinventing the wheel' could create the possibility that a second rate job might be a result. I thought I'd point this out, and hope this helps!
I agree that the SWCD staff is hard-working and very dedicated. I've first hand experience in the past with Mike
Dupree and Eddie Culbertson. We are fortunate to have their talent working in Durham.
Christine ChamberlainGrove Park residentMaster Gardener - Durham County Extension officeWonders of Wetlands Facilitator
From: Mike Woodard <mike at mikewoodard.com>
To: Melissa Rooney <mmr121570 at yahoo.com>; INC <inc-list at rtpnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2012 12:56 PM
Subject: Re: [Durham INC] SWCD should be at the table wrt Trinity Park Fitness Center site plan(s)
Melissa:
I will check on this request, but I have to be honest: your comment about the City staff ("...to likely do a second-rate job as a result.") was unfair. Our city is served by talented, hard-working, and dedicated professionals, including our Public Works staff.
Mike Woodard
_______________________________________________
Durham INC Mailing List
list at durham-inc.org
http://www.durham-inc.org/list.html
_______________________________________________
Durham INC Mailing List
list at durham-inc.org
http://www.durham-inc.org/list.html
_______________________________________________
Durham INC Mailing List
list at durham-inc.org
http://www.durham-inc.org/list.html
_______________________________________________
Durham INC Mailing List
list at durham-inc.org
http://www.durham-inc.org/list.html
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://rtpnet.org/pipermail/inc-list/attachments/20120518/bf6573a9/attachment.html>
More information about the INC-list
mailing list