'09 elections: Bell back for mayor; will Council seats roll?

As we noted here yesterday, Ray Gronberg's New Years Day story in the Herald-Sun did a nice job wrapping up the current rumors and murmurs about 2009's municipal elections.

The interesting story over the past few months has revolved around Mayor Bell, and whether he'd choose to run again this fall. It was widely assumed that Bell's 2007 run against conservative Thomas Stith was Bell's swan song for the mayor's seat, with reports abounding that Bell had told persons close to him that he wouldn't run again.

As of three months ago, we here at BCR still were hearing that story from most -- but not all -- sources, with a growing tide of voices suggesting that Bell was considering a run for a fifth term.

All of which puts Cora Cole-McFadden (Ward 1) and Mike Woodard (Ward 3), both of whom had been reported to have been eyeing the center of the dais.

As Gronberg notes, both of these Council members would enter the race with a leg up on possible challengers. Woodard defeated incumbent John Best Jr. with 72% of his ward's vote; Cole-McFadden bested perennial candidate Victoria Peterson with 76% of the tally.

Frank Hyman would make an intriguing challenger for Ward 1 or mayor -- two opportunities the H-S notes the one-time Council member and long-time political wag has considered.

Certainly Hyman would be able to do well in progressive districts in west-central Durham, places like Duke Park, Trinity Park and the like where the People's Alliance has had a relatively strong voice. These provided Hyman with his greatest vote totals in 1997, when he lost the Ward 1 seat.

Although Brenda Burnette ended up winning the election, the late Harry Rodenhizer actually bested Burnette and Hyman in the primary, with the ex-mayor Rodenhizer doing well in more suburban areas of the city.

Could Hyman provide a challenge to Cole-McFadden by absorbing those votes against Cole-McFadden? Perhaps, particularly depending on what happens with the still-quiet legal issues the incumbent has faced around her alleged involvement in city administrative decisions over the management of the DATA bus system. Certainly one has to look beyond Cole-McFadden's pure vote total in '05, since Peterson's presence in the race was likely to send many votes in the incumbent's way that election.

Cole-McFadden's first run for the Council in 2001 saw her get most of the key local endorsements against then-president of the Duke Park Neighborhood Association, Jeffery White -- making this the first election, should she face a challenge from a candidate like Hyman, that Cole-McFadden would be tested with a track record behind her.

In Ward 2, longtime incumbent Howard Clement continues to look like the most vulnerable of the three; he's remained in office since the 1980s yet has not commanded the same large majorities as Cole-McFadden and Woodard did last time around. Back in '97, he managed 56% of the vote; 61% (against Michael Peterson) in 2001; and 60% in 2005 against Regina Stanley-King.

Still, Clement has strong name recognition and a populism-conservatism on social matters in particular that polls well in the city -- in 2005, he polled very well in rural northern and eastern Durham, as well as in historically black districts. (While Council members in Ward seats must live in their district, they are voted on city-wide.)

The potential entry of Bill Kalkhof or the Rev. Mel Whitley into the race, as speculated by the H-S, would be interesting moves from that perspective. It would likely take a robust, well-financed campaign to unseat Clement and his likely support from long-term voters.

Of course, there's no word on who might challenge Bell -- though given his decision to run for re-election, and after Stith's expensive loss in 2007, it's hard to imagine a serious candidate standing in for the race.

Comments

[Todd]

I hope we will see strong, well qualified challengers in each race. Each incumbent should have to answer for their actions (or lack of) in office, and Durham voters should be able to pick the best possible candidate, incumbent or not.

[Will]

I'm genuinely disappointed that Bell is running again.

[RWE]

I truly appreciate Howard Clements' decades of public service, but it's time for him to move on. We need less political BS and more creative leadership.

[TT]

I have my fingers crossed hoping that Mike Woodard will run. He would be an exceptional candidate. From my limited experience in the last few years as an involved citizen/enviro-community activist, he stands out among the the hardest working and savviest in city hall. He's a very good listener and a clear communicator and always has a jovial sense of humor. It is rare to go to any meeting of any committee in city hall or the community and not find him present, prepared, and getting things done. -TT

[Barry]

"(While Council members in Ward seats must live in their district, they are voted on city-wide.)"

This remains the single most stupid component of Durham's city politics.

[J]

Maybe we can elect a Mayor that will show up on time and won't fall asleep at City Council Meetings!

[Visconti]

Even though I voted for Bell, I regard him as a do nothing mayor. We need someone with a vision and I would like to see Mike Woodard enter the race. As TT says, Woodard would be an outstanding candidate. I would also like to see someone progressive challenge Cora Cole-McFadden.

[Visconti]

Even though I voted for Bell, I regard him as a do nothing mayor. We need someone with a vision and I would like to see Mike Woodard enter the race. As TT says, Woodard would be an outstanding candidate. I would also like to see someone progressive challenge Cora Cole-McFadden.

[TheRatUnderTheCenterDias]

I actually think Bill Bell, while a Democrat, does a good job of keeping the horrifying local dem party, with all of its self-anointed leaders, from running amok in this town. That alone is a great service to Durham.

As for Mike Woodard, honestly, I think Mike is wasted on the City Council and would be wasted as Mayor. Mike needs to get on the state office track and run for NC House or Senate. He's honest, hardworking, smart and plays well with others -- he could really help NC beyond Durham.

[Natalie]

I agree, Mike Woodard does play well with others. I would be very sad indeed if he left City Council. Let him run it and the city by all means, but he needs to stay in Durham for a little while.

[CJ]

I appreciate Eugene Brown and his common sense and no nonsense approach to Durham government. I addition could run for mayor without risking his council seat.

[4e656d6f]

Howard Clement does not live in his ward and should be disqualified from running. This is common knowledge, and an all-too-common problem in Durham.

[joe]

This is not trolling.

What is Woodard's vision for Durham? Is it different than Bell's?

[citizen kane]

I look at the sad group of people running against H Clement and think this sleeping buffoon will get in again. Does he really live in his ward,he sold his home on Weaver St.