Why would they bother with Durham? Because it's one of the three cities making up the Triangle area, one of the fastest growing metro areas of the country. (The others are Raleigh and Chapel Hill.)

Durham Herald-Sun

Bell unseats Tennyson By RONNIE GLASSBERG : The Herald-Sun rsg@herald-sun.com Nov 6, 2001 : 11:48 pm ET

DURHAM -- Armed with strong Democratic Party support, Bill Bell narrowly won the Durham mayor’s race Tuesday over two-term incumbent Nick Tennyson.

Bell edged Tennyson by 366 votes, capturing 16,205 votes, or 50.4 percent, compared to 15,839, or 49.3 percent for the incumbent, according to unofficial results.

Because of the narrow election, Elections Director Mike Ashe said he anticipates a recount. He estimates 400 provisional ballots remain to be counted.

Bell, 60, was a county commissioner for 22 years until his defeat in 1994. He rejoined the board in 1996 and was re-elected in 1998, gaining support from all four of Durham’s political groups. He didn’t seek re-election last year, citing time and family considerations.

Bell, who becomes Durham’s second black mayor, takes command Dec. 3 of the first seven-member City Council. Compared to the existing pro-development council, the new body is likely to be divided on development.

Three members are strongly supportive and three are more critical. Lewis Cheek has a pro-growth voting record, but has gained the support of slow-growth advocates.

The vote leaves a City Council with two female and five black members. Critics of the council reduction from 13 to seven members, which voters approved in December 1998, had warned that it would reduce the group’s diversity.

Bell, a registered Democrat, relied on heavy party support in the nonpartisan race. Former President Bill Clinton recorded a call touting Bell that was placed Monday night to thousands of Democratic voters.

And Tuesday, the party used a sound truck and seven or eight vans to encourage turnout for all the Democratic City Council candidates. About 150 party volunteers distributed 15,000 fliers.

Terry McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, had earlier flown in to endorse Bell.

Tennyson, a registered Republican, has led the city for the past two terms even though 62 percent of city voters are registered as Democrats.

"Everybody knows it’s a nonpartisan race, but it doesn’t mean because it’s a nonpartisan race that you can’t rely on your party. I’m a Democrat," Bell said. "I’m going to do the best I can if I’m elected. I’m not declaring a victory. … I’m pleased."

At 8:38 p.m. Tennyson’s two sons, Charlie and Andy, shook their father’s hand and left just before Bell’s arrival at the Old County Courthouse.

"I think a lot of people will speculate on what made this happen. But as for me, I’ve been proud to be mayor for the past four years," Tennyson said. "I haven’t conceded. Obviously, I’d rather be ahead than behind."

Tennyson later congratulated Bell "on the fact that apparently the voters have chosen you."

Bell had the backing of the left-liberal People’s Alliance, the liberal Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People and the city workers’ union. Tennyson ran with the backing of the moderate-liberal Durham Voters’ Alliance, the moderate-conservative Friends of Durham and the Sierra Club.

The political split was largely the same in 1997 and 1999, but the hefty Democratic backing was missing in past years. The results are a turnaround from the primary and a dramatic shift from the past two elections.

In the primary, Tennyson received 52 percent of the vote compared to Bell’s 45 percent.

In the 1999 election, Tennyson won 62 percent of the vote, compared to 38 percent for City Councilman Floyd McKissick. The endorsements fell along similar lines. Tennyson captured 54 percent of the vote in 1997 to defeat former City Councilman Ike Robinson.

Carl Rist, co-president of the People’s Alliance, pointed to Bell’s experience, the city’s small-business loan scandal and a "strong coalition between the African-American and the progressive community."

"He’s a candidate that the progressive community can really rally behind like we haven’t been able to rally around in the past," Rist said. He believes that there will be a "philosophical shift" on the council.

Deborah Giles, who heads the political arm of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, pegged Bell’s victory to turnout and him being an "exceptional candidate."

"I’ve said all along that turnout would tell the tale in this election," she said. "In this case, we got exactly what we wanted from the African-American community."

Indeed, about 25 percent of registered city voters showed up at the polls, up from 12 percent in the primary. The heavily black precincts overwhelmingly favored Bell.

But southern Durham voters seemed to side with Tennyson. Precinct No. 16, which is closest to The Streets at Southpoint, favored Tennyson, 329 to 186.

Six of the seven candidates endorsed by the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People won Tuesday.

Lavonia Allison, chairwoman of the Durham Committee, attributed Bell’s victory in part to a focus on getting voters to the polls.

"Bill Bell is a person that has tremendous experience. He articulated a vision," she said.

As the two were walking out, Ted Benson, the chairman the Durham County Democratic Party, told her: "When we work together, we win."

But Bill Brian, past chairman of the Friends of Durham, questioned the involvement of the Democratic Party.

"I’ve been a registered independent forever, and I really believe in nonpartisanship. I don’t know how you deal with Bill Clinton calling people on the phone," he said.

Still, Brian praised Bell, saying, "I think he has all the qualities of a fine mayor." The Friends of Durham had endorsed Bell in his 1998 County Commissioners race.

Others also felt either candidate would do.

Leonard and Lee Goldman, both in their mid 70s, split on the mayor’s race, despite living near Tennyson.

Leonard Goldman backed Tennyson because he "hasn’t done anything to make me want to get rid of him."

But Lee Goldman said she preferred Bell because "he’s a little more liberal."

Eugene Brown, a past chairman of the Durham Voters’ Alliance, who had encouraged Tennyson’s candidacy four years ago, said he was surprised by the incumbent’s defeat.

"I knew it would be close, but I thought that Nick would edge Bill out," Brown said. "I think [it was] a combination of factors. The small-business loan scandal hurt all of the incumbents. The anti-growth force was probably a little stronger than we anticipated."

Oddly, Bell was among the supporters in attendance in February when Tennyson announced his re-election bid at the Golden Belt complex. Bell announced in July that he would run for mayor after more than a month of publicly weighing a bid.

Growth, crime and the small-business loan program became the pivotal issues in the election.

Bell criticized Tennyson repeatedly for not asking questions about the firm hired to run the city’s small-business loan program. The city of Raleigh had already fired the agency.

The city distributed $828,000 in federal money over the past two years to 24 businesses, many of which officials suspect don’t exist. Tennyson said that he was assured that the agency, Triangle Economic Development Corp., was reputable.

Bell also focused heavily on development and criticized Tennyson for his job as executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Durham and Orange Counties.

Tennyson has a mostly pro-development record, but he also opposed the controversial Renaissance Center at Southpoint and auto park projects in southern Durham.

During his final two years as a commissioner, Bell opposed five of the 21 rezoning cases considered, more than any other commissioner.

But environmentalists haven’t always viewed Bell as a friend, pointing to his support for sewer-line extensions as a county commissioner.

Bell also faced questions about whether he would have a conflict of interest because of his job as executive vice president at UDI Community Development Corp.

In 1999-2000, UDI received $150,000 in city housing bond money and $156,616 in city-administered federal money, according to city records. Bell pledged not to participate in any discussions related to UDI or to vote on matters that affect the nonprofit.

He is chairman of the Triangle Transit Authority board of trustees and a member of N.C. Central University’s board of trustees.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2001

Answers

Democratic Party was key for Bell By RONNIE GLASSBERG : The Herald-Sun rsg@herald-sun.com Nov 7, 2001 : 10:51 pm ET

DURHAM -- The Democratic Party spent about $25,000 to help Bill Bell secure a mayoral victory, catching incumbent Nick Tennyson’s campaign off guard and, observers say, likely costing him the election.

The effort began quietly over the summer with a two-day training session for Democratic City Council candidates and went on to Bell’s endorsement by Terry McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, who visited the Bull City specifically to back Bell.

Capping the support was a prerecorded telephone call from former President Bill Clinton to roughly 10,000 mostly black voters that encouraged them to vote for Bell.

"This is the future of the Democratic Party, and you can bet your last dollar that we’re going to be involved in these races in future years," said Scott Falmlen, executive director of the N.C. Democratic Party.

"I think you’re going to see us build on what we did this year and expand it into county offices next year, municipal offices the year after that. This is the start of a long-range plan," he said.

Despite being 1,134 votes behind in the Oct. 9 primary, Bell edged Tennyson by 366 votes Tuesday, taking 50.4 percent of the vote, compared to 49.3 percent for the two-term incumbent, according to unofficial returns.

Another 566 provisional ballots could be added today by the Durham County Board of Elections for Friday’s canvass, when the results become official.

Elections Director Mike Ashe believes most will be counted. But those ballots normally fall along the same lines as the election and aren’t likely to change the total.

A recount is normally allowed if the results are within 1 percent of the total, or 320 votes currently, Ashe said. The candidate is the only one who can request a recount, he added.

Tennyson, who hasn’t conceded, said he would wait until Friday to decide whether to ask for a recount. "We’ll just have to see how things shake out," he said.

Had he been re-elected, Tennyson would have been the first mayor to serve for more than two terms since R.W. Grabarek, who was in office from 1963 to 1971.

Many Bell and Tennyson supporters trace the outcome to the heavy involvement of the Democratic Party in the nonpartisan election. Tennyson is a registered Republican.

The political parties don’t normally contribute anything or get involved in Durham mayoral or City Council campaigns.

"The only thing that I see that changed between the primary and the general election is the Democratic National Committee became involved in the election," said Donna Dyer, Tennyson’s campaign manager. "My simple-minded analysis is that party politics made a difference in the outcome of the election."

Bell said reminding people that he is a Democrat helped him close the gap.

"I said I was going to get back to the grass-roots piece, knocking on doors and going to neighborhoods, and that’s what they were able to do [for me]," Bell said.

Bell, who focused heavily on growth, said he plans to take an airplane flight over the city today "to look at the landscape, just how Durham is from the air as far as development."

The newly elected council, which takes office Dec. 3, will have four registered Democrats and three registered Republicans, similar to the seven Democrats and six Republicans on the existing 13-member council.

Five Republicans ran in the election, but only those backed by the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People won.

The new City Council could change to partisan elections without voter approval under state statutes.

"That’s something I’m pleased to hear," said Lavonia Allison, chairwoman of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, which has favored partisan races in the past.

Partisan elections are generally viewed as favoring Democrats in Durham because 62 percent of the city is registered Democratic.

The council could change to partisan elections with a resolution, public hearing and an ordinance, but also is allowed to seek voter approval in a referendum. If the council proceeded without voter approval, a petition signed by 5,000 registered voters would force a referendum.

Lewis Cheek, a registered Democrat re-elected Tuesday, said he would oppose partisan elections. But Councilman-elect John Best Jr., a Republican, said he’s open to it.

"I’m not going to run away from that label," he said.

The state, local and national arms of the Democratic Party played a heavy role in Tuesday’s election.

The Democratic National Committee donated $4,000 to Bell’s campaign and $10,000 to the Durham County Democratic Party for get-out-the-vote efforts, said Falmlen. The county party kicked in another $5,000 to $6,000 of its own money.

That $15,000 to $16,000 paid for 15,000 fliers supporting Bell and the six Democratic City Council candidates, and to rent a sound truck to boost turnout and seven to eight vans to get voters to the polls, said Ted Benson, the county chairman.

The party also gave stipends of about $25 to some of the 150 volunteers who worked Tuesday to increase turnout, he said.

The political party spending only needs to be reported as a donation to Bell if it is coordinated with his campaign, said Don Wright, general counsel to the state Board of Elections.

"Either party on the state level, local level or national level can choose to make expenditures in a nonpartisan race," Wright said.

The state party paid $1,000 for the automatic Clinton telephone calls, which were placed Monday night and election day. The former president recorded the message for free.

And the state party spent $5,000 to mail a postcard the Friday before the election to 20,000 likely Democratic voters. Both the Clinton phone call and the mailing focused on only Bell.

"Hello, this is Bill Clinton. Your support for me over the years has meant more to me than you have ever known," Clinton said in the message.

He then encouraged a vote for Bell, adding that "every vote counts."

"So make yours count for Bill Bell for mayor," he said. "Bill is a Democrat who will do a great job for the people of Durham."

In the final week of the campaign, Achim Bergman, a member of the DNC’s political staff, was in Durham to help coordinate the get-out-the-vote effort.

Falmlen said the Republican Party has been involved in recent Raleigh mayoral elections.

For the most part, turnout in the most heavily black and Democratic precincts didn’t increase as much as in the city overall. Turnout increased from 12 percent in the Oct. 9 primary to 25 percent Tuesday.

But dramatic increases in two heavily black precincts could have made the difference.

At VFW Post 2740, 512 more voters cast ballots over the primary, a 200 percent increase. Voters there cast 590 ballots for Bell and 181 for Tennyson.

At Shepard Library, which includes N.C. Central University, 342 more voters cast ballots than in the primary, a 300 percent increase. Voters there cast 407 ballots for Bell and 50 for Tennyson.

Besides Bell, Democratic activists also believe the party’s fliers helped Cheek and Councilwoman Tamra Edwards, both re-elected Democrats.

In the primary, Councilman Dan Hill, a Republican, finished second, 742 votes ahead of Cheek. On Tuesday, Hill came in fourth, 698 votes behind Edwards, in the race for the three at-large seats.

"I think we contributed to Tamra’s win. I think we certainly helped with Lewis Cheek," Benson said.

Julie Linehan, chairwoman of the moderate-liberal Durham Voters’ Alliance, which backed Tennyson, said she plans to change her registration from Democratic to independent because of her party’s involvement in the campaign.

"I am really irritated at the intrusion of partisan politics, particularly when these folks have no knowledge of local issues or local folks," she said. "Bill Clinton and Terry McAuliffe do not know anything about Durham, North Carolina."

Only seven municipalities in the state, including Charlotte and Winston-Salem, have partisan municipal elections, Wright said. There has been dissatisfaction in Winston-Salem because of "too much party identity," he said.

"The people of Durham need to decide, and if the voters of Durham do not like the participation of partisan parties they need to show that by the way they vote," Wright said. "It’s not a decision for the local Board of Elections, the state Board of Elections."

Patrick Byker, chairman of the moderate-conservative Friends of Durham, which supported Tennyson, expects the party involvement to continue.

"Once you let the partisan genie out of the bottle, it’s going to be very, very difficult to get it back in," he said. "I rather object that partisan politics are being injected into our city of Durham election, but that seems to be what happened."

He added that he doesn’t think local issues divide along partisan lines. "I don’t think there’s really a Democratic or Republican way to fix a pothole or apprehend a criminal or pick up the garbage," he said.

But Falmlen said that Democrats take a different approach to issues such as crime-fighting even on the local level.

"We believe that people who subscribe to the Democratic philosophy are in a better position to govern," he said. "And we made a commitment to get involved in municipal and other local elections because that’s where our farm team is going to come from in years to come."

Best, who defeated incumbent Erick Larson, also a Republican, said he wishes the Republican Party had brought in someone like Elizabeth Dole.

"I would have welcomed a well-known Republican stumping in Durham," he said. "Obviously, it worked for Bill Bell."

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2001

Git, am I recalling correctly that you were stumping for the incumbent?

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2001

Yep. Afraid they've only just realized that local Democrats have started to play hardball. I hope the next election will be different, but I have my doubts. Sweetie's experience as a volunteer during the last US senatorial race was like mine--we perceived the players as "amateurs." But we still had to help, otherwise we would have no justification for bitching, lol!

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2001