Hunting for a lawmaker's ear

Victim's relatives lobby legislators on death penalty, if they can get a meeting

RALEIGH -- Lee Peacock and his relatives learned Wednesday that it's hard to get face time with those in power.

Peacock, his mother, aunt, uncle and a family friend wandered the white-walled maze that is the legislative building in Raleigh to tell lawmakers about his murdered grandmother. They wanted to lobby lawmakers to end the death penalty standstill that has thrown into question whether their grandmother's killer will be executed. Death row inmate James E. Williams, 44, murdered Elvie Marie Rhodes, 64, on Valentine's Day 1991 in Randolph County.

On Wednesday morning, Peacock and his relatives were armed with a map to the legislative buildings, guidebooks with photos of all the lawmakers and a determination to have lawmakers hear their story. They had tried before to set up appointments. Despite hours of effort, they spoke to only three of the 10 lawmakers they tried to meet.

"Their experience is probably the norm for most people. Legislators have very busy schedules," said Chris Heagarty with the N.C. Center for Voter Education. With committee hearings, caucus meetings and session, Heagarty said there is little time for open office hours, even for those with a personal connection to one of the state's most contentious issues.

"Even the mighty and powerful in the state have to sit outside those doors and wait," Heagarty said.

Bob Phillips with Common Cause North Carolina said lawmakers in Raleigh are easier to track down than those in Washington. "It's been my experience generally that they do try to meet with citizens," Phillips said.

But by the end of the day Wednesday, Peacock and his family were frustrated, though they said they were not discouraged.

Peacock, 36, of Denver, N.C., and his relatives want lawmakers to support legislation to prevent the N.C. Medical Board from disciplining doctors for participating in executions. Prison officials have said they can't find doctors willing to put their medical licenses at risk.

Since January, five inmates have had executions canceled. A judge halted them after questions about whether the state's execution procedures put inmates at risk of being conscious when heart-stopping drugs are administered. The courts are also dealing with the question of what role, if any, doctors should play to ensure inmates don't experience painful executions. So far, Gov. Mike Easley and Democrats who control the legislature said they are prepared to wait until the courts rule to resolve the impasse, which could take years.

The de facto death penalty moratorium motivated Peacock and his extended family to become political. This was their second trip to the legislature since February. They had driven to Raleigh from Thomasville, Archdale and Lexington.

Peacock's mother, Judy, said they tried to arrange meetings with several lawmakers beforehand but were often told by the staff that it was easier to try to catch legislators in the office.

They brought pamphlets to hand out to legislators with crime-scene photos and details of Rhodes' murder. Rhodes' face was so badly beaten that one of her sons could identify her only by looking at her hands and the shirt she was wearing. Peacock said they wanted the pamphlet to convey this message: "This is why we're out here, and this is what can happen."

The family struck out with their first four lawmakers. "This is the way it was the last time -- hit or miss, hit or miss," Peacock's aunt, Ginger Crouse said.

At House Speaker Joe Hackney's office, an assistant said he would be busy all day with meetings. But she took Peacock's cell phone number if Hackney became available.