Durham Committee announces endorsements

The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People is officially and "overwhelmingly" opposed to Durham County's proposed 1-percent prepared-food tax, committee chairwoman Lavonia Allison said today.

"There was long, long discussion," Allison said. "Plenty of discussion."

Allison said that the committee opposed the tax increase because they considered it regressive toward low-income taxpayers.

The tax would primarily pay for recreational amenities such as museums and parks, and for some marketing, beautification and workforce training.

The committee's food-tax position was a key item among the committee's endorsements for the Nov. 4 general election. The endorsements, which can play a significant role in close elections because of the committee's political influence in the county, came Saturday after a week of candidate interviews and approval by the membership this weekend.

The committee endorsed the Democratic presidential ticket of U.S. Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan, by acclamation. For governor, it supports Democrat Bev Perdue and in the 4th Congressional District, Democratic incumbent David Price.

In local legislative races, the committee endorsed all Democratic incumbents, including state Sen. Bob Atwater in Senate District 18, Floyd B. McKissick Jr. in Senate District 20, Larry D. Hall in House District 29, Paul Luebke in House District 30, and H.M. "Mickey" Michaux, who is unopposed, in House District 31.

Allison said only candidates who requested interviews with the committee were considered for endorsement, whether or not they had opposition.

For a full list of Durham Committee endorsements, see blogs.newsobserver.com/bullseye/home.