Drought is getting political

This week several Raleigh City Council members waded into the debate over water use after public utility officials admitted the city's current conservation plan doesn't appear to be working.

Councilman Thomas Crowder took the biggest step, suggesting that perhaps the city should have a tiered rate system where people who use the most water pay the highest rates. If other council members join Crowder in asking for such changes, it would mark a political shift. The City Council earlier balked at implementing many of the stricter rules proposed by a water-conservation task force.

The city's initial alternate-day watering restrictions may have been politically palatable, but they are not effective. Though most Triangle water systems say they learned their lesson from the 2002 drought, Raleigh appears to be a slow learner.

If there's no significant rainfall between now and Oct. 9, the city's response to the issue could become an election issue.

BRYAN ELECTED: Wake Commissioner Joe Bryan was elected last Saturday as the second vice president of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners. After a series of one-year terms, Bryan will ascend up the organization to serve as president in 2010.

Bryan, who has served on the Wake board since 2002, won the statewide post with the help of a speech given in his support by a fellow commissioner, Betty Lou Ward, herself a past president of the state organization.

"I think he'll make a good president because he has a lot of governmental experience," Ward said of her colleague this week. "He asks a lot of questions and he's always looking to the future."

POLITICAL TRAIL

* DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: The Democratic Women of Wake County will meet Thursday at the N.C. State University Club, 4200 Hillsborough St. The buffet lines open at 11:30 a.m. and the program starts at noon. The luncheon costs $13.

For reservations contact info@dwwc.net or call Martha Farmer at 782-1272 by 10 a.m.Tuesday. If you have a reservation and cannot attend, contact the group at the above e-mail address or phone number.

* DEMOCRATS: The Western Wake Democrats meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Glenaire Retirement Center, 1000 Glenaire Circle in Cary.

* PARTY: The Ed Ridpath campaign end of summer party will be Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Bass Lake Retreat, 900 Bass Lake Road in Holly Springs. There's no admission fee, but the suggested donation is $25.

For more, call 567-2099 or visit www.EdRidpath.com.

* MITT ROMNEY: Gov. Mitt Romney will make his first formal appearance in North Carolina since he announced his candidacy for president at a campaign fundraiser at the home of Jim and Leslie Rutherford, 2521 Sharon View Lane in Raleigh. It will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The cost is $500 per person or $1,000 per couple.

For tickets or RSVPs, interested parties should contact Tara Kreider at 827-0373 or tkreider@kohnassociates.net.

* REPUBLICANS: The Western Wake Republican Club meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at Bentley's American Grill 2007 Walnut St., Cary. Dinner is from 6 to 7 p.m.

For more information, visit www.westernwakegop.org or call Vinnie DeBenedetto, 363-1967.

* REPUBLICANS: The Wake County Capital Area Republican Club will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Casa Carbone Restaurant, 6019-A Glenwood Ave. in Oak Park Shopping Center. Dinner is $18.

For more, call 846-6652.