The Daily Beast was correct in naming Durham, NC the most tolerant
city in America. Some of the members of
the Board of County Commissioners didn’t get the memo. A lack of leadership involving a resolution
on Amendment One has left the board at odds with those who make Durham their
home.
It was a case of too little too late. I was encouraged when Michael Page, chair of
the Board of County Commissioners, informed me of his desire to place the resolution
on the agenda at tonight’s meeting. Lowell
Siler, the county attorney, advised the board to remove the item from the
agenda after the Institute of Government informed him the resolution would put
the county at risk.
Siler contacted the Institute of Government due to opposition from
Dick
Ford, research chairman for the Durham Republican Party. In a letter sent to Siler, Ford argued that
passing a resolution during Early Voting would amount to “an impermissible use
of public resources to influence an election.”
“Clearly,
this resolution has been proposed to aid the campaign against the Marriage
Amendment,” Ford writes. “It is intended to tell Durham County voters how they
should vote.”
Ford’s
contention raises apprehension related to why the Board of County Commissioners
would consider the resolution after the start of early voting. Their passive response lends credence to
assertions that the proposal is a political maneuver to placate those critical
of a lack of leadership in opposing Amendment One.
Moving
on the resolution became politically expedient when the Durham Committee on the
Affairs of Black People moved to contest the amendment. Before then it was a political wait and
see. The lack of courage in denouncing
the amendment led the Rev-elution to not endorse any of the incumbents in the
upcoming election.
Page
responded to not receiving an endorsement with a promise to bring a resolution before
the board. That promise would have been
fulfilled at tonight’s meeting, but Ford’s dispute forced the hand of the legal
team at the county. Moving now is too
risky. The lack of courage in placing an
agenda item before the board before the start of voting raises serious
questions about the quality of leadership at the head of the board.
It’s
that hiccup in the process that impeded the board bringing attention to how the
passage of Amendment One would impact the quality of life of those living in
Durham County. Responsible leadership
advises voters of the potential harm linked to those precious votes. Ford’s problem with discussing Amendment One
now is the timing. People are
voting. Minds are made up. It’s too late.
“The
General Assembly set this referendum on the ballot months ago,” Ford writes. “The Commissioners must respect the electoral
process and let the voters decide. While they as individuals can use
their own resources to advocate, they cannot use public taxpayer funds.
Yet this is what is scheduled to occur Monday night.”
So,
why did it take the board so long to consider Amendment One? It would be too simple to blame Page for pushing
it back as he monitored the political consequences of the amendment. It would
be easy to claim he didn’t know which position to take. As a minister, I both understand and
appreciate the angst that comes with taking a stance that may be disputed by
members of the congregation.
That’s
why I define it as a lack of courage. It’s
hard to find it while waffling between divergent political camps. It took courage when Bill Bell and members of
the City Council took a position on the amendment long before the local
political action committees voiced an opinion.
They moved based on conviction, not what is politically expedient. That’s courage. That’s leadership.
Ellen
Reckhow, vice-chair of the Board of County Commissioners, has shown courage in opposing
the Amendment from the beginning. She
signed a letter on September 11, 2011 with leaders representing seven of eight
state jurisdictions offering domestic partner benefits. The open letter to “Members
of the North Carolina General Assembly,” was also signed by Bill Bell, but not
by Page, the chair of the board.
The
letter argued that the amendment "represents a threat to North
Carolina’s ability to recruit the diverse workforce needed to compete in a
global economy, will strip public employees of domestic partner benefits while
also hindering benefits in the private sector, and perpetuates a divisive
social agenda that is unwelcoming and not reflective of our state."
Living in a city called the most tolerant in the nation
comes with a price. The nation is
watching us to lead the way toward being affirming of all our citizens. The ball was dropped with the Board of County
Commissioners and the opposing team is dribbling down the other end of the
court. The lack of a resolution suggests
a lack of bold leadership that defines what it means to live in Durham. We demand more in Durham. This is not a place that allows space to feel
the crowd before stepping forward with a plan. If you can’t get with the program, get out of
the kitchen.
They waited too long.
The problem is we don’t have time to waste.
AGAINST the Amendment Supporters:
ReplyDeleteThe County Commissioners have chosed to remain silent on the biggest civil rights issue of our day, having caved to conservative pressure to remove from tonight's agenda any discussion of the constitutional amendment. Despite the fact that the amendment could have signficant implications for the county and some of its employees, the Durham's Commissioners are stepping to the sidelines. Despite the fact that numerous other counties in the state have taken positions in support of this heinous amendment, Durham's Commissioners have retreated from their duties to protect the county's interests. Despite the desire of many Durham's citizen's to speak out against the amendment, Durham's Commissioners have chosen to ignore their pleas - those opposed to the amendment will not be able to speak at tonight's meeting.
In protest, we are looking for 16 people willing to attend tonight's meeting and at a pre-arranged time, stand up and walk to the back of the room along the wall, each holding a single letter to spell out "STAND AGAINST HATE."
If you are willing and able, please meet at 6:40 on the first floor of the Durham County Courthouse (200 E Main St.) and look for Barry Ragin and Page McCullough who will be organizing.