In East Durham, Some Residents Voice Skepticism of "Condescending" Council Incumbents

In an election marked by tension between elements in Durham’s black and brown political communities—Rodrigo Dorfman’s incendiary email accusing black activists of conspiring against council member Javiera Caballero; failed council candidate Victoria Peterson’s spurious challenge to Caballero’s citizenship and ballot eligibility—a forum focused on immigrant rights and communities of color seemed likely to produce fireworks.

And right away, Peterson, who’d staked out a front-row seat at the Wednesday night event, got in Caballero’s face and demanded to know if she was a citizen, though she’s been a registered and active voter in North Carolina since at least 1996. The question prompted groans from the East Durham audience.

Undeterred, Peterson later asked all of the candidates if they were “naturalized to be able to vote in North Carolina.” That drew boos, too. The five candidates present—all except Charlie Reece—didn’t bother to answer.

The message was clear: Intolerance would not be tolerated.

But that doesn’t mean this was a friendly audience for Caballero and her council allies. Indeed, the feeling that pervaded the forum wasn’t animosity but rather skepticism of the three incumbents—Caballero, Reece, and Jillian Johnson—who are campaigning under the Bull City Together slate and have been backed by Mayor Steve Schewel and the People’s Alliance PAC (and the INDY).

Read more: https://indyweek.com/news/durham/east-durham-city-council-candidates-forum/