City of Durham TV Show Advocates “Yes” Vote on County Transit Tax

I write today at Carolina Journal about the City of Durham’s campaign to get voters to vote “yes” on the county’s half-cent transit tax that appears on the Nov. 8 ballot.

A Durham resident has filed a complaint with the State Board of Elections over a City of Durham public affairs TV show he says promotes a “yes” vote on Durham County’s half-cent transit tax referendum. Durham City Attorney Patrick Baker told Dick Ford he knows of no legal prohibition that prevents the city from advocating for its sister government’s referendum, which will be decided Nov. 8. Early voting began last week. 

At issue for Ford is an October installment of “CityLife,” hosted by Beverly Thompson, director of the City of Durham Office of Public Affairs. The nearly 40-minute program begins with Thompson citing traffic congestion, high gas prices, and the growing population. She then asks, “So what’s the game plan for the future?” and introduces guests “to talk about the Durham Bus and Rail Investment Plan and how it will tackle this issue.”