‘Super PAC’ backing 751 South
The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)
April 27, 2012 Friday
Copyright 2012 The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina) All Rights Reserved

Length: 645 words
Byline: Jim Wise

jwise@newsobserver.com
Dateline: DURHAM

Body
The glossy fliers appearing in Durham mailboxes last week brings local politics into the super PAC era on behalf of
the controversial 751 South subdivision project.
The fliers – in three versions – endorse incumbent Durham County Commissioners Joe Bowser, Brenda Howerton
and Michael Page, and aspiring commissioner Rickey Padgett in the May 8 primary election. All four support the
1,300-home mixed-use project in southwest Durham County near Jordan Lake.
The fliers, 6 inches by 11 inches, were paid for by The Durham Partnership for Progress, which filed April 13 with
the Durham County Board of Elections as an “independent expenditure political committee” – aka super PAC.
“I am disappointed that a super PAC led by someone who does not live in Durham (and) can spend unlimited
corporate money has decided to endorse and promote candidates” in Durham, said Commissioner Ellen Reckhow,
who is running for re-election and opposes the development.
The Partnership for Progress’s treasurer is Rhonda Hall Sisk of 9222 N.C. 751, a residence owned by Southern
Durham Development at the 751 South site that is also the company’s registered office. The assistant treasurer is
Tyler Morris of Raleigh, a partner in Southern Durham Development.
The filing forms list a $100 cash donation from Southern Durham Development, as well as the company’s in-kind
contribution of $2,500 for services of Public Policy Polling, a Raleigh opinion-survey firm.
“I’m just a bit amazed at how far the 751 folks are willing to go to get their way,” said Will Wilson, a commissioner
candidate who opposes the project.
Alex Mitchell, a Durham resident who is president of Southern Durham Development, said in 2010 that he would
“do everything within my power, legally, to move (751 South) forward.”
County Commissioners approved a critical rezoning for 751 South in 2010. Their vote led to a lawsuit by project
opponents, who claimed their protest petition against the rezoning was improperly ruled invalid.
That suit was dismissed in Superior Court in January, but Southern Durham Development has applied for a rerezoning that removes some restrictions in the original. The new rezoning is under administrative review, and the
decision on its approval could be up to the commissioners elected this year.

Akela Lacy

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‘Super PAC’ backing 751 South
Project opponents, Mitchell has said, “wake up every day trying to think of ways to block this plan.” His
announcement of the partnership’s formation alluded to “an alternate political action committee” that has made
opposition to 751 South “their primary election issue.”
The Durham People’s Alliance endorsed four candidates who oppose the project – Reckhow, Wilson, Fred Foster
Jr. and Wendy Jacobs – and listed candidates’ positions on the project among the factors considered in making its
endorsements.
The People’s Alliance has mailed out a full-color endorsement flier of its own. Spokeswoman Kate Fellman said the
mailing was planned before Partnership for Progress’s mailing appeared.
“I believe Durham voters will trust our PA endorsements, as they are made by hundreds of their fellow citizens with
Durham’s best interest at heart, rather than an outside group looking to make a profit,” Fellman said.
Elections Director Michael Perry said the Partnership for Progress is the first super PAC established in Durham
County.
A super PAC must certify that it will not, directly or indirectly, make contributions to candidate committees or other
committees that make contributions to candidates, and it cannot coordinate with candidate committees. It can
accept unlimited contributions and make unlimited independent expenditures – meaning there is no limit on how
much Southern Durham Development or any other donor can contribute and spend to advance its interests.
Fourteen candidates are running for election to the five seats on the Durham County Board of Commissioners May
8.
Wise: 919-641-5895

Classification
Language: ENGLISH

Publication-Type: Newspaper

Subject: ELECTIONS (90%); CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS (90%); COUNTIES (90%); COUNTY GOVERNMENT
(90%); PRIMARY ELECTIONS (89%); ZONING (89%); LEGISLATIVE BODIES (89%); POLITICS (89%); VOTERS
& VOTING (88%); POLITICAL DONATIONS & FUNDRAISING (78%); APPROVALS (77%); MIXED USE
DEVELOPMENTS (76%); PLATFORMS & ISSUES (76%); PETITIONS (76%); PUBLIC POLICY (73%); ELECTION
AUTHORITIES (71%); PROTESTS & DEMONSTRATIONS (66%); SUITS & CLAIMS (63%); LITIGATION (61%)

Industry: ZONING (89%); MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS (76%)

Geographic: DURHAM, NC, USA (93%); RALEIGH, NC, USA (73%)

Load-Date: April 28, 2012

End of Document

Akela Lacy