That is a spot on letter. To me the most disappointing part of the NC criminal justice system has been the chicken judges.
Local speaker hopefuls jockey [Michaux, Durham Democrat] -excerpts-
BY WILLIAM F. WEST : The Herald-Sun, Nov 16, 2006 : 11:58 pm ET
DURHAM -- Sensing a "groundswell" of support for a new House speaker, state Rep. Mickey Michaux of Durham is campaigning for the position now held by the embattled Jim Black -- regardless of what Black decides to do.
And in addition to Michaux, at least two other lawmakers in the Triangle area -- state Rep. Jim Crawford, D-Oxford, and House Majority Leader Joe Hackney, D-Chapel Hill -- say they're making contacts and seeking supporters.
Meanwhile, Black's return to the House from his Mecklenburg County district remains unclear. On Thursday, Board of Elections officials there reportedly were examining provisional ballots in the aftermath of his razor-thin edge -- 7 votes -- in the Nov. 7 contest.
Back in Durham, Michaux, 76, an attorney and the senior Democrat in the House, points to his nearly three decades of legislative experience as one of the reasons he should have the speaker's gavel.
"I do believe I have the wherewithal to be able to marshal our forces and look out for the welfare of the state," he said.
Meanwhile, political scientist Andrew Taylor of N.C. State University said he believes Black is finished as speaker.
Taylor said African-Americans are going to be an important group to win over and he believes the Democrats are going to work out some sort of compromise.
But Black has suffered much embarrassing publicity resulting from federal and state probes into his role in the passage of the lottery and potential violations of campaign fund-raising laws.
http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-789610.html
* A 'behind the scenes' type of Durham leader.