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Thank you to the members who attended the endorsement meeting this evening!. Please see below for the PA PAC's press release announcing our endorsements for the 2023 municipal election.

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PA PAC Press Release - Endorsements for October Primary and November General Municipal Elections 2023

PA PAC Endorsement Meeting Held Virtually - Over 350 members meet to decide  - Leonardo Williams endorsed for mayor; Javiera Caballero, Khalilah Karim, and Carl Rist endorsed for city council

(Durham, N.C.) On Sunday evening, August 13, members of the People’s Alliance PAC in Durham met virtually to debate and decide which candidates running for municipal office in 2023 would get the group’s endorsement. Over three hundred people attended the virtual meeting.  

PA PAC is a political action committee that shares a common vision and membership with the progressive People’s Alliance in Durham. In recent years membership in the People’s Alliance has swelled and the PAC’s influence in elections has grown. In advance of this year’s endorsement meeting, the PAC solicited responses to questionnaires from candidates running for mayor and city council. PAC volunteers also interviewed the vast majority of the candidates and then shared their recommendations at the endorsement meeting.

Endorsement decisions are made by the PAC membership at a meeting in advance of elections every year. At the meeting, PAC committees who have studied the candidates make recommendations, but ultimately the endorsement is decided by a vote of the members after rigorous debate. During Sunday’s meeting, hundreds of people rose virtually to speak during the debate over these endorsements. The meeting ran late into the evening, with over 300 members staying until the very last endorsement decision was made. Candidates value the PA PAC endorsement and work hard within transparent PAC rules to make sure their supporters in the organization get to the meeting. PAC members attend to persuade and be persuaded.

The People’s Alliance endorsements are as follows:

• Councilmember Leonardo Williams received the endorsement for Mayor of Durham. The membership believes he has made good use of his time on City Council, learning how to effectively enact change that benefits the Durham community while working towards consensus and coalition building with people he does not always agree with on difficult policy decisions. As Mayor, this skill will be necessary to recenter and focus our next council on the work needed to ensure Durham remains home for all of our residents. 

Leo continues to demonstrate a willingness to forge consensus and is best positioned to bring our governing board to the articulation of a shared vision for governance that meets the moment Durham is facing, including legislative attacks, lack of affordable housing, and the need for a regional multi-modal transit plan. Leo continues to build relationships, adjust his strategy and tactics and influence the culture that enables our city to move forward.

• Councilmember Javiera Caballero received one of three endorsements for Durham City Council. The interview committee was impressed by her record as a council member and her thoughtful responses to the questionnaire. Since her appointment in 2018 and election in 2019, the membership has been impressed by her growth as a council member and will be pleased to have her continue her service.
• Khalilah Karim received one of three endorsements for Durham City Council. It is exceptional to see a candidate that has such a strong track record in union organizing, environmental advocacy and racial justice work. The membership felt strongly that Karim’s consistent and bold approach to advocacy and efforts to amplify the experiences of the most marginalized in our community aligns with the values of People’s Alliance. With expertise in community building, conflict resolution, and tactful seeking of consensus when problem solving, the interview committee felt that she is the perfect candidate to lead us toward a more cohesive and balanced council body. 
• Carl Rist received one of three endorsements for Durham City Council. Carl has dedicated decades of service to the well being of Durhamites through his volunteer work on economic development, livable wages, affordable housing. He is a tried and true progressive force in Durham and the People’s Alliance PAC membership believes he will continue to serve all of Durham as a council member. 

These progressive candidates are the most qualified and best prepared to serve the people of Durham. PA PAC is dedicated to helping them win.

The PAC’s support of its slate of candidates only begins with the endorsement. PA PAC campaigns for its candidates with organizing, events, mailings, social media, canvassing and poll work.  This work is managed by a committee of volunteer PAC coordinators elected by the membership. Members donate money to support the PAC campaign and volunteer for poll work and the many other tasks that are necessary to win elections.

PA PAC will prepare and distribute more information about the candidates as the elections draw nearer. Watch www.peoplesalliancepac.org for more information.

For more information about People’s Alliance and its vision, visit www.durhampa.org. 

Contact:  Nana Asante-Smith, PA PAC Coordinator: [email protected]

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People's Alliance PAC
https://www.durhampa.org/