Bell responds to Stith campaign flier

So much has happened in the past seven days, that it's hard to believe that Thomas Stith fired the opening salvo in the mayoral campaign just one week ago.

Incumbent Mayor Bill Bell has got a point by point response to the issues raised by Stith in the "Clueless" flier up on his website. Here's some highlights:

CLAIM: "Durham's total crime risk is twice the national average."

TRUTH: Stith omits the fact the "national average" he references includes municipalities of all sizes – including small rural communities – not cities the size of Durham.

MORE TRUTH: According to the FBI, Durham's per capita violent crime rate continues to be below the average of cities of similar size, like Richmond, Va., and Rochester, NY. Additionally, the FBI admits Durham's 2006 data cannot be fairly compared to previous years' data because of improvements made to Durham's reporting structure. (Federal Bureau of Investigation Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, January-December 2006)

. . .

CLAIM: "More police officers on our streets."

TRUTH: When Thomas Stith had an opportunity to put more police on our streets earlier this year, he voted AGAINST it. He voted against a budget that would have added 12 new police officers and declined to offer an explanation for his vote against funding 12 new police officers. (Source: Durham City Council Minutes, 06/18/2007)

Not a bad start from the mayor. The interesting point to watch will be whether Stith's emotionally charged campaign attracts or repels those voters who don't pay too close attention to city politics. We'll post any responses from the Stith campaign.

FULL DISCLOSURE:I am a contributor of $40 to the Bill Bell campaign.