Durham County Republicans have repeated their call for Democrat Fred Foster (below) to withdraw from his candidacy for the Board of Commissioners, after finding new documentation about Foster's departure from a county job in 1990.

The GOP claimed a decision by the state Personnel Commission, upholding the conclusion that Durham County had just cause to fire Foster, contradicted comments Foster made in response to the Republicans' original statements.

“The facts show,” the Republicans' statement said, “that Mr. Foster, through his bad actions and serial deceptions, lacks the character and integrity to be considered for any public office.”

Foster won a Democratic nomination for the county board in the May primary, and is under consideration to take over the seat of resigned Commissioner Joe Bowser. The remaining commissioners are expected to elect Bowser’s replacement at their Monday meeting.

Foster resigned an administrative position after receiving a letter of dismissal due to his working a second job on county time and sending personal mail at county expense. Last week, he said he still contests the commission's findings, and that he knew of no further state report on the matter

On Thursday, the Durham GOP issued its second statement, along with a statement by the Personnel Commission that it had adopted the earlier findings and concurred that Durham County had proper cause for dismissing Foster.

The five Democrats who won nominations for Durham County commissioners' seats in the May primary now have official competition in November from independent candidate Omar Beasley (right).

"We have certified his petition," Board of Elections Director Michael Perry said this afternoon.

"It's been a long, hard road," said Beasley, a track coach and bail bondsman who registered a campaign organization in January but never filed to run in the partisan primary.

To get a spot on the November ballot, Beasley needed 7,000 signatures of qualified voters by the end of June. He began collecting signatures online last winter and in person during the early-voting period.

Beasley is registered Democratic, but he said he has been an independent most of his life. He said he was inspired by the Rev. Jesse Jackson who, when he ran for president in the 1980s and ’90s, advised minority voters to avoid party affiliations so as not to be taken for granted by Democrats or Republicans.

Fred Foster, who won a Democratic nomination for Durham county commissioner last week, is getting some support for taking his seat early.

Will Wilson, who finished sixth out of the 14 candidates, has endorsed Foster (right) to take over for Joe Bowser, who resigned from the county board after losing a bid for re-election.

Darius Little, who ran unsuccessfully for the City Council in 2009, has also said publicly that Foster should get the empty seat. Foster, currently president of the Durham NAACP chapter, finished second in the primary election. The top five candidates won spots on the November ballot and, so far, face no opposition candidates.

Who fills in from now until the new commissioners take office in December is up to the four remaining board members. State law requires they take a suggestion from the Durham County Democratic Party, since Bowser is a Democrat, but the commissioners are not bound to follow the party recommendation.

The Durham County Board of Commissioners will not discuss the so-called “fracking” issue at tonight’s meeting as earlier indicated.

Fracking refers to hydraulic fracturing, a technology used in conjunction with horizontal drilling to tap into underground natural gas deposits trapped in shale rock formations. North Carolina is believed to have about 40 years of shale gas around Lee, Chatham, Moore and other central counties.

The commissioners are awaiting a full report from their appointed Environmental Affairs Board that has not yet been completed, Durham County officials announced this morning. That report is expected in another few weeks.

So far most of the discussion about "fracking" has been limited to Lee, Moore, and Chatham counties. But legislation pending in the General Assembly does not restrict drilling to a designated "fracking zone," Progress NC reports on its website. A map from the N.C. Department of Natural Resources shows potential for natural gas deposits all over the Triangle and Piedmont area of North Carolina. Two-thirds of Durham County and even Jordan Lake, a major source of drinking water, appears to be in the fracking zone, Progress NC says.

For more information on the Durham commissioners’ agenda this evening at 7 p.m., visit the Durham County website at www.durhamcountync.gov.

Fred Foster, president of the Durham NAACP branch, has become the third official unofficial candidate for the Board of County Commissioners.

Candidate filing does not open until Feb. 13, but this week Foster (right) registered a campaign committee with the Durham County Board of Elections.

A long-time Democratic Party activist, Foster ran unsuccessfully for a commissioners' seat in 2000 and 2008, and for the state House in 2010.

He joined Duke University biologist Will Wilson and former Durham Planning Commissioner Wendy Jacobs, who had already registered their campaign committees. Both are registered Democrats.

Political newcomer John Owens, also a Democrat, registered an "exploratory committee" this week, but has not specified an office he is seeking.

From correspondent Virginia Bridges

The decision on who will fill Becky Heron’s vacated seat remains unanswered after a tie vote among Durham County commissioners Monday.  

Chairman Michael Page and Brenda Howerton voted to appoint political newcomer and community volunteer Pamela Karriker.

Ellen Reckhow and Joe Bowser voted to appoint former planning commissioner and neighborhood activist Wendy Jacobs.

Bowser and Reckhow said the board was at an impasse and should forward the decision to Durham County Clerk of Superior Court Archie Smith, who will make the appointment if the board can’t. Smith could make his appointment, and the board could swear in the new member by the next commissioners' meeting Sept. 26, they argued.

Howerton said the commissioners should use all of the 60 days allowed to make a decision. Those 60 days run out at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Melvin Whitley, the Durham County Democratic Party's third vice president, said he would continue to lobby for  applicant Hampton Dellinger, who received the local party's recommendation.  

From correspondent Virginia Bridges

Retired Durham County Commissioner Becky Heron is putting her support behind Wendy Jacobs to finish heron's unexpired term.

“Really and truly I would like very much for Wendy to be in the seat that I was occupying,” Heron said.  “She would work just as hard as a county commissioner as she has in saving this land along New Hope Creek.”

Heron was referring to Jacobs' efforts as chair of the Erwin Area Neighborhood Group, which spearheaded and raised money to help local governments and other organizations buy a 42.8-acre tract at Erwin and Pickett roads from Duke University to prevent it from being developed.

Nine people have applied to replace Heron, who officially stepped down from her position of Aug. 1.  The other eight are Anita Daniels, Hampton Dellinger, Pamela Karriker, Tonya Kemble, Rickey Padgett, Jane Redoble, Jane Volland and William Wilson.  

Meanwhile, members of Durham County Democratic Party plans to meet tonight at White Rock Baptist Church to decide on its recommendation on who should take the seat.  The recommendation would be forwarded to the County Commissioners, who will ultimately make the decision.

Sign in begins at 6 p.m. and proceedings are expected to start at 6:30 p.m.  
While the general public can observe the proceedings, only state executive committee members, elected officials, precinct chairs or vice chairs can vote, said the party’s second vice Chairman Zack Hawkins.

Officials will consider the six candidates who have submitted formal applications to the party, and will also take nominations from the floor.

Veteran County Commissioner Becky Heron plans to resign her seat, a year and a half before her term expires.

"I think it's time," said Heron (right), who has served on the county board since 1982. "That's a lot of years."

Heron, 83, said she has had "a few minor medical problems" that led to her decision to step down.

She did not say when she plans to actually leave office, and said she will recommend a successor to her board colleagues. It will be up to the commissioners to select a member to serve out Heron's term, which ends in December 2012.

"It's been a good run for me," she said, "and I wouldn't take anything for those years on the county commissioners. It's been a great experience.

"I can't speak for my husband on that."

Heron is married to retired Duke University geology professor Duncan Heron.

From correspondent Virginia Bridges

The Durham County commissioners voted to replace the longtime management company of the Durham Convention Center, citing under performance and its competition’s successful track record of managing similar public facilities.
 
The unanimous vote authorized County Manager Mike Ruffin to negotiate a management agreement with Global Spectrum that outline terms before and after a scheduled $6.1 million upgrade to the convention center. The Durham City Council, which owns the facility jointly with the county, would also have to approve Global’s proposal before the board could approve the final contract.
 
“This is not a final step, it is just a first step,” said Commissioner Ellen Reckhow.
 
City and county officials put the management contract out to bid last year after expressing concern about Shaner Hotel Group’s management and marketing of the center, which has experienced an average operating loss of $1.1 million over the past five years.

From correspondent Virginia Bridges

Despite the snow and ice, city and county officials made their way to City Hall this morning to discuss the future management of the Durham Convention Center located at the downtown Marriott.

Two companies are vying for the contract to operate the facility that has had an annual operating loss of about $1.1 million over the past five years, according to a city report.  Elected leaders from Durham County Board of Commissioners and the City Council will hear staff reports and from the two firms vying for the contract to manage the facility at the Joint City-County Committee.

Shaner Hotel Group, which has managed the Durham Convention Center since it bought the old Omni Hotel in 1996, is competing against Global Spectrum, to run the Convention Center, which is jointly owned by the city and county.