The latest news out of Durham, NC:
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/2755978p-9193558c.html
"Durham mayoral candidate Jackie Wagstaff donned bright orange Chuck Taylor shoes and large gold earrings Thursday to announce her Hip-Hop Agenda for City Hall."
Wagstaff said she would use "gangsta" culture and rap music to appeal to disaffected youth, luring them away from crime with the offer of free studio time to record songs. T-shirt giveaways would serve as another enticement.
Wagstaff said she will use her contacts, including active gang members, to help register 5,000 voters ages 18 to 21 to support her in the Oct. 11 city primary.
She survived a 2002 effort to remove her from office after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts for doctoring check requests from the nonprofit North East Central Durham Reinvestment Inc., a city-financed social services organization she ran. She also has been evicted several times for nonpayment of rent.
Her campaign openly refers to her "run-ins with the law" and embraces the tag that she is "too gangsta for government." She bills herself as the only candidate with the street credibility to solve the city's problems with gang violence and school dropouts.
She said she sees the potential in all children, even those now living a life of crime. "If they're out there selling drugs, then they already have some business skills," Wagstaff said. "They understand budgets. They understand profit margins. We need to help them turn these business skills to the positive."
It seems like almost every candidate for office in Durham has some sort of criminal history.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/2755978p-9193558c.html
"Durham mayoral candidate Jackie Wagstaff donned bright orange Chuck Taylor shoes and large gold earrings Thursday to announce her Hip-Hop Agenda for City Hall."
Wagstaff said she would use "gangsta" culture and rap music to appeal to disaffected youth, luring them away from crime with the offer of free studio time to record songs. T-shirt giveaways would serve as another enticement.
Wagstaff said she will use her contacts, including active gang members, to help register 5,000 voters ages 18 to 21 to support her in the Oct. 11 city primary.
She survived a 2002 effort to remove her from office after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts for doctoring check requests from the nonprofit North East Central Durham Reinvestment Inc., a city-financed social services organization she ran. She also has been evicted several times for nonpayment of rent.
Her campaign openly refers to her "run-ins with the law" and embraces the tag that she is "too gangsta for government." She bills herself as the only candidate with the street credibility to solve the city's problems with gang violence and school dropouts.
She said she sees the potential in all children, even those now living a life of crime. "If they're out there selling drugs, then they already have some business skills," Wagstaff said. "They understand budgets. They understand profit margins. We need to help them turn these business skills to the positive."
It seems like almost every candidate for office in Durham has some sort of criminal history.
