CORA COLE-MCFADDEN

Employment: Retired director of the city Equal Opportunity/Equity Assurance Department

Experience: City Council member since 2001

Positions: Favors passage of a local-option, half-cent sales tax to support public transit.

Opposes annexing Southern Durham Development Inc.'s project site near Jordan Lake to resolve the company's dispute with the county. Also says "the best interest of water quality in the lake" should drive decisions about the lake's boundary and zoning buffers.

DONALD HUGHES

Employment: Consultant, recent graduate of UNC Greensboro

Experience: First try for elective office

Positions: Opposes passage of a local-option, half-cent sales tax to support public transit, "unless I am presented with data to support the assertion that an increased sales tax would not further burden our citizens and those that can least afford additional taxes."

Has supported efforts to rezone Southern Durham Development Inc.'s land near Jordan Lake, says project should be decided "on the merits of a specific site plan," but would oppose annexation to resolve legal disputes.

JOHN TARANTINO

Employment: Retired "from U.S. military combined service"

Experience: First try for elective office in Durham; one previous run in Kinston

Positions: Opposes any increase in the sales tax, for public transit or other purposes, given its potential to discourage consumer spending.

Has voiced no opinion on the Jordan Lake/Southern Durham Development Inc. dispute, except to say officials should not use zoning laws "for the purpose of deterring economic development."

The Herald-Sun today and Thursday is taking a look at the two City Council races subject to primaries.

Early voting opens Thursday at 9 a.m. for people wishing to cast ballots in the primary for the City Council's Ward 1 and Ward 2 seats.

The primary will end on Oct. 6 and winnow the field in each race to two candidates in preparation for the Nov. 3 general election.

The Durham County Board of Elections is only operating one early voting site, at its headquarters at 706 W. Corporation St. near Durham Athletic Park.

The following are the candidates for Ward 1. The Ward 2 candidates will appear in Thursday's Herald-Sun.