DURHAM -- The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, one of the area's top three political action groups, late Thursday night announced it had endorsed challenger Donald Hughes and incumbent Howard Clement in the city's contested Ward 1 and Ward 2 City Council primary races.
The Committee's chairwoman, Lavonia Allison, said the endorsements first had to be approved by the Committee's political committee and then be voted upon by the general body.
While Hughes easily won the endorsement over Cole-McFadden, Allison said Clement barely got past challenger Sylvester Williams.
She said the Committee does not announce vote totals, but said the Ward 2 vote, "was the closest we've ever had since I've been here.
"It was extemely, extremely close."
Allison has been with the Committee since 1968, all in executive positions.
The liberal People's Alliance and the conservative Friends of Durham political group earlier endorsed the incumbents, Cora Cole-McFadden in Ward 1 and Clement in Ward 2.
The primary is Oct. 6 and the general election is Nov. 3.
