Honor Father?

Many people want to honor Clarence Lightner, Raleigh’s first

and only black mayor, who died last month at the age of 80.

But his son, Bruce Lightner, wants to make sure that any

tributes are tasteful.

Lightner, in his role as administrator of his father’s estate,

says those who wish to use the former mayor’s name must contact

the family first and be respectful that only weeks have passed

since his death.

Earlier this month, Bruce Lightner learned that the

Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association, a group instrumental in

getting his father elected, wanted to plan a political banquet in

Clarence Lightner’s name.

In an e-mail message to the dinner’s chairwoman, he wrote that

“the Lightner family has not granted you permission to honor, pay

tribute, bestow posthumous award or otherwise utilize or mention

my father’s name in any manner whatsoever in conduction with your

event.”

This week, Lightner said the RWCA bucked longstanding “social

protocol” by overlooking the family’s permission.

“We have a high regard for what the organization has

represented down through the years,” he said. “But for the RWCA

to even consider using Mayor Lightner’s name for a political

fund-raiser without having the presence of mind to first seek

input from the family does not represent respectful diligence and

planning.”

On The Spot: Stephen Halkiotis, a candidate for Orange County

commissioner, shifted uneasily in his seat last week when a

moderator at a League of Women Voters’ forum in Chapel Hill

tossed out an unexpected question.

With North Carolina among the states with the worst obesity

problems, the moderator wanted to know what county commissioners

could do to battle fat.

When it was Halkiotis’ turn, he cast his eyes downward, then

back up and offered: “One novel thing we could do is eat less.”

Like the the three other commission candidates at the forum, he,

too, spoke about county- and school-sponsored nutrition programs.

Then the truth came out.

“I have to plead guilty,” he said with a red face and a

sheepish grin. “I had french fries today. I was in a french-fry

mood, and now I feel terrible.”

These weren’t just any french fries, either, he ‘fessed up

later. He got them over the line in Durham County, at a point

halfway between his workplace and his wife’s. He did not even

“Shop Orange,” as commissioners have encouraged residents to do

to give the local economy a boost.

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Political Trail

– Libertarian Party Candidates will hold a rally from 10 a.m.

to 10 p.m. today at the State Capitol in Raleigh.

– North Carolina Citizens For A Sound Economy will sponsor a

discussion on the state budget from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at

N.C. State University’s McKimmon Center at the corner of Western

Boulevard and Gorman Street in Raleigh.

– Linda Coleman, a Democrat seeking re-election as Wake County

commissioner in District 1, will hold a meet-and-greet event from

6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Wingate Inn, 1542 Mechanical Blvd.

in Garner.