Brian Cooper

Age: 25
Residence: Woodfin
Occupation: Production manager, Ceco Publishing
Education: B.S. political science, N.C. State
Party: Republican
Political experience: None

1. Do you support allowing individual municipalities to enact their own campaign-finance reform ordinances?

No. This is a measure that should be addressed by the state only as a comprehensive set of rules. [It] should be statewide and not left as a patchwork of solutions across the state.

2. Do you believe the state’s ethics law for legislators is adequate? If not, how would you change it?

At this time and point, yes. However in light of recent events, specifically the circumstances surrounding Jim Black, a review of the law should be done, and if need be the state may need to adjust it.

3. What’s your position on the proposed passenger-rail service between Raleigh and Western North Carolina?

I think it would be a great idea. Providing rail service to WNC would be a benefit to the area and provide people with an option to travel on an efficient and cost-effective means of transportation.

4. Would you support state funding for renovating or rebuilding the Asheville Civic Center? Why or why not?

No. This is not a state matter; the local municipality is solely responsible for this. The city of Asheville, and possibly the county, should undertake this measure.

5. Do you support a public-funding option for Council of State candidates, similar to the judicial public-financing system approved in 2002? Why?

No, I believe that each candidate should control their funding and that the state should not be involved. My campaign is under a policy of zero solicitation as a matter of principle, and such a law would potentially harm that level of idealism.

6. What do you plan to do to ensure equitable distribution of state lottery funds to WNC?

Rework the entire system. The simple fact that the distribution of funding is targeted more toward areas that don’t need it is one problem. However the bigger problem is that the state isn’t delivering any of its promises on the funding, period.

7. Name three state budget areas or items that should be reduced and three that should be increased.

Reduced: Highway fund, Smart Start.

Increased: Teacher salaries, school building funds, and funding to keep the costs of higher education minimized.

8. Would you approve additional local-option rooms-and-meals or food-and-beverage taxes for Buncombe County? Under what circumstances?

No.

9. As WNC’s land prices skyrocket, would you support tools — such as the property-transfer tax or inclusionary zoning — to help communities keep housing affordable?

Yes.

10. What most distinguishes you from your opponents in this primary?

This is a campaign of pure idealism. It is one of the common man, and it is an effort to bring about a revolution in political thought.