Bothwell announces bid for Asheville City Council

Posted on by Brian Postelle

In a statement to Xpress, local writer and activist Cecil Bothwell has announced that he will run for a seat on Asheville City Council in November.

“At the urging of numerous supporters and guided by my belief that we should each step up to serve the community as we are able, I have decided to run for a seat on the Asheville City Council this year,” Bothwell writes. “As a city and a nation we are facing extraordinary environmental and economic challenges that will reward communities which are prepared and punish those which lack vision and the courage to change. In accord with President-elect Obama, I believe we need to set aside political labels and reach for solutions that work. I look forward to hearing from and talking with as many residents as possible in the coming months and will begin to knock on doors later this winter.”

Bothwell has begun to post information at his campaign Web site, cecilbothwell.wordpress.com.

In 2008, Bothwell ran in the Buncombe County commissioners’ race, getting bumped out in the primaries in a narrow loss to Bill Stanley. Five months later, Bothwell was one of 47 people who applied for the Asheville City Council seat left vacant by Holly Jones when she was elected to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners.

For a PDF of Bothwell’s City Council application in the Xpress Files, click here.

Four out of seven Council seats will be in play in November. Council member Robin Cape and Mayor Terry Bellamy have both said they will run for re-election, while Council member Carl Mumpower has not decided if he will try to retain his seat. Council member Kelly Miller, who was appointed to finish out Jones’ term, has not announced whether he will run for election in November.

— Brian Postelle, staff writer

 

 

 

 

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2 thoughts on “Bothwell announces bid for Asheville City Council”

  1. Cecil Bothwell

    Hi Fern,

    Have you read the book? I’d be happy to give you a copy. It is a political biography. Documented facts not opinion.

    As for the “leftist” label, hmm. Green builder, organic grower, advocate for localism and a living wage, tutor, board member on two educational non-profits, award-winning reporter … maybe you’re thinking about my opposition to the invasion of Iraq? I know I said it wouldn’t be short or cheap or easy when I emceed anti-war events in Asheville before the bombing started.

    If being right makes you left? Guilty as charged.

    (Let me know about the book.)

  2. AshevilleObserver

    Whatever happened to the newspaper Bothwell was starting, an outpost of another city’s independent newspaper I believe.

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