The stages and the supporters could not have been more different for the Asheville Mayoral candidates yesterday: A power lunch at Magnolia’s Bar & Grille sponsored by the more conservative Council of Independent Business Owners and an evening forum at the Odyssey Ceramic Arts Studio hosted by the multimodal-minded group Asheville On Bikes. (Photos by Max Cooper)
Today has no shortage of debates about local government and the future of our city. The three mayoral candidates meet at the Council of Independent Business Owners luncheon this afternoon, then have a rematch at tonight’s Get There Asheville forum, where they will be joined by the five Asheville City Council candidates. Follow live Twitter dispatches of today’s debates here.
While some people leaned forward in their seats, others stood in the back of the room and craned their necks — ear first — to hear the positions Asheville’s three mayoral candidates have on issues ranging from the police department to school systems. Full audio of the forum is included.
When community activist Martin Ramsey joined Vice Mayor Esther Manheimer and former city official John Miall this July in the mayoral race, he forced a primary in the City of Asheville election. Now, the early voting polls are open in order to narrow the field of three candidates to two. (Photo by Caitlin Byrd)
Though Political Committee Chair of the Sierra Club of Western North Carolina Group Ken Brame donated a combined $300 to three of the four local candidates that the environmental organization ultimately endorsed, he says his personal contribution did not influence the endorsement process. (Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons user borman818)
Kathy Sinclair was elected Sept. 14 to chair the Buncombe County Democratic Party.
Facing a fluid and complex foreign policy situation, Western North Carolina’s congressional representatives stand opposed to approving military action against Syria, as urged by President Barack Obama.
The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina released its annual legislative report card Sept. 5, giving Buncombe County’s delegation vastly different scores.
In two weeks, Asheville’s three mayoral candidates will be fielding questions before members of the public for the second time since their campaigns began.
Conducted by the League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County, the political discourse will take place on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce Board Room. All three candidates have confirmed their attendance. (Photos by Max Cooper)
When it comes to their own pay, some Buncombe County Commissioners actions — or lack thereof — contradict what they said they’d do during last year’s campaign.
Gov. Pat McCrory spoke to the Council of Independent Business Owners this afternoon, asserting he was “stepping on some toes” to lower taxes and make the state run more like a business.
Everyone, please, just relax! The new North Carolina Voter ID Law simply compares to the election laws already existing in most of the other states.
To a packed house at the Diana Wortham Theater last night, leaders of local and state organizations condemned the policies of the North Carolina General Assembly and heard concerns from local citizens.
Longtime local leader Patsy Keever is stepping down from her post as the chair of the Buncombe County Democrats in favor of joining the state party’s leadership team.
A newly appointed Buncombe County Board of Elections held its first meeting Aug. 12 without discussing one member’s controversial push last month to fire Elections Director Trena Parker.
More than 200 people showed up Aug. 7 for Rep. Patrick McHenry’s first-ever Buncombe County town hall. Attendees asked pointed questions about his positions on health care and a variety of other issues.
Borrowing from James O’ Keefe’s playbook, the Buncombe County Young Republicans aimed to make a mockery of Moral Mountain Monday attendees Aug. 5, enticing them to sign a “a fake petition to decrease, or restore funding levels to the last year that Democrats were in control, which effectively lowers it by millions of dollars.”
Congressman Patrick McHenry will hold an Aug. 7 town hall meeting in Swannanoa to give an update on his recent legislative activities and hear from constituents.
Did you miss Mountain Moral Monday? Here is an Xpress photo gallery of the event, featuring protesters, signs and guest speakers.
An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people showed up for Mountain Moral Monday this evening, filling Pack Square Park and protesting the policies of the North Carolina General Assembly. It was one of the largest demonstrations in Asheville’s recent history. Photo by Julia Ritchey.
Supporters and opponents of the Aug. 5 Mountain Moral Monday rally are taking to Twitter to report on the event and make their views known. This post features an aggregation of those messages.
