Starting with the power to fill 1,000 state government jobs — up from about 400 in previous administrations — the North Carolina governor elected on Tuesday has been handed a large goody bag by the retiring N.C. General Assembly.
Author: Nelda Holder
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First look at MSD’s water merger study delayed
Due to the far-reaching effects of Hurricane Sandy, the planned November 1 discussion of the draft water study contracted for by the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County has been delayed.
Ballot check
MSD board discusses potential lease of Asheville watershed property
While there was no formal action taken, the board of the Metropolitan Sewerage District has reviewed what were called “underlying assumptions” used by staff in studying the proposed merger of the Asheville water system with MSD’s operation. The option of leasing the approximately 20,000 acres of protected watershed, leaving ownership in the hands of the city, was one item on that list of eight.
Flood Gallery overflows with politics
An overflow crowd of more than 150 people packed the Flood Gallery in Asheville’s River Arts District on Tuesday evening, October 9, to talk with candidates for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners about the subject all around them — the arts.
Want to vote for president? And how about those judges . . .
If you don’t read more than one sentence of this news piece, then understand this: A “straight party” vote in the upcoming election does NOT record a vote for president. North Carolina is the only state in the nation where this is the case.
District 3 will add two new voices to the county commission
The four candidates for District 3 of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners convened with some 70 voters Oct. 15, in the meeting room of the Skyland Fire Department in Arden. And no matter who wins the District 3 election, there will be two new voices on the county’s governing board. There are currently no general commission members from this geographic section of the county. (photo by Max Cooper)
State Supreme Court race flies under the radar
The election of judges to the N.C. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals is officially nonpartisan. Yet party and unaffiliated voters alike are inclined to skip this portion of the ballot. This year might not be a good time to do that. Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/10/11/2406197/supreme-court-candidates-struggle.html#storylink=cpy
Let me represent you: Legislative candidates spill backstories, views on state
To provide a glimpse of the more personal and philosophical sides of the Buncombe County candidates for N.C. House and Senate, Xpress asked each candidate (by phone or in person) the same handful of questions.
Campaign calendar
Compiled by Nelda Holder, contributing editor Thursday, 10/11 Campaign Appreciation Event for Carol Peterson, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, hosted by John Young at Weaverville Town Hall. Free event; hot dog dinner included; 5:30-8 p.m. Monday, 10/15 League of Women Voters Forum for District 3, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners (Terry Van Duyn, Michelle Pace […]
The art of politics in Buncombe County
Jolene Mechanic is playing the numbers by calling a meet-the-candidates forum in the River Arts District on Tuesday, Oct. 9. And she’ll even tell you the winning figure ahead of time: 43,749,707.
Campaign calendar: Forums, forums and more forums
‘Tis election season, and local organizations want voters to be informed. Here’s a list of upcoming forums and such for the week ahead.
Split precincts studied in another legal claim against N.C.‘s recent redistricting plan
Advocacy groups filed a claim in Wake County District Court on Friday, saying their spot analysis found that more than 2,000 voters in six counties were assigned incorrectly under the state’s 2010 redistricting plan. The groups contend the boundaries were intentionally drawn to segregate minority voters. Representatives said in a subsequent news conference that they […]
District 1 candidates vie for Buncombe County commission seats
On a cool, drizzly, first-of-October evening, the three candidates for District 1, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, gathered with potential voters in Pack Memorial Library’s Lord Auditorium. (Photo: Left to right — Don Guge, Holly Jones, Brownie Newman; photo by Max Cooper)
In all good faith: City Council, legislators discuss water merger
Only two state lawmakers attended a Sept. 18 meeting that the Asheville City Council had scheduled specifically to dialogue with the local legislative delegation. The topic was the proposed merger of Asheville's water system with the Buncombe County Metropolitan Sewerage District, and despite the lawmakers’ meager turnout, those present did manage to get a few […]
In all good faith
Only two state lawmakers attended a Sept. 18 meeting that the Asheville City Council had scheduled specifically to dialogue with the local legislative delegation. The topic was the proposed merger of Asheville's water system with the Buncombe County Metropolitan Sewerage District, and despite the lawmakers’ meager turnout, those present did manage to get a few […]
Judge cites “sheer political foolishness” in former Perdue aide’s obstruction of justice
The former director of the Governor’s Western Office in Asheville, Juliegh Sitton of Morganton, has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for under-the-table payments that padded her salary as an campaign aide to Gov. Bev Perdue. Both the judge and the district attorney in Wake County issued statements lamenting the role of money in politics.
Chamber forum highlights education, economy — with a dash of water *Updated with video*
Not surprisingly, jobs and the economy were premiere topics at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s candidate forum on Thursday. But in no time at all, education and local government control — the Asheville water system being the prime example — also bobbed to the top.
Council holds “good-faith” water discussion with legislators
Only two legislators made it to the Asheville City Council discussion session Tuesday afternoon, held specifically to dialogue with the local delegation concerning the proposed merger of Asheville’s water system with the Buncombe County Metropolitan Sewerage District. But those present – council members and legislators – did manage to get a few things off their chests.
State’s numbers rise for residents lacking health insurance
U.S. Census Bureau figures show the numbers of uninsured residents in North Carolina has climbed to 19.1 percent, the highest in five years. Western North Carolina counties were predominantly higher than that average, with five counties above 24.1 percent (Graham, Macon, Jackson, Avery, Alleghany). Buncombe County fell into the second highest tier, with between 20.1 […]
Tillis hopes to pass voter ID bill next session
N.C. Speaker of the House Thom Tillis told the state’s delegation to the Republican National Convention yesterday that voter ID requirements vetoed by Gov. Bev Perdue will become law next year, if things go well for Republican candidates in the coming election.