For Western North Carolina, 2009 showed no shortage of challenges and feats, setbacks and advancements, wins and losses. Like the rest of the nation, we struggled with a dismal economy, even as some old and new businesses managed to keep their heads above water. We withstood droughts, deluges and the biggest snowstorm in years. We […]

Passive aggressive Ken Huck pushes the virtues of a well-sealed house Margaret Williams A guide to green organizations Scores of local eco groups push for sustainability Compiled by Mannie Dalton Looking for greener goods? Local companies and products with an eco emphasis Alli Marshall Copenhagen or bust Asheville travels to the climate talks Margaret Williams […]

Jon Elliston: My Mountain Xpress "It's true that we recycle all of our leftover papers each week, and that the paper is printed with soy-based ink on 72 percent recycled materiel, of which 26 percent is post-consumer recycled paper. But there's no denying that our publishing and distribution operations have a sizable carbon footprint — […]

After a long campaign season that was full of dramatic twists and turns, the Asheville general election results rolled in quickly on Nov. 3. At the end of the night, the three Democrats who dominated the Council primaries in October—Esther Manheimer, Gordon Smith and Cecil Bothwell—maintained their leads over the rest of the pack to […]

Occupation: builder, writer and publisher Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: Avl Precinct 3 chair; treasurer PARCPAC (federal PAC); candidate for Buncombe Commissioners, 2008; co-founder the Avl Coalition-2005; co-chair Dean for America (Avl), 2004; founding member The Progressive Project; founder Rolling Thunder (Avl), 2003; co-founder SpareChange? (Avl), 2003; WNC coordinator, Cynthia Brown for U.S. Senate, 2002 […]

Occupation: psychologist Party affiliation: Republican Political experience: eight years on Asheville City Council, two years as vice mayor Endorsements: "Occasionally, I have someone come up and whisper something like, 'Don't tell anybody, but I am a liberal and I appreciate what you are trying to do.' Does that count?" Carl Mumpower 1) How much money […]

Occupation: small-business owner Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: six years as a councilwoman and four years as mayor Endorsements: Sierra Club and Asheville Firefighters Association Terry Bellamy 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign, and who are your top three donors and how much did each give? Total: $25,072 Top three: Tony […]

Occupation: child and family therapist Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: Advocated for clean energy in the Woodfin power-plant controversy; led a coalition to return our public land on Pack Square last summer; lobbied in Raleigh as mental-health advocate; created voter guides in '06, '07 and '08; volunteer coordinator for Holly Jones. Endorsements : Holly Jones, […]

Occupation: land-use and real-estate litigation attorney Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: none Endorsements: Council members Jan Davis and Brownie Newman, Sierra Club, Asheville Firefighters Association Esther E. Manheimer 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign, and who are your top three donors and how much did each give? Total: Approximately $21,300 (including […]

Occupation: owner, Eagle's Market convenience store Party affiliation: Republican Political experience: current member of the Transit Commission and Board of Adjustment; volunteered on political campaigns for Charles Carter, Steve Metcalf, Ralph Campbell, Judge Jim Wynn, Judge Wanda Bryant and Dan Blue, assisted in November elections, 2000 to present Endorsements: None listed J. Neal Jackson 1) […]

Occupation: musician, business and property owner Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: Four years on Asheville City Council, two years on Woodfin Water Board Endorsements: Sierra Club Robin Cape 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign, and who are your top three donors and how much did each give? Total: $13,000 in cash […]

Occupation: night auditor at hotel Party affiliation: Republican Political experience: none Endorsements: none listed Robert W. Edwards 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign, and who are your top three donors and how much did each give? Total: $32 Top three: Buncombe County Republican Women's Club, $22; Jason Lee, $10 2) What […]

Occupation: Engineering consultant and graphic artist Party affiliation: Republican Political experience: WNC 912 Project Coordinator Endorsements: "I did not pursue any. I spent my time meeting the fine folks of Asheville and refining my positions." Ryan Croft 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and how […]

Occupation: supervisor, ABCCM Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: none Endorsements: Just regular people Larry D. Chastain 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed? I am not about raising money. City Council should represent real people, it should not be bought […]

Occupation: Engineering consultant and graphic artist Party affiliation: Republican Political experience: WNC 912 Project Coordinator Endorsements: "I did not pursue any. I spent my time meeting the fine folks of Asheville and refining my positions." Ryan D. Croft 1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and […]

Occupation: owner, Eagle's Market convenience store Party affiliation: Republican Political experience: current member of the Transit Commission and Board of Adjustment; volunteered on political campaigns for Charles Carter, Steve Metcalf, Ralph Campbell, Judge Jim Wynn, Judge Wanda Bryant and Dan Blue, assisted in November elections, 2000 to present Endorsements: None listed J. Neal Jackson 1) […]

Occupation: Asheville City Council member and executive vice president, Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: appointed to City Council in 2008; numerous lobbying trips to Raleigh and D.C.; successfully lobbied to increase county's occupancy tax by one cent in 2001 to help fund nearly […]