Brian Cooper Age: 25Residence: WoodfinOccupation: Production manager, Ceco PublishingEducation: B.S. political science, N.C. StateParty: RepublicanPolitical 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 […]

Doug Jones Age: 29Residence: AshevilleOccupation: History teacher, Enka High SchoolEducation: B.A. history, UNCA; M.S. Scottish history, Univ. of Edinburgh; M.A. American constitutional studies, ASUParty: DemocratPolitical experience: Very active Democrat; held several county- and state-level party offices. Worked with many campaigns and candidates (from City Council to president). Institute of Government intern with Lt. Gov. Wicker. […]

Eric Gorny Age: 35Residence: SwannanoaOccupation: Subcontractor tile-setterDegree: B.A. history, UNCA 1999Party: RepublicanPolitical experience: Local activist, delegate to party conventions 1. Do you support allowing individual municipalities to enact their own campaign-finance reform ordinances? No. We need a statewide, consistent policy. If every city had their own campaign-finance laws, there would be confusion and a lack […]

Gregory L. Cathcart Age: 41Residence: AshevilleOccupation: Deputy sheriff, sergeant of School Resource Officer DivisionEducation: A.S. degree, A-B Tech; advanced law-enforcement certificate, N.C. Department of JusticeParty: DemocratPolitical experience: None 1. Do you support allowing individual municipalities to enact their own campaign-finance reform ordinances? Yes. Voters tell me they believe money influences [elected officials’] decisions … and […]

Jim Hughes Age: 71Residence: Biltmore ForestOccupation: Builder/real-estate investment; retired tire dealerEducation: B.A. education, UNC-Chapel HillParty: DemocratPolitical experience: past president, North American Tire Dealers Association; lifelong Democrat 1. Do you support allowing individual municipalities to enact their own campaign-finance reform ordinances? No. Campaign-finance regulation needs the uniformity and enforcement capacity of the State Board of Elections […]

J.B. Howard Age: 58Residence: Merrills CoveOccupation: Private investigator/retired N.C. Highway PatrolEducation: A.A. police science, Gaston College; B.S. UNC-Charlotte; 31 hours completed in M.L.A. program, UNCAParty: DemocratPolitical experience: Lifelong Democrat 1) Should the Sheriff’s Department be more transparent? If so, what steps would you take to achieve this? The office of the sheriff belongs to the […]

James Aaron Grant Age: 54Residence: AshevilleOccupation: Lieutenant, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department domestic-violence unit; formerly worked in sex-offender registration, crime prevention.Education: A-B Tech (Basic Law Enforcement, Officer Survival I & II); UNC-Wilmington (fellow, Institute of Political Leadership); several other schools for continuing education and certificationsParty: DemocratPolitical experience: Previous Democratic candidate, receiving 46 percent of the vote […]

James Latimore Age: 75Residence: WoodfinOccupation: College teacher (retired)Education: Ph.D. sociology, City University of New YorkParty: DemocratPolitical experience: Woodfin Water Board (elected 2003, re-elected 2005); precinct chair (Woodfin); Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force (Metropolitan Planning Organization); Veterans For Peace activist 1. Do you support allowing individual municipalities to enact their own campaign-finance reform ordinances? Yes, but […]

John Armor Age: 63Residence: Highlands, in Macon CountyOccupation: author, attorney, political analystEducation: B.A. Yale 1964; J.D. Maryland Law School 1970; ongoing Ph.D. work at American University.Party: RepublicanPolitical experience: Worked with/on behalf of 18 city council members, 2,000 state legislators, 140 congressmen, 12 senators, and 7 candidates for president (including the incumbent). Worked for the Constitutional […]

Lee Farnsworth Age: 53Residence: West BuncombeOccupation: Operations director, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department (until 6-1-06)Education: UNCA (3 years); School of Police Executive Management, UNC-Chapel Hill (1992); more than 2,500 hours of law-enforcement trainingParty: DemocratPolitical experience: Buncombe County law-enforcement officer for 29 years (20 in management). First bid for political office. 1. Should the Sheriff’s Department be […]

Michael Morgan Age: 52Residence: SwannanoaOccupation: Construction/remodelingEducation: B.A. mass communication, UNCA; blueprint reading, instrument-flying (for private pilot’s license), EMT training, residential house wiring, A-B TechParty: lifelong DemocratPolitical experience: Ten years of community and political activism/leadership with an emphasis on environmental, economic and humanitarian issues. Deeply involved with voting rights/verification issues; member of numerous political, environmental and […]

R.L. Clark Age: 75Residence: AshevilleOccupation: small business owner/operatorEducation: B.S. business administration, M.Ed., WCUParty: RepublicanPolitical experience: N.C. Senate 1995-96, ’97-98 1. Do you support allowing individual municipalities to enact their own campaign-finance reform ordinances? Yes. 2. Do you believe the state’s ethics law for legislators is adequate? If not, how would you change it? Yes. Additional […]

Rick Cummings Age: 56 Where lives: ArdenOccupation: Business ownerEducation: (left blank)Party: DemocratPolitical experience: Served on the Committee to Elect Shirley Brown District Court Judge (1998 and 2002) 1) Should the Sheriff’s Department be more transparent? If so, what steps would you take to achieve this? Always room for improvement. Should be accountable to the public […]

Van Duncan Age: 41Residence: Erwin DistrictOccupation: Instructor/coordinator, Management Supervision Section, N.C. Justice AcademyEducation: B.S. criminal justice, WCU; Administrative Officers Management Program, N.C. StateParty: DemocratPolitical experience: First run for political office 1. Should the Sheriff’s Department be more transparent? If so, what steps would you take to achieve this? Yes. Transparency is essential in obtaining and […]

Walt Robertson Age: 55Residence: South BuncombeOccupation: Commander of Asheville Housing Authority’s Crime and Safety Team; retired from Asheville Police Department after 31.5 yearsEducation: B.A. criminal justice, Shaw University; FBI National Academy; N.C. Justice Academy; criminal-justice education, University of VirginiaParty: DemocratPolitical experience: None 1) Should the Sheriff’s Department be more transparent? If so, what steps would […]

Farm women speak The Sustainable Agriculture Program at Warren Wilson College will host Cynthia Vagnetti, who will present her film, Voices of American Farm Women at the school and at Malaprop’s Bookstore and Cafe. The work is a narrative documentary of Upper Midwest farm women who are forging new local-food systems based on biodiverse farming […]

For the birds and others There will be a number of special homes for sale this weekend, when the Bountiful Cities Project hosts its Fourth Annual Birdhouse Auction. Donated by some 50 local artists and craftspeople, the creative and/or functionally crafted abodes for feathered friends will be up for bid, with local auctioneer Noel Cost […]

Campaign Calendar • Primary registration deadlines: If you are not already registered to vote in Buncombe County, you must register by Friday, April 7, in order to vote in the May 2 primary election. Only contested seats are on the primary ballots, which are distributed by party affiliation (Democrat, Republican or Unaffiliated). Changes in party […]

Madison Commissioners green-light Wolf Laurel development The Madison County Board of Commissioners narrowly approved zoning changes March 13 that pave the way for Wolf Laurel Ski Resort to develop about 300 acres in the Laurel Valley for vacation homes and retail businesses. Siding with the evident sentiments of most county residents in attendance, Commissioners Dyatt […]