Here’s the press release from the Tim Moffitt campaign:
CANDLER – Residents of the western Buncombe County community Biltmore Lake held a ‘Thank You’ party for NC Representative Tim Moffitt (R – Buncombe) last night to show their appreciation for his recently-passed anti-annexation legislation, sparing them from incorporation into the city of Asheville.
The legislation, H.B. 925, which was sponsored by Moffitt and became law earlier this year, forbids municipalities from forcibly annexing property adjacent to their corporate boundaries without consent from the affected citizens. The Biltmore Lake Community had been actively resisting a five-year annexation attempt by the City of Asheville until the legislation became law.
Approximately 40 residents of the Community came to show their appreciation at the Biltmore Lake clubhouse and to meet Rep. Moffitt. Many asked questions about the implications of the new law and what it might mean looking forward.
Jerry Jensen, a leader in challenging Asheville’s annexation attempt and the organizer of the event, questioned what needed to happen to keep the new reforms in place. “There is a real possibility this could one day be overturned,” Moffitt said in response to Jensen’s question about the longevity of the new law. “We’ve got people running for State House in Buncombe County who believe this is bad law, and that cities should just be able to do whatever they want in regards to your property rights,” Moffitt continued.
“I think it’s just incredible what he’s done for us,” Jensen said. “Many people don’t know he saved our community from paying nearly double property taxes by keeping us out of the City of Asheville,” said Jensen.
Moffitt is running for reelection to the NC General Assembly and was first elected in 2010. He represents most of southern and western Buncombe County, which make up the 116th District.
Moffitt will host a legislative town hall meeting this Saturday, July 21 at the Skyland Fire Department in south Asheville from 10 a.m. to noon.
It’s wonderful that Rep. Tim Moffitt received
the recognition and thanks he deserves from the Biltmore Lake community for sponsoring HB 925, the
Annexation Reform bill that became law. This law
permits citizens to cast a referendum
vote on annexation. As Americans, we should protect our right to vote on annexation
by actively voting for state lawmakers who support
that right. Rep. Moffitt’s accomplishment in
getting HB 925 passed into law is epic in that
North Carolineans have been prevented from voting
on annexation for 53 years, dating back to 1959.