From Gordon Smith for Asheville:
Today Gordon Smith officially announces his 2013 campaign for Asheville’s City Council. Councilman Smith wants to continue to serve on City Council to grow Asheville’s middle class and to keep Asheville strong as it contends with unprecedented hostility from some state legislators.
Gordon Smith joined City Council in 2009. Councilman Smith, an effective, progressive leader, collaborated with many partners to bring new jobs to Asheville including New Belgium Brewery, Linamar, and Plasticard. By working together with new and existing business owners, Asheville led the state in job creation in 2012.
Smith spearheaded efforts to expand Asheville’s multimodal transportation network, increase the construction of affordable housing, and promote equality for LGBT individuals and families. He introduced the City of Asheville Food Action Plan to improve citizens’ access to healthy, affordable food. Smith also promoted environmentally stronger practices including improved recycling containers and LED streetlights that save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Smith’s actions serve to improve the lives of Asheville’s middle class families. “Middle class families are the lifeblood of our City. We need to have policies that protect their success while also providing pathways out of poverty for lower-income families, ” stated Smith. Smith has advocated for policies to help those hurt by the economic downturn.
Gordon Smith hopes to focus his second term efforts on expanding family wage jobs, creating meaningful incentives for homegrown medium and small businesses, and increasing affordability in areas of housing, transportation, and food. “Growing Asheville’s middle class has to be our priority,” Smith said. “Given state legislators’ plans to shift cost burdens to low and middle income families, Asheville needs to become more independent, more resilient, and more affordable.”
Councilman Smith’s Kick-Off Event will be at the Altamont Brewery in West Asheville on April 25th from 6 to 9 pm. A donation of $25 is suggested.
For further information about Gordon Smith’s campaign, visit gordonforavl.com.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.