Adrian Vassallo

Adrian Vassallo
adrian4avl.com

Occupation: Business development executive and CPA with Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP

Previous candidacy: Did not answer

Affiliations:
• Asheville Downtown Association (10 years, board member, treasurer and president)
• Asheville Downtown Association Foundation (board chair)
• Downtown Commission (4 years, chair)
• HUB Alliance (2 years, member)
• LEAF Community Arts (2 years, board member and treasurer)
• Southern Conference Basketball Tournament (3 years, member of local organizing committee)
• Trinity Episcopal Church (3 years, vestry and junior warden)
• United Way (Peaks Society member, chair of Peaks Society Campaign in 2009)
• WCQS (3 years, board member and treasurer)

Short-answer questions

Why are you running for City Council?
I’ve spent 12 years working with a variety of organizations in Asheville in leadership roles and getting to know many facets of our community. I’ve seen the needs and worked on solutions. I want to see Asheville grow in the right way for all of us!

What relevant experience makes you a good candidate for City Council?
My professional and community experience gives me the background to be a leader for Asheville. I have a history of leading groups on successful missions and pulling teams together. As a councilperson, I would work to bridge the divides in our community and work together on implementing solutions we can all agree on.

What do you bring to City Council that other candidates don’t?
As a CPA, I will have a focus on finance on Council. I will be the voice for a smart budget that focuses on our growth and livability, while also supporting the core services we all expect and need from our city.

What three achievable goals would you champion in the next two years?
I want our city budget to reflect the immediate need to invest in our infrastructure throughout the city. This also supports our sense of community by maintaining quality of life for all. This can also be done through smart growth policies and ensuring that our small-business community is supported.

What is one recent City Council decision you don’t agree with and how would you have handled it differently?
There have been consistent requests from our community to support small businesses and their growth. Council has heard recommendations but not acted as proactively as they should. I would have asked our small-business leaders to come together with action items that we can implement now and advocate for them immediately.

What makes Asheville home to you?
This is where I am raising my family and have spent the bulk of my career. I love Asheville deeply and am committed to seeing it thrive.

Yes-or-no questions

Is the city effectively managing its finances?
No.

Should the city do more to manage the pace of hotel development?
No.

Should the city ease its restrictions on short-term residential rentals?
No.

Is the Buncombe County TDA contributing its fair share to help the city manage the impact of tourism?
Yes.

Should the city budget more money to support nonprofit grassroots initiatives?
Yes.

Should more resources be allocated to the Asheville Police Department?
Yes.

Should the city implement election districts for seats on City Council?
No.

Has city staff been sufficiently transparent about the increase in costs for the River Arts District Transportation Improvement Project?
No.

Should the Haywood Street property across from the Civic Center be green space only?
No.

Are the city’s current affordable housing strategies sufficient?
No.