By Hayley Benton, Virginia Daffron & Max Hunt
Six candidates of the original 15 remain after the Oct. 6 primary election: Brian Haynes, Marc Hunt, Rich Lee, Julie Mayfield, Lindsey Simerly and Keith Young.
Of those six, only three will be elected to Asheville City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 3 — and, based on the primary’s close numbers, it’ll likely be a fight to the finish.
The three seats up for grabs mark the end of Marc Hunt, Chris Pelly and Jan Davis’ four-year terms. Davis and Pelly have been on Council since 2003 and 2011, respectively, and only Vice Mayor Hunt is seeking re-election.
Early voting locations (open now through Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m.):
- Election Services, 77 McDowell Ave., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Asheville Mall, 3 S. Tunnel Road, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Don’t know where to go on Tuesday, Nov. 3? Click here to find your Election Day polling location. That day, polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Asheville Candidates:
Click the candidates’ photos to learn more about their views.
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Other coverage:
- Small towns: Small-scale democracy: Small town elections offer intriguing possibilities, but few options
- Forum: Food for Thought: City Council candidates weigh in on local food policy
- Forum: Down to business: CIBO city council candidate forum
- Forum: City Council candidate forum du jour: League of Women Voters
- Forum: Candidates answer questions directly from voters at Downtown Association forum
- Primary: Mayfield, Haynes, Hunt, Young, Simerly and Lee pull ahead in primary
- Part One: City of Asheville Primary Voter Guide 2015
Letters to the editor:
- Marc Hunt has advocated for public parks — Jack Igelman
- Haynes is passionate about progressive principles — Timothy Sadler
- Mayfield didn’t represent in water system negotiations — Beth Jezek
- Simerly, Hunt and Mayfield advocate for city residents — Gordon Smith
- Lee and Haynes have my vote — Leslee Reiter
- Simerly has experience to make Asheville better for working families — Sarah Grace Zambon
- Equality NC backs Hunt, Mayfield and Simerly — Guillermo Rodriguez
- Haynes, Young and Lee have interests of citizens at heart — Elaine Sargent
- Rich Lee offers voice of reason for City Council — Matt Christie
- Young, Haynes and Lee are in tune with voters — Kathleen Lyons
- Bothwell’s Sierra Club criticism is disappointing — Mark Threlkeld
- Lot across from Basilica must become park — Stuart Zitin
- Mayfield failed to fight hard for city water system — Barry Summers
- Mayfield: Experience with legislators makes me more effective — Julie Mayfield
- Even the Sierra Club makes mistakes — John Morris
- Sierra Club endorses three for City Council — Ken Brame
- Take a good look at the candidates who want your vote — Pat Wille
- Hunt, Mayfield and Simerly will accomplish great things — David Nutter
- Park issue creates support for Haynes, Young and Lee — Linda Brown
- Council primary reveals ‘Progressives in Name Only’ — Carl Mumpower
- Rich Lee understands the issues facing Asheville — Tom Adams
- Look at candidate’s own statements for views on park issue — Rich Lee
- Asheville needs practical, centrist City Council members — Christopher Pratt
- Neighborhoods should unite to vote for Lee —Valerie Hoh
- Sierra Club backs Hunt and Mayfield for City Council — Ken Brame
- Candidates should renounce St. Lawrence Green associations — Michael Blankenship
- St. Lawrence Green offers line in sand for City Council — Cecil Bothwell
- Brian Haynes offers thoughtful approach for City Council — Steve Rosenthal
- In City Council race, single-issue voting is shortsighted — Ned Ryan Doyle
- Lindsey Simerly understands diversity benefits Asheville — Anne Fitten Glenn
- Julie Mayfield has taken lead on transportation issues — Bruce Emory
- Simerly offers integrity, skill and commitment to serving community — Meghan Doubraski O’Malley
- Vote for Marc Hunt, an effective and reasonable leader — Billy Richards
- Marc Hunt’s approach to lot near Basilica is constructive, pragmatic — Kieran Roe
- Where do City Council candidates stand on future of lot near Basilica? — Kathleen Lyons
- City Council candidate Julie Mayfield is a skillful leader and mediator — Will Harlan
- Julie Mayfield would be an asset on City Council — Sarah Nuñez
Do NOT even BOTHER to vote…there is NO real choice…they are all silly progressive NON leaders as AVL has suffered decades !
You will NEVER know any difference, regardless of which of these spineless non leaders you might pick …pitiful bunch.
Please, follow OneWhoKnows, and exercise your right to abstain, all you conservatives! And be sure to do so next year during the Presidential election, because, you know, there’s no one on your side who isn’t a RINO.
Oh there’s a few conservatives illuminating the path for America, no thanks to all the ‘crackkk socialists. ‘Socialists’ don’t
even have sense enough to KNOW how oppressed the poor people become under that ‘format’, but they are discovering it rapidly, and just wait until 2016 when the real ‘obongo care’ kicks in … you ain’t seen nuttin’ yet … get ready, bend over.
LOL, both parties are corrupt.
Locally, what have the candidates done in the private sector to earn a living lulz? Those that have zilch time working a real job cannot ever, and I mean ever identify with the taxpayer or business owner. They are in fact the biggest crooks and criminals, thieves and scoundrels out there lulz.
Oh, hey Fisher! Should have known.
Sigh.
wow, what an interesting observation and question…how all the ‘right’ non profits affect local elections…it’s why NOT to donate to these oppressive people …
http://www.citizen-times.com/story/opinion/readers/2015/11/02/letter-voter-guide-case-misplaced-priorities/75047072/
LOL, not only do they donate, they put in their time and eventually are moved into various boards and commissions that impact regulations. And as you know, eventually run for council. That’s why they may rally against the farce but the big hotels moving in here along with their clientele signal that this version of Asheville is just about done and a new one is coming. And while they bloviate about the environment, parks, and inequality, in reality they’ll go along with whoever has the biggest pockets and make sure back room deals, cronyism, and kick backs continue. Donate to a non-profit that is part of the clique and you too will get your way.