Candidate: Bobby L. Johnston

Political party: Republican
Occupation: Donations center assistant, Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministry
Education: Did not attend college
Political experience: None
Donors (top 3): “2 family members $100; 1 friend $50”
Endorsements: None

1) What are the best and worst steps City Council has taken in the past two years, and why?
Best: “Top-A-Stop [bus shelters]: protecting transit riders from rain.”
Worst: “Partisan elections: [Everyone] should have a chance to run for City Council seats.”

2) What plan(s) do you support for the I-26 Connector project, and why?
“None. N.C. DOT and Asheville City Council cannot come to any agreement, and the moneys that are allocated for this project keep being spent with no solutions.”

3) What, if anything, should the city do to improve mass transit?
“I think studies should be done to improve current transit system, such as restructuring some of the routes to better serve other areas.”

4) What specific measures, if any, should the city take to address environmental concerns?
“Enforcing codes and ordinances that are in place now, such as steep slopes and storm-water runoff.”

5) What’s your position on partisan elections?
“I do not agree with partisan elections. I believe that the two-party election takes away the choice of voters that have different party affiliations.”

6) As a member of City Council, what would be your top three priorities?
“Taxes; affordable housing; homelessness.”

7) What living national political figure do you most admire, and why?
“Fred Thompson: appears to be a down-to-earth person.”

8) Under what circumstances, if any, would you support forced annexation?
“I do not support forced annexation under any circumstances.”

9) What steps, if any, do you support to promote affordable housing in Asheville?
“Work with people on their income level to place them in affordable housing that would best suit their needs.”

10) Would you vote for or against The Ellington high-rise project, and why?
“I would vote against The Ellington. I don’t believe that The Ellington fits in with Asheville’s skyline. A project of this magnitude would be better suited for towns with larger populations. I feel as if this project will benefit only a select few, not everyone.”

 

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