Occupation: Engineering consultant and graphic artist
Party affiliation: Republican
Political experience: WNC 912 Project Coordinator
Endorsements: "I did not pursue any. I spent my time meeting the fine folks of Asheville and refining my positions."
Ryan Croft
1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed?
Total: $964.39
Top three: Kathie Lack, $100; Jerry Rutherford, $100; Buncombe County Republican Men's Club, $100
2) What resolution would you like to see for the I-26 connector?
The final design needs to be very nicely drivable, efficient and safe. In terms of the impact on the city and property values, the worst thing we can do is accept a design that does not drive well, is difficult to access or raises safety concerns.
3) What is the best route for addressing the city's homelessness problem?
Access to mental-health services. Acute homelessness is not a financial problem, it is a mental-health problem and should be addressed compassionately as such.
4) Should height limits be implemented for new construction in the city? Why or why not?
Height limits are useful in an engineering sense. However, if a dynamic and historically groundbreaking architectural and engineering design comes before the Council that answers for any construction impacts that large projects carry with them — and provides for our future vertical-development needs — I will be for it.
5) What oversight should Council delegate to other boards/commissions with the adoption of the Downtown Master Plan?
Boards and commissions should develop plans down to the detail to be approved by the Council. Fractal delegation of tedious administrative and planning chores is efficient.
6) Should Council reconsider a development buffer around Pack Square Park? Why or why not?
No. This kind of domain ownership is borderline fascistic. The Council is a protector of the public trust, not an oligarchy with power to create "palace courtyard" policies.
7) Should Asheville be allowed to increase or dedicate part of its room tax to make infrastructure improvements? Why or why not?
Tourism is a top industry for us, a virtual life stream for our delicate economy. Any savings we can provide tourists will have an affect on whether folks room inside our city or in the outskirts of the county. Tax increases tend to decrease an economic activity.
8) What associations or business dealings would cause you to ask to be recused for conflict of interest if they came up in Council deliberation?
I have no attachment to special interest groups or businesses. I am clear to involve myself fully with no hidden agenda.
9) What question would you like to ask to any other candidate and to whom would you ask it?
Bothwell: Your water policy will increase daily living expenses. Families need to use more water per household. Why would you develop a policy that hurts families, moms and children? Why didn't you think about the affects of your policies first?
10) Which other candidates will you be voting for?
No comment. I respect the private decisions of others, and appreciate to keep my choices private as well.
Ryan, I’m happy to answer your question.
My proposed water rate restructuring plan would not raise rates on families. The goal of the restructuring is to remain revenue neutral for average users but reward conservation.
The reason my initial policy proposal was based on households rather than per capita use is that the water department told me they don’t keep track of per capita use because they don’t have demographic data.
A refinement of my proposal would be to figure a way for households to VOLUNTARILY participate in a per capita rate program. (I am not suggesting any involuntary intrusion into privacy for those who don’t want heads counted in their households.)
Ryan, please tell the folks canvassing the neighborhoods to NOT USE TAPE to adhere your flyers on peoples houses. It damages property and is a nuisance. I got home this week to find one of your flyers taped to my front door with some substandard tape. I am still scraping the residue off the windows. Thanks!
Ryan, in question #6 you mentioned “public trust”. What does that term mean to you?
Thanks
Byron
I have a question…How can someone who uses a word like “oligarchy” not know how to correctly use the words “effect” and “affect”?