Political party: Republican
Residence: North Buncombe
Occupation: Real-estate broker and instructor
Political experience: Buncombe County Board of Education, eight years
Endorsements: Asheville Citizen-Times
1) How much money have you raised for your campaign? Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed?
Total: $30,465
Top three: John Carroll $5,000, Thomas Thrash $2,000, (NC) BUILD-PAC $2,000.
2) What most distinguishes you from your opponents in this race?
“I own my business and have been paid based on what I have successfully produced for over 30 years. In the current economic downturn, I have the insight at all socioeconomic levels on how this is affecting families.”
3) What do you consider to be your most controversial policy position?
“I haven’t been elected, so no positions have been deemed controversial. Any answer to this question would be pure supposition.”
4) Do you favor expanding zoning in the county, reversing it or keeping it at its present level? Why?
“It is presently experimental. Zoning laws tend to change. The needs of the electorate versus the needs of the property owners must be considered in making any decision.”
5) What would you do to attract better-paying jobs to the area?
“Improve our educational system at all levels. We need more resources in this regard to address the demands of local employers and those wishing to locate here. We need to do everything, within bounds, to make Buncombe County the most desirable place so as to attract these employers.”
6) Has the present Board of Commissioners conducted its business with sufficient transparency? If not, what would you do to increase openness?
“Very little transparency and dialogue exist at the present time. If we had more transparency, many of the problems that have faced the commissioners would not have happened. One suggestion would be to publish the meeting agenda in the newspaper prior to the meeting.”
7) Should the public-comment period before and after board meetings be televised? Why or why not?
“It should be televised so the public knows what is happening and how the people feel about the issues.”
8) The recent gas shortage revealed that this area is uniquely vulnerable to disruptions in fuel supply. What steps would you take to remedy this?
“An intergovernmental planning task force consisting of local, state and federal officials to create a plan for this and future situations that can occur. This group can make contingency plans for how all levels of government can work to solve this and other common problems.”
9) What is your position on the Sullivan Acts and the water dispute with the city of Asheville?
“The dispute has cost the taxpayers … over $340,000 in legal fees—a ridiculous sum of money which could have been used in so many better ways. I think this is an ego-driven dispute which should have been resolved before now. However, I don’t agree with differential water rates.”
10) Are current slope-construction regulations appropriate? How, if at all, would you change them?
“The impact of the new slope regulation is not fully known yet. Like all new laws, we don’t know what the unintended consequences are at this time.”
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