Asheville City Council Candidate Oct 12 forum (via Twitter)

Posted on by Brian Postelle

Xpress reporter Brian Postelle covered via Twitter tonight’s forum for Asheville City Council candidates. These are his tweets:

Good turnout at Kenilworth forum. First post-primary forum. 7:09 pm
Cape was invited but is out of town. No ruling from BOE on Croft after Miller exit, he is participating tonight. 7:14 pm
Smith, Mumpower, Bothwell, Manheimer, Croft present. WCQS news director David Hurand moderating. 7:15 pm
J. Neal Jackson not here. Candidates make opening comments. Cape campaign mgr reads statement from Cape ahead of Croft’s opening. 7:25 pm
Bothwell: 1st priority is local response to climate change. Least important: enforcement of fed. Immigration law. 7:35 pm
Smith: 1st priority, prepare Avl. For large sustainability changes in NC and USA. Least: more parking. myloc.me/10Ccs 7:36 pm
Croft on current council: throws too much money around and mishandling infrastructure. 7:38 pm
Manheimer: Citizens have told council where priorities are. “We have a lot of master plans. Our job is to implement them.” 7:41 pm
Bothwell: “Council has earned its reputation for not listening.” Cites Sayles bleachery, Ellington, hotel @ Basilica. 7:44 pm
Question: when it comes to large development … Council should have final say. Smith, Bothwell, Mumpower, Manheimer say “yes.” 7:50 pm
Mumpower on restricting new development: I am discouraged by people who come here and want to close the door behind them. 7:59 pm
Bothwell: I think I can work with Carl Mumpower just fine b/c I know where he’s coming from. Though I may disagree with him 180. 8:01 pm
Smith: Burton Street deserves special protection by city. “It fell down and got back up. We need to respect that.” 8:03 pm
Manheimer: If conflict of interest due to law firm client before council, she will ask to be recused from discussion. 8:06 pm
Bothwell: There needs to be a citizen appeal in Dwntwn Mstr Plan development approval process. 8:13 pm
Croft asked about Agenda 21. Says Avl. pays dues to UN sustainabilty org. that keeps Avl “lock step with the rest of the planet.” 8:17 pm
Mumpower: Our council is incredibly transparant. Wouldn’t say the same about city staff. “I think they circle the wagons.” 8:21 pm
Smith: public comment on development needs to come sooner in process to improve process for builders and citizens. 8:24 pm
Bothwell: Don’t spend so much $$$ on luring people here. Tourism dollars need to be available for Avl infrastructure eg: room tax. 8:30 pm
Development questions easily dominate Kenilworth forum. 8:39 pm
Bothwell: a living wage can be paid in private industry. Should be required for city contractors. Manheimer agrees. 8:53 pm
Croft: says he can find a way to lower taxes. He and Mumpower agree undocumented workers drain local economy. 8:55 pm
Smith good govt. transparancy could lead to cowdsourcing: We can get more than eyes on it and ears on it, but also brains on it. 9:00 pm
Closing statements underway at Kenilworth forum. 9:01 pm
Kenilworth forum is a wrap. 9:06 pm

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5 thoughts on “Asheville City Council Candidate Oct 12 forum (via Twitter)”

  2. timothypeck

    “ASHEVILLE — City Councilman Kelly Miller’s decision to quit the race for Asheville government created an empty slot on the election ballot for Nov. 3. That space will now be filled by candidate Ryan Croft, who finished 7th in last week’s primary.”

    http://snipr.com/shrjo

  3. Brian Postelle

    Tim,

    The BOE did announce today that Ryan Croft will be on the general ballot (more coverage on that coming). But it was not official last night. He was invited, as I understand it, as a courtesy while the decision was pending.

    Brian

  4. Barry Summers

    Tim would much rather see Robin Cape there. Tell us again why you’re promoting her candidacy, Tim?

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