Mike Fryar, Republican, candidate for District 2, Buncombe County Commissioners

Posted on by Margaret Williams

Party: Republican
Slogan: “Common Sense Solutions”
Profession: Small-business owner, former race-car engine builder
Residence: Fairview
Funding: Top donors are Roy and Becky Ramsey ($750), James Young ($750), Mark Delk ($500), Linsey and Teresa DeBruhl ($250), Mark Meadows ($250), Kelly & Miranda DeBruhl ($250), Albert Sneed ($250)
Endorsements: Nathan Ramsey, former chairman, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners; (Editors note: The May 2 print version of this story incorrectly reports that former Asheville Mayor Lou Bissette also endorses Fryar; he does not.)

1. Do you favor A) creating a regional water authority, B) giving the existing system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District or C) leaving it under Asheville’s control? Why?
The water dispute between the city and the county has been ongoing for many years. The General Assembly is currently reviewing this issue and hopefully will be successful to arrive at a decision that will be in the best interest of all of the citizens, both city and county residents.

2. Do you support granting domestic-partner rights and/or benefits to Buncombe County employees? (Yes/No) Why?
No. You can’t just keep adding new people to the benefit rolls when the county already employs people who work 40 hours a week that don’t get any benefits at all. This whole question is a gimmick being used to divide our community and score political points.

3. Do you favor offering tax breaks and other economic-development incentives to companies that agree to move here or expand existing facilities and hire local workers? (Yes/No) Why?
I have no problem with offering tax breaks or incentives to companies that hire local workers in order to help with job growth. But it should be limited to companies with over 100 employees and for a set period of time. And there has to be a lot of accountability.

4. Do you think the county should make funding the Connect Buncombe greenways a high priority? (Yes/No) Why?
You’ve got to be kidding — I am much more concerned with citizens having jobs, food, affordable homes, and a decent education. With one in seven people on food stamps, every fifth person unemployed and a quarter of us underwater on mortgages, Holly and Brownie’s greenways will just have to wait.

5. What’s the most important role of county government in job creation?
More and more ridiculous regulations make it really difficult for business owners to start or expand their businesses. The current commissioners have gone on a $300 million spending spree — in the process doubling our debt — and that doesn’t help the situation. I’ll insist that government operate within its means.

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About Margaret Williams
Editor Margaret Williams first wrote for Xpress in 1994. An Alabama native, she has lived in Western North Carolina since 1987 and completed her Masters of Liberal Arts & Sciences from UNC-Asheville in 2016. Follow me @mvwilliams
View all posts by Margaret Williams →

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2 thoughts on “Mike Fryar, Republican, candidate for District 2, Buncombe County Commissioners”

  2. bill smith

    “With one in seven people on food stamps, every fifth person unemployed and a quarter of us underwater on mortgages, Holly and Brownie

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