Robin Cape to seek write-in reelection

Less than three months after announcing she would not run for reelection, incumbent Robin Cape announced today that she will make a bid as a write-in candidate for Asheville City Council.

Cape, who won her seat in 2005, told Xpress that she has taken care of personal and family issues that initially made her withdraw her name, but said the main determining factor was the response by supporters in the community.

“I got an incredible outpouring from the community that said, essentially, ‘We don’t want you to leave.’” And, she said, some initiatives she helped get underway will come to Council after the election.  “I just think that moving things into action that we’ve been working on, we don’t really have time to rebuild the wheel,” she said.

This is not the first time Cape has pursued a write-in candidacy. Her introduction into the political arena came in 2003, after she won 231 write-in votes to secure a seat on the Woodfin Water Board.

Brian Postelle, staff writer

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

36 thoughts on “Robin Cape to seek write-in reelection

  1. JamesL

    With this kind of typical decisive action from her, who wouldn’t want her on city council?

  2. ashevillelokel

    Who does she think she is …. Sarah Palin: first she decides to not run, then she decides to mount a write-in campaign after she sees the list of “prime candidates” for her old position?

  3. donmiso

    yeah Robin! Thanks for change your of heart! And thanks in advance for all the great work, and long hours you’ll put in next year on the city council. Asheville really does need your vision and wisdom!

  4. Rob Close

    she was my favorite member of city council – but seriously, wishy-washy does not work in politics. pass the torch, endorse someone else you believe in.

  5. travelah

    Yes, Robin Palin Cape, let’s change your mind a third time just for charm.

  6. brebro

    Rebuilding the wheel is perfectly acceptable (unless you only ever need ONE wheel). It’s reINVENTING the wheel that is redundant and unnecessary.

  7. Robin,

    It’s great to know that things are improving in your life.

    Congratulations on getting back in the game.

    Not sure how I’ll vote yet.

  8. Footloose

    I’m glad Robin has put her Easter hat back in the ring. So Robin, the platform again this time will be: we need more parks in Asheville? A town surrounded by parks. But hey, we need to do it the northestern big city way, don’t we?

    She will split the “progressive” vote as she will be competing with Smith and Bothwell. So one of them will likely not make it,leaving room for, hopefully, a common sense candidate elected this time. Common sense candidate: someone who has the interests of the average citizen at heart. Not a big city liberal agenda of making us more “cosmopolitan” like NYC or Boston.

  9. coursepate

    Robin needs to be a member of the Asheville City Council. I can’t endorse her enough. Where she is strong she is very, very strong … and we need her thinking as Asheville moves forward in the coming years …. for those of you thinking about your votes I suggest your first vote is a write in vote for Robin Cape ………………

  10. shadmarsh

    I want to start a write-in campaign that requires us citizens to hang anyone who uses the phrase “common sense” in reference to politics by their undies from the Vance monument.

  11. Piffy!

    Personaly, I’m voting big-city-liberal this year.

    I’ve always thought asheville needs to be more like Boston, or maybe Hoboken.

  12. Nancy Johnson

    “I want to start a write-in campaign that requires us citizens to hang anyone who uses the phrase “common sense” in reference to politics by their undies from the Vance monument.” -shodmarsh

    My my. A little hostile this morning aren’t we? My guess is you don’t have the cajones to hang anyone, save here from the anonymity and safety of your keyboard. -:)

    I go with the footloose person. We’ve had enough of Cape for one lifetime. I’m going with Cecil and Gordon. Make your vote count Asheville!

  13. Piffy!

    I’m thinking “Nancy” doesnt know what “anonymity” means, since he is using yet another fake screen-name and shadmarsh is shadmarsh’s name.

  14. Piffy!

    Gosh, there sure seem to be a lot of who agree with Nancy and Footloose. Perhaps Robin better reconsider her re-election campaign, if there is such a groundswell of local opinion against her. I mean, even kevin bacon doesnt want her to run. and i didnt know he lived in Asheville.

  15. Ken Hanke

    I mean, even kevin bacon doesnt want her to run. and i didnt know he lived in Asheville.

    I think he rechristened himself Cullen.

  16. Piffy!

    [b]I think he rechristened himself Cullen. [/b]

    Wait, you mean there isnt a consensus from the ‘Asheville Liberals’ that Robin Cape is too wishy washy? Are you saying “footloose” isnt really going to vote for Gordon Smith or Cecil Bothwell? I’m so confused!

  17. 9-volt

    everything bad = northern liberals
    everything good = born in WNC and never lived anywhere else

    thank god life is so simple.

  18. Piffy!

    actually, volt. You got that only partially right.

    it’s

    everything bad = northern liberals or southern people who dont agree with me

    everything good = what Cullen believes.

  19. coursepate

    of course I would endorse shadmarsh as well, but his baseball stance is a vote breaker for me …

  20. shadmarsh

    I love baseball, any who doesn’t should be hung by their undies from the top of city hall.

  21. coursepate

    building quite the platform and developing that political saavy … how about baseball haters that travel commando ?

  22. brebro

    Commando travelers only hate baseball because of the difficulty of walking with four balls.

  23. I love baseball, any who doesn’t should be hung by their undies from the top of city hall.

    You should know by now that around here (and the whole South) it’s all about the football.

  24. Ken Hanke

    You should know by now that around here (and the whole South) it’s all about the football.

    Is this one of those things — like my extreme dislike of sweet tea — that factors into my frequently being labelled “not a real southerner?”

  25. poofy

    in this thread shadmarsh is clearly misrepresenting his position on baseball.

    He should obviously be banned.

  26. Is this one of those things—like my extreme dislike of sweet tea—that factors into my frequently being labelled “not a real southerner?”

    You’re from Florida, right?

    If so, that should answer your question.

Leave a Reply to Rob Close ×

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.