VIDEO: Shouting match breaks out between Bothwell and Wainscott at candidate forum

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Thursday night’s City Council candidate forum did not end with closing statements about the vision candidates have for the city, but with a heated shouting match between council member Cecil Bothwell and Jonathan Wainscott.

The impassioned exchange occurred when Bothewll and Wainscott were debating the reasons why New Belgium chose Asheville as the location for one of its breweries. At the forum hosted by the West Asheville Business Association, Wainscott argued that the company came to area because of the economic incentive package. Bothwell, an incumbent city council member who supported New Belgium moving to the region, said the company came because of the quality of the water.

Sitting next to each other and literally pointing fingers at one another, Bothwell called Wainscott a liar and Wainscott told Bothwell that all he has is “sanctimonious bullshit.”

Watch the video of the forum, provided by Davyne Dial, above to see the argument. The dispute begins around the 1:37:00-minute mark.

Caitlin Byrd can be reached at cbyrd@mountainx.com or 251-1333, ext. 140.

UPDATE:

A statement from Cecil Bothwell’s campaign:

“I would like to apologize to WABA, Mike Lanning, Gwen Wisler and attendees of last night’s West Asheville Business Association Candidate Forum for my part in a heated argument which occurred. I’ll do my part to maintain decorum in the future.”

Wainscott’s campaign has also issued a lengthy statement, reading in part:

“At a recent candidates’ forum, a heated discussion between the two of us escalated to a full-fledged argument. Upon the accusation of me being a “liar” by Mr. Bothwell in front of my community and family, I defended my honor as an honest man and candidate. The charge of dishonesty by Mr. Bothwell is thoroughly unfounded and irrefutably rebuffed by a wealth of video and written correspondences. Mr. Bothwell has apologized to Mr. Lanning, Mrs. Wisler, and the West Asheville Business Association, but his insistence that I am lying to the public has been neither substantiated nor apologized for. I have expressed my regrets to both Mr. Lanning and Mrs. Wisler in person for the awkwardness that the moment of my defense caused for those two candidates. For those present at the forum and those who have witnessed the exchange by watching the video, I too apologize for the unease this exchange may have caused you.”

“I will not apologize, however, for defending myself against the false and egregious accusations levied by Cecil Bothwell…”

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16 thoughts on “VIDEO: Shouting match breaks out between Bothwell and Wainscott at candidate forum

  1. Dionysis

    Per their press release at the time Asheville was selected (from among three potential locations):

    “New Belgium had narrowed their search down to three locations: Richmond VA, Philadelphia PA, and Asheville NC. Many factors played into New Belgium

    • Jonathan Wainscott

      In the “Bull Dinky” exchange, city councilman Cecil Bothwell repeatedly insists that “They’re (New Belgium Brewing) coming here because of our water.”, “They’re coming here for the pure water”. Bothwell maintains that water was top reason New Belgium Brewing chose Asheville, NC for their East Coast Brewery expansion. Here is the video Wainscott references of CEO Kim Jordan praising Jones Lang LaSalle, the corporate commercial real estate firm who used a “strategic approach” to locate the best deal on real estate and tax incentives for New Belgium’s East Coast brewery and distribution center. No mention of water quality or remediating a brownfield being a criteria in their search. Philadelphia, PA was NBB other front running contender.
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACEJlQLk4c4

  2. Concerned Citizen

    Regardless of who is right, I’m ashamed to see the childish and unprofessional nature of both candidates.

    Grow up! We need leaders who can have adult discussions and provide real solutions, not throw names at each other!

  3. micaheal blankenshio

    Cecil Bothwell rides high in the saddle. I pledged 500.00 to his campaign because I put my resources cause that’s where the resource person is in the room. If this youngbloid haf attended the water forums, meetings, discussions, simposioums, he would
    lnow that the very grand pobaa of brewing stoid and said “people don’t brew beer in Florida”, “the best water is right here”. This is why it’s important to reelect Cecil Bothwell to council, and Gordom Smith, and Ester Manheimer for Mayor because these leaders are equpped with facts and the requisite background thisfar to throughly lnow of what they speak and not from a position of authorative ignorance. Cecil was correct by demonstrating the futillity of attempting to rason with Johnathan. It’s not that they were on separate pages Johnathan was taking the test while never having bern in class. Cecil comes prepared, he does his homework, where are Johnathan’s papers or printed commentaries?

    • bernard b carman

      BULL DINKY! the AVL water supply is poisoned with FLUORIDE, and NONE of these Council members (including Bothwell) have done ANYTHING about it!

      let’s also remember that Wainscott is not AGAINST the brewery coming here. he was merely pointing out FACTS that he had researched for quite a while. Bothwell couldn’t deal with FACTS, so he resorted to ad homonym tactics, and when that didn’t work, he resorted to name calling

  4. micaheal blankenshio

    Cecil Bothwell rides high in the saddle. I pledged 500.00 to his campaign because I put my resources cause that’s where the resource person is in the room. If this youngbloid haf attended the water forums, meetings, discussions, simposioums, he would
    lnow that the very grand pobaa of brewing stoid and said “people don’t brew beer in Florida”, “the best water is right here”. This is why it’s important to reelect Cecil Bothwell to council, and Gordom Smith, and Ester Manheimer for Mayor because these leaders are equpped with facts and the requisite background thisfar to throughly lnow of what they speak and not from a position of authorative ignorance. Cecil was correct by demonstrating the futillity of attempting to rason with Johnathan. It’s not that they were on separate pages Johnathan was taking the test while never having bern in class. Cecil comes prepared, he does his homework, where are Johnathan’s papers or printed commentaries?

    • infinitybbc

      BULL DINKY! the AVL water supply is poisoned with FLUORIDE, and NONE of these Council members (including Bothwell) have done ANYTHING about it!

      let’s also remember that Wainscott is not AGAINST the brewery coming here. he was merely pointing out FACTS that he had researched for quite a while. Bothwell couldn’t deal with FACTS, so he resorted to ad homonym tactics, and when that didn’t work, he resorted to name calling

    • sharpleycladd

      Do you realize that in addition to fluoridating water, why, there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour, fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk, ice cream? Ice cream, Mandrake? Children’s ice cream! . . . I first became aware of it, Mandrake, during the physical act of love… Yes, a profound sense of fatigue, a feeling of emptiness followed. Luckily I

  5. Foto-Jennic

    It’s good to see someone who is passionate for change and not just willing to go along with political status quo. That being said, it could have been handled better as far as finger pointing, shouting, and the heated moment of departure. Still, props for passion & the willingness to create real change for the betterment of the city.

    It’s a difficult time for anyone on Council right now per Raleigh’s continued efforts to dismantle the funding and ‘liberal agenda’ of this area and of course when there is so much at stake it’s easy for emotions to rise high – but in the end I applaud both Cecil & Jonathan for standing up for what’s right for Asheville.

  6. bsummers

    Who was moderating this forum & then let it collapse into an embarrassment for everyone involved? Seriously, there’s a responsibility here.

    Besides, bottled water is evil. I respect Mr. Wainscott, but I’ve been disappointed that one of his signature issues is putting Asheville in the business of putting our precious natural resource into little plastic disposal nightmares.

    Food & Water Watch’s take on bottled water:

    http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/bottled/

  7. Big Al

    How funny it is to see youmg Wainscott trying to “out-activist” Bothwell. Bothwell seems to have become a passive victim of Raleigh while Wainscott still has the fire to joust with windmills.

    I don’t know which to take less seriously.

  8. Another citizen

    In the forum Mr. Bothwell said that Wainscott wants to New Belgium to locate outside of Asheville. This is incorrect. He wants them on Sardis Rd. near Sand Hill Rd.

    “Ahhh, but are they committed to Craven Street? With 23 acres available on Sardis Road, the production facility and distribution center could easily fit there. Unfettered access to interstate in all directions, in an existing and expanding industrial area, right up the road from access to the Blue Ridge Parkway (tourism), fairly easy for bicycle commuting, and by combining the distribution and production you’d only have to piss off one area of town instead of 3 (Haywood Corridor, RAD, Sardis Road). ”

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/126133030876219/permalink/194612537361601/

  9. Tom

    Great Taste!
    Less Filling!
    New Belgium is here (or at least soon will be) and the region is better off for it. I suspect both criteria were relevant, and the candidates should find something of substance to debate.

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