Nothing like drinking away the campaign stress, rubbing elbows with Asheville’s newly crowned City Council members or gossiping your way around town on election night.
Assuming that’s your thing, here’s where to go after the polls have closed:
Trying to decide between dropping in on Jan Davis, Dwight Butner or Bill Russell? You don’t have to: They’re all hanging together tonight and flitting back and forth between Vincenzo’s and Magnolia’s. Davis says he won’t show until after he’s had a chance to watch the returns roll in at the Board of Elections, but the triple-bash is just a short walk from there.
Not so far away (distance-wise, that is), Elaine Lite and her camp will be partying down at Scully’s.
For Brownie Newman fans, the party is at Jack of the Wood pub.
And Bryan Freeborn is holding it down on the West side with his post-election gathering at the Westville Pub, a location he chose with his West Asheville-based campaigners in mind. His advice, however, is sound for anyone attending a bash at a bar this evening: “Please,” he says, “Walk home responsibly.”
— Rebecca Bowe, contributing editor
So, any insights on last night’s upset?
It’s interesting to me that Davis won with more than 1,000 votes over Newman. And, of course, Russell, who has no political experience, gained a seat on council.
Are Asheville voters becoming more moderate? Less progressive? I hear there are more registered Republican voters in the city. Is that true? Was it a matter of who came out to vote yesterday?
There are some thoughts at Scrutiny Hooligans, and Ashvegas has a “what it means” post up as well…
http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us
http://ashvegas.squarespace.com/journal/2007/11/7/asheville-city-council-elections-bill-russell-pulls-the-upse.html
Gotta say I was a bit surprised and dismayed by this outcome. Guess we have to remember that the progressive voice may be louder but is not necessarily stronger in numbers.
I don’t think Asheville voters are “becoming” anything. We’re all where we’ve always been. It’s just that the conservatives are more motivated than ever to show up at the polls.
Reminds me of the 60’s. We thought it was a revolution – turned out it was just a fashion trend.
The insight is not really an insight but a reflection of actual reality in the city of Asheville. It is not predominantly a bastion of fauxprogs and freaks. It is also important to note as former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neil was fond of stating, “all politics is local” meaning green pinks & freaks with their assortment of nutball ideas are not going to trump the middle of the road issues and desires of most voters.
“Russell, who has no political experience, gained a seat on council.”
Bill Russell was elected because of flaws in our plurality voting system. The candidates that Asheville wanted most, Freeborn and Lite, squeezed each other out and Russell bubbled up to the top pushing Freeborn and Lite out of the running.
“Bill Russell was elected because of flaws in our plurality voting system. The candidates that Asheville wanted most, Freeborn and Lite, squeezed each other out and Russell bubbled up to the top pushing Freeborn and Lite out of the running.”
Correct me if I am wrong Tim, but since there were 3 seats open, didn’t the voters get to pick their favorite 3? So if Freeborn and Lite were really the candidates that Asheville wanted most, wouldn’t they have been the top 2?
I think Russell got in because people want some balance on the council.
I’m very surprised that Lite supporters couldn’t see that this scenario might happen. Freeborn and Lite cancelled each other out and Russell slipped in.
marc
Lite came in last! This silly notion that Russell slipped in by accident is utterly absurd. He received more votes than any of the three losers. Basic math, folks. Which of the two nutcases would the fauxprogs wish to sacrifice if the notion that they split a vote is true? Freeborn or Lite?
Maybe the fauxprogs just need to face reality and realize that two of their favorites are simply losers and the people of Asheville rejected them? At the end of the day, all that matters is Russell is one of the three the citizens of Asheville put on their council. Freeborn and Lite were basically told to take a hike, particularly the leftist crackpot Lite in coming in dead last.
I knew plenty of people that voted for Lite but not Freeborn. Maybe he wasn’t “progressive” enough in their eyes. With the margin between Russell and Freeborn only being 80 votes, I believe that it was definitely a factor.
Also look that some people wanted balance to this council. They might have only voted for one “progressive.”
marc
The more likely reality here is that Newman’s coattails could not carry Freeborn. You are forgetting the third guy that lost. It is likely he also sihponed votes off impacting Russell as well. While you may know people who voted for Lite and not for Freeborn that does not change the fact they they had to spend their votes on somebody. Who would have lost their vote in order to give it to Freeborn? … face it, Lite came in dead last.
Believe what you will, but I am sure that at least 80 votes would have been filtered from Lite’s 5000 to Freeborn. I seriously doubt those voters would have gone to Russell.
I’ll bet that Freeborn’s stance on partisan elections hurt him as well.
marc
How many votes were siphoned off of Russell by the other guy that lost???
The whole idea of 2 candidates squeezing each other out would only hold water if you were only filling one or two seats. With 3 seats available and 6 candidates, as the results show, many people either split their ticket or only picked 1 or 2 candidates. Voting Newman, Freeborn, and Lite was a perfectly viable choice mathematically. Therefore, you should be looking elsewhere (read balance) for the reason that the block of four was broken.
Mr. DDL, very good point. It seems there are some poor feelings towards our newly elected officials.
The “What Does It All Mean?” post at Scrutiny Hooligans now has 74 comments and a real spectrum of interpretations. Come check it out:
http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=4361
Travelah, I challenge you to share your commentary with some sense and intelligent, meaningful terminology rather than your characteristic lazy name-calling… to wit, “green pinks, freaks, nutball ideas,” etc.
It only takes a little more mental work to speak in a way that makes sense, explains succinctly what you actually mean, and does not slander anybody. This kind of talk does NOT help Asheville.
As for the results, it seems we have a chance to see how a more balanced council will shape up decision-wise… Kudos & thanks to ya’ll who explained the mathematical realities of the election!!! As several here have stated, we have the officials that Asheville wanted, as it was a fair election, of course. I am looking forward to their mark on our city. May they be guided well to clarity, sense, and all that is best for both our environment and for business.
Is that impossible or naive to hope for???
Be Too Real, I am quite serious with my comments. I use the term fauxprogs rather than type out false progressives and I think the term is somewhat pithy and conveys a truer sense of the imbecile mindset of those who are indeed false progressives. As for helping Asheville, I think the latest election was a first step. The next step will be more difficult.
I suppose when moderates and conservatives are referred to as bigots, hate-mongers, homophobes, liars and essentially evil, referring to an absolutely nutcase group of people rooting in Asheville as green pinks and freaks really isn’t all that bad.