I first saw Jasmine Beach-Ferrara speak during a Mountain Moral Monday gathering in 2014. I thought, “This is the kind of leader I have always wanted in my hometown.” Jasmine wasn’t just smart, strong and strategic, she was compassionate, and her kindness shone from the stage.
When Amendment One passed in 2012, I mourned for my state. I felt defeated, betrayed. I was told it would likely take at least a decade to right this wrong. Jasmine wasn’t satisfied to wait. Thanks in no small part to her leadership at the Campaign for Southern Equality, marriage equality is a reality in North Carolina. She had a vision of what could be accomplished and made it happen. It’s that vision, coupled with her call to serve that will make her such an exceptional county commissioner.
Jasmine has a vision of what Buncombe County could be. She sees hope, even amid crisis. Ending the entrenched childhood poverty in our county is a daunting task. But Jasmine is already putting forth ideas about where we can start: universal pre-K, her top priority as county commissioner.
Under her leadership, the Campaign for Southern Equality became living-wage certified. She will push for affordable housing, strengthen funding for public schools and stand firm at each turn for full LGBT equality.
Most importantly, she will do all of this with deep kindness and compassion for others — even those who oppose her. Jasmine refuses to believe that the politics of division are necessary to create policy that allows everybody in Buncombe County a chance to thrive. She is ready — and excited — to join with unlikely allies and find the places where our values overlap, not where they are at odds.
I am voting for Jasmine Beach-Ferrara on March 15, and I urge you to do the same.
— Rachel LaBruyere
Asheville
Editor’s note: LaBruyere reports that she is working for Beach-Ferrara’s campaign to provide help with digital strategies.
Rachel, why would you want to send your precious child to a government screwl ‘pre-K’ when there are better options?
LOL, entrenched poverty in the area? Under close to 30 years of lefty loony control? What on Earth makes you think it’s going to change with another lefty loon? Ever read the definition of insanity lulz?
In America, we promote poverty for politics do we not? How can any of you complain about it when you pay to enable it? We don’t have a social safety net. We have Santa Clause.
Again, where oh where is this same flavor of vanilla going to change anything? Going to cut spending? Going to decrease regulations? Going to stop tax increases? Nope, no way, and nada LOL.
remember the democrackkks ALWAYS need poverty present to maintain their viability…they have since the first great depresssion and following with their God of dependence, FDR forward … but the local ‘crackkks are solid in their allegience to socialism every DAY! to talk about bringing people out of poverty is not a goal for them like they might claim…
You know, I had a long reply to you thought up, but it’s really simple: Explain why nations that offer more and better social services than the US does perform better in international markers of education, health, and economical and general wellbeing. Specifically, I’m thinking of Finland and Norway.
Why? They offer these services, such as universal free pre-K, that you despise, and they offer more and better other services as well. These nations consistently wipe the floor with the US in most every measurable positive statistic. Please explain why. And please explain why the US would be better off going in the opposite direction of those nations, with that being the case.
Facts and non-biased sources only, please. No right wing propaganda.
LOL, oh the noes. Now, now, the lefty loon resorts to pulling out links to “facts” yet refuses to see that US students are the most subsidized in the world and yet are dumb. It can’t be all this progress that’s wrecked families and made overpaid bureaucrats stand ins that are incompetent buffoons can it? When single mom monster is overloaded because she was told that getting on the dole is far more easier that actually raising kids, why do assume that those in government will care just like a real family would? Oh that’s right, you blindly believe in the scam knows as the government. And think more of it is better LOL. And make sure you ban everything you don’t agree with too because life is soooo hard lulz and people are so dumb that they can’t even go into a bar with smokers. Why it might kill them. Never mind that they get into a car and drive after downing 5 drinks though LOL.
Please answer the questions posed, Mr. Caudle. Considering your antipathy toward the very practices that would allow the same success in America that those other nations already enjoy — including universal free pre-k — I am very eager to see what mental contortions you’ll need to perform.
LOL, oh please oh please let us know why these modern day losers known as women will gladly vote themselves into a living hell and yet expect things to improve lulz. The worst thing, and I mean the absolute worst thing to happen to this nation was and is to allow a bunch of overgrown children to vote. It’s killed the nation, the culture, and the children who are stuck in a feedback loop of continued government involvement yet with continued decline. But boy oh boy point that out, lay out the facts of a decaying nation with women being manipulated into thinking that they are victims but in all realty it’s actually their children.
Name-calling is really not OK on this forum.
Agreed. Opinions and personal viewpoints are necessary and normal. I welcome people with different views on topics, even if I don’t agree. That being said, the disrespectful negativity in many of the comments on this site are wrong. This is not a 3rd grade forum. We shouldn’t act like it.
where’s the moderator?